This *Super* Key Step Can Make or Break Your Acne Routine

Penzi recommends looking for hydrating ingredients that help to retain moisture and reinforce the skin barrier without clogging pores. “Look for hyaluronic acid, glycerin and ceramides, as well as niacinamide,” she says. “Be sure to avoid comedogenic oils like coconut oil. Also avoid heavy occlusive ingredients like petrolatum.”

To be honest, there are also a lot of other ingredients you should probably steer clear of if you have acne-prone skin, but these are the main culprits derms and facialists consistently say to avoid. Azadeh Shirazi, MD says, “It’s best to avoid ingredients that form a film on your skin’s surface, like silicone derivatives (dimethicone and cyclomethicone). Also, avoid fragrances, mineral oil, lanolin, shea butter, or comedogenic oils like coconut oil,” she says.

This is a good place to start, but it’s also key to remember that everyone’s skin is different. While shea butter is considered a heavier ingredient by some, I’ve never had an issue with it clogging my pores and it may work for others with acne-prone skin, too. The same goes for silicones. Silicones have sparked much debate over the years with some saying they can create a film over the skin that can further trap bacteria, but again, everyone is different. If you’re highly sensitive it might be best to avoid silicones, but I also haven’t had an issue with those clogging my pores or causing new breakouts. If you’re super sensitive and want to err on the side of caution, choose a moisturizer without these ingredients to start, then maybe later down the line you can try adding one with the above ingredients to see if they’re a trigger for you. Take a look at some of our best noncomedogenic moisturizer recs below.