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What Is Non Comedogenic Skincare?

What Is Non Comedogenic Skincare?

At Nakin we love to hear from our customers, and one of the frequent questions that we receive is asking if our natural skincare is non comedogenic. Non-comedogenic means that a cosmetic face product has been specially formulated to not clog pores. Pores can naturally get blocked with sebum and dead skin cells, so adding to the problem with beauty products is something that should be avoided. For those that suffer from breakouts then using skincare that will not clog pores is essential, but everyone should use high quality oils on their skin, and especially on their face. At Nakin we promise to make the best skincare products that we can, using the highest quality plant ingredients, extracts and oils. The good news is that these high-quality plant ingredients tend to be non-comedogenic and so do not clog pores. The ingredients that are comedogenic are the cheaper oils like coconut oil, this is such a rich greasy oil that it can clog pores and we would naturally never use it in any of our anti-ageing skincare. One of the reasons that the issue of comedogenic face products is so big in the natural skincare field, is because natural and organic products tend to include lots of plant oils and butters. However, not all plant oils and butters are created equal. There is no need to be afraid of using plant oils in skincare and they are very conditioning for skin. It is just a good idea to make sure that the products you use contain non pore clogging ingredients and are as non-comedogenic as they can be.

Many people find it hard to know which face products are non-comedogenic, so the good news is that the cosmetic industry has developed a rating system for how a comedogenic an ingredient it. It is a simple system that rates each skincare ingredient between 0 and 5. So ingredients with a rating of 5 are considered comedogenic and pore clogging and should be avoided, those rated 0 are completely non comedogenic. The ingredients with the lower numbers are fine to use in skincare products but avoid using those with the higher numbers on your face. It is more complicated than that as then within actual face products each ingredient will then vary in the percentage it is included in the actual content formula. But as a rule, avoid the high comedogenic ingredients that are not great to use, even for very dry skin. To get an idea of the ratings; coconut oil is a 4 and safflower oil is a 0. Here is the comedogenic rating of some commonly used plant oils to get an idea of the ones to avoid for oilier skin types. Sweet almond oil is 2, but argan oil is 0 and this is why it is so great for skin and hair products, as it packed with nutrients, but is a non-greasy oil and we use it a lot in our Nakin Natural skincare products. Baobab seed oil is 2, shea butter is 2, grapeseed oil is 1, avocado oil is 3 and wheat germ oil is 5. As a general rule try to avoid the 4 and 5 high value ingredients, although as we mentioned before, every product is vastly different, and one ingredient is just a small part of the overall effect on skin. This is just a guide, as you can see avocado oil is quite high with a 3 rating, but we all know that avocados contain many good healthy fats, and these will benefit most skin types when applied topically.

So, if you are ever struggling to understand if a face product is comedogenic then study the ingredients list and assess it against the comedogenic ratings. This means that there is no reason to be cautious about natural skincare as a whole. We believe that natural skincare is always better for skin that synthetic skincare, so just use natural products that let skin function and breathe like Nakin’s Anti-Ageing Skincare.

The reason that we should use non comedogenic skincare is because when the oil producing glands in the skin get blocked and inflamed, it can cause blackheads and spots. We now know that this is not generally caused by poor hygiene and in fact too much face washing or using a harsh face cleansing can cause skin to produce more oil. Gentle effective cleansing with products like our anti-ageing Advanced Cleansing Milk and Purifying Face Toner help to keep skin clean and fresh, without stripping and drying skin out. They do not cause stress to skin and an overproduction of oil to compensate. After cleansing follow with Nakin’s face treatments and face creams, which should also be used on the neck. Our range is not oil free because lots of oils are good for skin. However, it does contain the best plant oils and extracts with the range including our anti-ageing Performance Face Serum and Revitalising Face Oil and Eye Cream Complex to treat and repair skin. Then our anti-ageing Matt Formula Face Cream for oily skin, anti-ageing Active Dew Face Cream for dry skin and Lip Treatment Balm.  

There is a myth that all oils are comedogenic and if you are prone to blackheads and breakouts that you should use skincare that is oil free. This is completely untrue, and you would be doing a disservice to your skin by using products that are oil free. Even natural oils can be amazing for oily skin, you can find out more about this and see our article about face oils here . The truth is that every single natural ingredient, extract, oil, and butter has a vastly different effect on skin and a different ability to be comedogenic and clog pores. Plus, what might make one-person breakout could be completely fine for another, as our skin is incredibly unique. So instead what is much more helpful is to use the comedogenic ingredient rating, which scores ingredients to show how pore clogging they are. Then assess this against your skin type. So those with oily skin should opt for the low comedogenic rated ingredients, but those with drier skin should be able to use some of them.

To find out more about Nakin and our award winning skincare then visit us at www.nakinskincare.com The full range is cruelty free and made in the UK using the best plant actives for skin. Each product is designed to beautify skin naturally and so they do not contain ingredients like parabens, sulphates, silicones, pegs, artificial colour and fragrance. Instead they are kind to even sensitive skin types.

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