When treating many skin types, and especially breakout-prone skin, the last thing a skin care professional wants to do is put something on a client’s face that could potentially be comedogenic and cause clogged pores. Comedogenic refers to a given topical ingredient that can potentially create a comedone in the pore. Consistently clogged pores, of course, can lead to breakouts. Luckily, there is a handy tool called the comedogenic scale.

TO SCALE

The comedogenic scale is a simple numbered rating from zero to five. A particular ingredient is rated on how likely it is to clog pores. Zero means it will not clog, while five means it likely will clog. Any substance with a zero to two rating is generally considered safe and agreeable for breakout-prone individuals. However, for a person who experiences dry skin, a substance with higher rating may be acceptable to use.