“The Quiet Offenders: 3 ingredients undermining your complexion”

Navigating acne-prone and sensitive skin is challenging enough—but it becomes even more frustrating when the skincare industry isn’t entirely transparent about what’s inside the products you trust. Often, the very formulas meant to heal your skin may be quietly working against it, keeping your barrier compromised and your breakouts persistent.

To help you make more informed, intentional choices, I’ve curated a list of five ingredients that may be silently disrupting your skin’s natural balance.

• Fragrance

While fragrance is often added to evoke a sense of luxury or to soften the scent of active ingredients, it can quietly disrupt the skin’s delicate balance. For those with sensitive or compromised skin, fragrance may lead to irritation or even inflammation—undermining the very sense of calm and renewal that skincare should provide. Often concealed under names like 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, citral, benzyl benzoate, linalool, or benzoyl alcohol, these hidden irritants can be difficult to identify.

• Acetylated Lanolin

Acetylated Lanolin is an emollient commonly used in skincare to enhance softness and provide lasting hydration. You’ll often find it in products like moisturizers, creams, and lip balms for its smooth texture and conditioning properties. However, it’s known to be highly comedogenic, making it less suitable for acne-prone skin. It may also trigger allergic reactions in individuals with sensitivities to wool-derived ingredients. On ingredient labels, it may appear under alternative names such as PEG-16 Lanolin, Ethoxylated Lanolin, or Solulan 16.

• Algae Extract

While algae is rich in nutrients and an excellent source of essential fatty acids, it may not be ideal for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin. Due to its high comedogenic rating and elevated iodine content, algae can clog pores, trigger irritation, and contribute to increased inflammation in reactive skin types. For individuals struggling with skin issues, avoiding this ingredient can be essential to maintaining a clearer, more balanced complexion.

These three ingredients are just the tip of the iceberg—there are plenty out there that could be throwing your skin barrier off balance. If your skin’s acting up, don’t play the guessing game. Chat with your esthetician or dermatologist to figure out what your skin actually wants (and what it definitely doesn’t).