The correlation between using cosmetic products and acne breakouts has been discussed for a long time. Unfortunately, in the end it has been proven that a link does indeed exist. The truth is that make-up products can not only exacerbate acne as it was previously thought but can also cause acne breakouts even in those who were not predisposed to acne breakouts. After these staggering facts were discovered the term ‘acne cosmetica ‘ appeared.
A series of statistic studies were made in an attempt to determine number of people that are susceptible to develop cosmetic acne. It was determined that up to 30 percent of those who use cosmetics are likely to develop cosmetic acne.
It turns out certain ingredients have an irritating effect on the skin and are more likely to cause acne breakouts. This category of ingredients have been generically called comedogenics. Since then manufacturers and retailers all alike have started to advertise a wide variety of products as being non-comedogenic. While this is certainly a clever marketing technique designed to boost sales, the concern that the consumers have when it comes to determining whether a certain product will exacerbate acne breakouts remains intact. 
However, this concern should not stop consumers from using makeup products because with a few clever strategies everyone can learn to choose the that will not have a negative impact on their skin. Here are a few strategies you can use to make better choices when it comes to cosmetics:
A major culprit for acne breakouts caused by cosmetic are the oils that are found on the ingredient list. While not all oils are comedogenic, staying away from oil based products will greatly reduce the chances of developing cosmetic acne.
Water based products products can be a major improvement that can prevent a lot frustrating skin care problems, however in order to make sure that the chances of developing acne are minimum you should also stay clear of a few cosmetic ingredients that might worsen your problem.
Lanolin is a common ingredient in various cosmetics due to its moisturizing properties. Lanolin is essentially sheep skin oil extracted from wool. The fatty acids contained in lanolin derivatives can aggravate the problems in individuals who have a genetic predisposition to acne.
Fragrance is another thing that should be avoided by those who have an acne prone skin. Many synthetic fragrances have an irritating effect on the skin. Since in the majority of makeup products the smell is not an essential component it’s best to choose fragrance-free or hypoallergenic products.
On the other hand, not all synthetic fragrances cause this type of reactions and not everyone is sensitive to the same chemicals. An exact determination of the fragrances an individual is sensitive to can be quite difficult to make despite the fact that certain studies seem to conclude that sweet smells are the worst offenders.
Pigments might be another cause of concern especially if you use a lot of red tinted lipstick or blushes. Certain red tints are obtained from coal tar derivatives, a factor that contributes to the acne problems. While establishing whether a certain red shade has been derived from coal tar is almost impossible for the average consumer, choosing cosmetics that have carmine on the ingredient list as this is considered a safe pigment.
The only method to determine whether a certain cosmetic product is causing problems or not is by using only one new product at a time. In this way not only you will be able to evaluate the efficiency of the of the product more accurately but you will also have a pretty clear idea of what are the chemicals your skin is most reactive to and you will do a far better job selecting the right products for you, if you are armed with all the right knowledge.
