Carbomer
Thickener / gelling agent · INCI: Carbomer
Reviewed by Elysiana Aguilar, master esthetician
How we read it
Not a pore-clogger. Considered safe for acne-prone skin.
Is Carbomer comedogenic?
No. Carbomer isn't considered pore-clogging, and we read it as safe to use on acne-prone skin. That doesn't make it right for everyone, but congestion isn't the thing to watch for with it.
Why we read it this way
Carbomer is a synthetic gelling agent, a white powder that becomes a clear gel once it is neutralized in water. It gives gel moisturizers their light, cushiony texture and helps keep oil and water from separating. We read it as not pore-clogging.
The nuance
It is an acrylic polymer and the name sounds industrial, which puts some people off. In a product it holds water as a gel and adds no oil, which is how an oil-free formula can still feel cushioned.
Where it shows up
Gel moisturizers, oil-free lotions, spot treatments, eye gels, aloe gels, hand sanitizers and sunscreens, usually low on the label with a neutralizer such as sodium hydroxide nearby.
Related ingredients
One ingredient rarely tells the whole story. The acne ingredient checker reads everything in a product at once, and there is more on what comedogenic means. Also in the guides: What acne actually is.