Propolis Extract
Bee-derived · INCI: Propolis Extract
Reviewed by Elysiana Aguilar, master esthetician
How we read it
Not a pore-clogger. Considered safe for acne-prone skin.
Is Propolis Extract comedogenic?
No. Propolis Extract 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
Propolis extract comes from the resin that bees collect from trees to seal the hive, and it is added to skincare as a soothing, antioxidant ingredient. What goes into a formula is a diluted extract, not the sticky raw resin. We read propolis as not pore-clogging.
The nuance
Propolis is a recognized contact allergen, and people sensitive to bee products can react to it with redness or itching. That is a question of allergy, separate from pore-clogging.
Where it shows up
Ampoules, essences, serums and toners, often paired with honey or niacinamide. It also appears in sheet masks, soothing creams and lip balms.
Names we read the same way
- Propolis
- Bee Propolis
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: The types of acne lesions.