Pore-clogging ingredients / Algae Extract

Is Algae Extract comedogenic?

Yes. This is one of the most pore-clogging ingredients on record.

Comedogenic rating

5/5

Severely comedogenic

Evidence confidence

moderate

Most published lists include this ingredient, with ratings that vary by about one point.

Also appears as

seaweed extract, seaweed, algae

What is Algae Extract?

A catch-all INCI term for extracts of various algae species, used for moisture-binding and marketed anti-aging benefits in serums, creams, and masks. Because the term hides which species and fraction was used, acne-focused estheticians treat it as a red flag; some marine actives are rated among the worst offenders.

What to do if you're acne-prone

Avoid it in any product if you're acne-prone, including rinse-off products and haircare that touches your face. At this rating, concentration rarely saves a formula.

Where this rating comes from

Our ratings consolidate two lineages: the original rabbit-ear comedogenicity assays published by James Fulton and colleagues (Fulton, Pay & Fulton, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1984; Fulton, Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, 1989), and the pore-clogger lists maintained by acne-specialist estheticians in the Face Reality lineage that refine those assays with decades of client observation. This ingredient appears across both lineages with ratings that vary by about one point; we show the consensus value.

Last reviewed 2026-08-15 by the PorePass editorial team.

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• Isostearyl Isostearate · 4/5

Comedogenicity ratings come from published ingredient studies and esthetician-compiled lists. They are imperfect and formulation-dependent, and this page isn't medical advice. Reactions vary by skin, concentration, and the rest of the formula.