Avoid list
Fungal acne trigger ingredients to avoid
Short answer
These 194 ingredients are best avoided for fungal-acne-prone skin because they can supply the C11 to C24 fatty acids that malassezia yeast feeds on. Tap any ingredient for the reasoning, severity, and safer swaps.
194 ingredients
Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Arachidic Acid Avoid Fatty acid Arachidyl Alcohol Avoid Fatty alcohol Arachis Hypogaea (Peanut) Oil Avoid Plant oil Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil Avoid Plant oil Artemisia Princeps Oil Avoid Fatty acid Ascorbyl Palmitate Avoid Ester Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter Avoid Plant oil Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Avoid Plant oil C12-15 Alcohols Avoid Fatty alcohol C12-16 Alcohols Avoid Fatty alcohol C14-22 Alcohols Avoid Fatty alcohol Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Caviar Extract Avoid Fatty acid Ceteareth-12 / -20 / -25 Avoid Fatty alcohol Cetearyl Alcohol Avoid Fatty alcohol Cetearyl Olivate Avoid Ester Ceteth-2 / -10 / -20 Avoid Fatty alcohol Cetyl Alcohol Avoid Fatty alcohol Cetyl Myristate Avoid Ester Cetyl Palmitate Avoid Ester Cetyl Ricinoleate Avoid Ester Cetyl Stearate Avoid Ester Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil Avoid Plant oil Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Decyl Oleate Avoid Ester Dermaxyl (blend) Avoid Fatty acid Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil Avoid Plant oil Elaeis Guineensis Kernel Oil Avoid Plant oil Ethylhexyl Cocoate Avoid Ester Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate Avoid Ester Ethylhexyl Oleate Avoid Ester Ethylhexyl Olivate Avoid Ester Ethylhexyl Palmitate Avoid Ester Ethylhexyl Stearate Avoid Ester Garcinia Indica (Kokum) Seed Butter Avoid Plant oil Glyceryl Cocoate Avoid Ester Glyceryl Isostearate Avoid Ester Glyceryl Linoleate Avoid Ester Glyceryl Myristate Avoid Ester Glyceryl Oleate Avoid Ester Glyceryl Palmitate Avoid Ester Glyceryl Ricinoleate Avoid Ester Glyceryl Stearate Avoid Ester Glyceryl Stearate Citrate Avoid Ester Glyceryl Stearate SE Avoid Ester Goat Milk Avoid Fatty acid Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Heptadecyl Alcohol Avoid Fatty alcohol Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Oil Avoid Plant oil Hydrogenated Coconut Oil Avoid Plant oil Hydroxystearic Acid Avoid Fatty acid Isopropyl Behenate Avoid Ester Isopropyl Isostearate Avoid Ester Isopropyl Lanolate Avoid Ester Isopropyl Linoleate Avoid Ester Isopropyl Myristate Avoid Ester Isopropyl Palmitate Avoid Ester Isopropyl Stearate Avoid Ester Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester Laureth-3 / -4 / -7 Avoid Fatty alcohol Lauric Acid Avoid Fatty acid Lauroyl Lysine Avoid Fatty acid Lauryl Alcohol Avoid Fatty alcohol Lecithin Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester Linoleyl Alcohol Avoid Fatty alcohol Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter Avoid Plant oil Margaric Acid Avoid Fatty acid Marula Oil Avoid Plant oil Matrixyl Avoid Peptide Matrixyl 3000 Avoid Peptide Methyl Glucose Sesquiisostearate Avoid Ester Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate Avoid Ester Methyl Palmitate Avoid Ester Methyl Stearate Avoid Ester Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Myreth-3 Avoid Fatty alcohol Myristic Acid Avoid Fatty acid Myristoyl Hexapeptide-23 Avoid Fatty acid Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17 Avoid Peptide Myristoyl Tetrapeptide-12 Avoid Fatty acid Myristyl Alcohol Avoid Fatty alcohol Myristyl Lactate Avoid Ester Myristyl Myristate Avoid Ester Nigella Sativa Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil Avoid Plant oil Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil Avoid Plant oil Oleic Acid Avoid Fatty acid Oleth-3 Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester Oleth-3 / -10 / -20 Avoid Fatty alcohol Oleth-5 Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester Oleyl Alcohol Avoid Fatty alcohol Olus Oil Avoid Plant oil Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Orbignya Oleifera (Babassu) Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil Avoid Plant oil Palmitic Acid Avoid Fatty acid Palmitoleic Acid Avoid Fatty acid Palmitoleyl Alcohol Avoid Fatty alcohol Palmitoyl Dipeptide-10 Avoid Fatty acid Palmitoyl Dipeptide-17 Avoid Fatty acid Palmitoyl Dipeptide-7 Avoid Fatty acid Palmitoyl Glycine Avoid Fatty acid Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-18 Avoid Fatty acid Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12 Avoid Peptide Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-19 Avoid Fatty acid Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Milk Protein Avoid Fatty acid Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Avoid Fatty acid Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer Avoid Fatty acid Palmitoyl Oligopeptide Avoid Peptide Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-10 Avoid Fatty acid Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 Avoid Fatty acid Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Avoid Fatty acid Palmitoyl Tripeptide-3 Avoid Fatty acid Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 Avoid Fatty acid Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 Avoid Fatty acid PEG-10 Olivate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester PEG-100 Stearate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester PEG-150 Dilaurate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester PEG-150 Distearate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester PEG-2 Stearate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester PEG-20 Stearate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester PEG-30 Stearate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester PEG-32 Stearate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester PEG-40 Stearate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester PEG-7 Olivate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester PEG-75 Stearate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester PEG-8 Laurate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester PEG-8 Stearate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester PEG-9 Laurate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester Pentadecanoic Acid Avoid Fatty acid Pentadecyl Alcohol Avoid Fatty alcohol Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil Avoid Plant oil Plukenetia Volubilis (Sacha Inchi) Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate Avoid Ester Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate Avoid Ester Polyglyceryl-3 Oleate Avoid Ester Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate Avoid Ester Polysorbate 80 Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester Polysorbate 85 Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester Potassium Laurate Avoid Fatty acid Potassium Myristate Avoid Fatty acid Potassium Palmitate Avoid Fatty acid Potassium Stearate Avoid Fatty acid Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil Avoid Plant oil Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil Avoid Plant oil Retinyl Palmitate Avoid Ester Ricinoleic Acid Avoid Fatty acid Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Rigin Avoid Fatty acid Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil Avoid Plant oil Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Salmon Roe Extract Avoid Fatty acid Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil Sodium Laurate Avoid Fatty acid Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester Sodium Myristate Avoid Fatty acid Sodium Oleate Avoid Fatty acid Sodium Palmitate Avoid Fatty acid Sodium Stearate Avoid Fatty acid Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester Sorbitan Oleate Avoid Ester Sorbitan Olivate Avoid Ester Sorbitan Palmitate Avoid Ester Sorbitan Sesquioleate Avoid Ester Sorbitan Stearate Avoid Ester Sorbitan Trioleate Avoid Ester Sorbitan Tristearate Avoid Ester Steareth-2 Avoid Polysorbate / PEG ester Steareth-2 / -10 / -20 / -21 Avoid Fatty alcohol Stearic Acid Avoid Fatty acid Stearoyl Glutamic Acid Avoid Fatty acid Stearoyl Lysine Avoid Peptide Stearyl Alcohol Avoid Fatty alcohol Stearyl Stearate Avoid Ester Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter Avoid Plant oil Theobroma Grandiflorum (Cupuacu) Seed Butter Avoid Plant oil Tribehenin Avoid Ester Tridecyl Alcohol Avoid Fatty alcohol Triolein Avoid Ester Tristearin Avoid Ester Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil Avoid Plant oil
Browse the full ingredient index, or read the complete trigger list and how we assess ingredients.
Informational only, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Ingredient suitability for fungal acne varies by person and formulation. Always patch test and consult a qualified clinician.