The key difference between non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic is that non-comedogenic means a product is formulated in such a way that it won’t clog pores, whereas non-acnegenic means a product is designed to not cause acne on acne-prone skin.
In the language of skincare, many terms are used to describe different cosmetic products. Non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic are two such terms you can notice on the label; non-comedogenic means not clogging pores, and non-acnegenic means not creating acne. It is important to know these terms and the nature of products if you have acne-prone skin.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Non-comedogenic
3. What is Non-acnegenic
4. Non-comedogenic vs Non-acnegenic in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Non-comedogenic vs Non-acnegenic
What is Non-comedogenic?
Non-comedogenic is a name we use to describe products that do not clog pores on the skin. Blackheads and whiteheads are collectively named comedones. There are comedones that are open to the surface of the skin. The exposure of these comedones to oxygen can typically darken the top of the comedones, which makes blackheads. White comedones are therefore closed ones that are not exposed to oxygen. When a product is non-comedogenic, it means the product does not clog pores when applied to the skin.
However, a product must not be free from irritating ingredients in order to be labeled as non-comedogenic because there are no supervised or regulatory standards for these terms. Even the oiliest cream in the world will say on its label that it does not cause blackheads. But, if a cosmetic or an ingredient is comedogenic, then this cosmetic or ingredient can cause clogging pores on the skin. This will eventually lead to the formation of acne. Most of the time, natural products consist of comedogenic ingredients such as coconut oil, almond oil, soybean oil, and avocado oil.
What is Non-acnegenic?
The term non-acnegenic means that a product does not contain ingredients known to cause acne on acne-prone skin. Typically, these products do not contain ingredients that can clog pores. They also do not contain ingredients that can promote acne breakouts. Moreover, non-acnegenic products are oil-free. In contrast, acnegenic cosmetics and ingredients cause whiteheads, blackheads, or pimples.
When shopping for skincare products, it is better to shop for non-acnegenic products. These products are less likely to irritate existing pimples and aggravate acne to make it worse. However, if any product is labeled non-acnegenic but seems to make acne or breakouts worse, then you should stop using it.
What is the Difference Between Non-comedogenic and Non-acnegenic?
Non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic are two terms we can find in skincare products. The key difference between non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic is that non-comedogenic means not clogging pores, while non-acnegenic means not creating acne. Generally, non-acnegenic products are always free of oil, while non-comedogenic products can be either oil-based or not. Grapeseed oil, salicylic acid, jojoba oil, almond oil, coconut oil, almond oil, soybean oil, and avocado oil are some examples of non-comedogenic products, whereas aloe vera gel, vitamin C, and glycerin are examples of non-acnegenic products.
The below infographic presents the differences between non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic products in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Non-comedogenic vs Non-acnegenic
There are different categories of cosmetic products in the market. We can classify them according to their composition and use. Non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic are two terms we can find in skincare products. The key difference between non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic is that non-comedogenic means not clogging pores, while non-acnegenic means not creating acne.
Reference:
1. Palmer, Angela. “What It Means for a Skin Care Product to Be Nonacnegenic.” Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 8 Jan. 2022.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Woman Applying Cream On Face” Photo by Ron Lach (CC0) via Pexels