80+ Acne Causing Face Creams & Moisturizers in India (Master List)

acne causing skin creams in the Indian market

This is a list of face creams and moisturizers available in the Indian market that are reported or suspected to be comedogenic (skin clogging, acne causing).

When you read this list, you can be sure that the creams and lotions listed here have caused pimples to someone, somewhere.

What it means for you is that if you have acne prone skin, these products can cause or aggravate your acne too.

There are two reasons some of these products may still work for you without breaking you out:

1. your skin is acne prone but can tolerate mildly comedogenic products
2. you are on prescription medication (tretinoin, antibiotics, creams and spot treatments) that keeps acne in check

Products labelled non-comedogenic can still cause breakouts, so it is not enough to read the label.

When a product does not “suit” your oily acne prone skin, there is always a good reason. You just need to look deeper.

One of the comedogenic ingredients commonly found in skin creams and moisturizers is Isopropyl Myristate. Isopropyl Myristate is a solvent used to thicken the consistency of products and enhance their absorption through the skin. Isopropyl Myristate is highly comedogenic, which means it is very likely to cause acne or worsen existing acne.

Another commonly found comedogenic ingredient in face creams and lotions in India is Wheat Germ Oil. Although Wheat Germ Oil is an anti-oxidant and rich in Vitamin E, it is also highly comedogenic.

Some creams do state on the label that they are meant for dry or normal skin, in which case we cannot always blame them for causing pimples in acne prone skin. This list contains moisturizing creams and lotions meant for all skin types simply so that their unsuitability for acne prone skin can be highlighted.

Remember, even a single comedogenic ingredient in what you use on your skin is enough to cause acne.

Don’t lose heart, there are quite a few good moisturizers in India suitable for acne prone skin.

Now it is your turn to be an acne reporter. Did we miss out a cream? Let us know in the comments if a skin cream or lotion caused you pimples and we will add it to the master list.

Acne causing face creams/lotions in the Indian market

1. Aroma Magic Almond Nourishing Cream
2. Aroma Magic Aloe Vera Cold Cream
3. Aroma Magic Almond Nourishing Cream
4. Aroma Magic Almond Moisturizing Lotion
5. Ayur Herbal Cold Cream with Aloe Vera
6. Ayur Herbal All Purpose Cream with Aloe Vera
7. Biotique Bio Morning Nectar Lightening and Nourishing Lotion
8. Biotique Bio Coconut Whitening & Brightening Cream (all skin types)
9. Cetaphil Moisturising Cream
10. Dabur Gulabari Moisturizing Cold Cream
11. Dabur Gulabari Moisturising Lotion with Natural Sunscreen and Rose Extracts
12. Emami Cold Cream
13. Eraser Ayurvedic PA Skin Cream
14. Eraser Plus
15. Fabindia Vitamin E De-pigmentation Cream
16. Fabindia Vitamin E Daily Moisturising Cream
17. Fair and Lovely Advanced Multivitamin Daily Fairness Expert
18. Garnier Essential Care Daily Moisturising Cream
19. Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream SPF 24
20. Himalaya Herbals Anti-Wrinkle Cream
21. Himalaya Herbals Face Moisturizing Lotion
22. Himalaya Herbals Revitalizing Night Cream
23. Johnson’s Baby Lotion
24. Johnson’s Baby Cream
25. Johnson’s Baby Milk Cream
26. Johnson’s Baby Wipes (when used as makeup remover wipes)
27. Jovees Apple and Vera Face Massage Gel
28. Jovees Wheat Germ with Vitamin E Face Massage Cream
29. Jovees 30+ Youth Face Cream
30. Jovees Himalayan Cherry Cold Cream
31. Jovees Eucalyptus & Coconut Cleansing Cream (for Oily, Sensitive and Acne Prone Skin)
32. Lacto Calamine Lotion (Classic)
33. Lakme Fruit Moisture Peach Milk Moisturizer
34. Lakme Fruit Moisture Daily Glow Lotion Peach And Plum
35. Lakme Fruit Moisture Honey & Avocado Winter Perfect Day Lotion
36. Lakme Fruit Moisture Skin Renewal Night Cream
37. Lakme Perfect Radiance Fairness Day Cream
38. Lakme Perfect Radiance 4-Week Whitening Treatment Capsules
39. Lakme Perfect Radiance Intense Whitening Night Repair Creme
40. Lakme Sun Expert Fairness + UV Lotion SPF 30 PA+ (Oily Skin)
41. Lotus Herbals Alphamoist
42. Lotus Herbals Cocofair Coconut Ginseng Fairness Creme
43. Lotus Herbals Whiteglow Skin Whitening & Brightening Micro-emulsion
44. Lotus Herbals Whiteglow Intensive Whitening & Brightening Serum
45. Lotus Herbals White Glow Skin Whitening & Brightening Gel Creme SPF 25 / PA+++
46. Lotus Herbals Wheatnourish Wheatgerm Oil & Honey Nourishment Creme
47. Lotus Herbals Papayablem Papaya-N-Saffron Anti Blemish Cream
48. Lotus Herbals Cocomoist Cocoa-butter Moisturizing Lotion
49. Lotus Herbals Sheamoist Shea Butter & Real Strawberry 24hr Moisturiser (Dry to Normal Skin)
50. Lotus Herbals Wheatnourish Wheatgerm Oil & Honey Massage Cream
51. Lotus Herbals Nutranite Skin Renewal Nutritive Night Cream (breakouts)
52. Lush Dream Cream
53. Maybelline Clear Glow Bright Benefit BB Cream SPF21/PA+++
54. Maybelline Clear Glow Bright Benefit BB Clear Stick SPF21/PA+++
55. Nivea Creme
56. Nivea Soft Creme with Jojoba Oil and Vitamin E
57. Neutrogena Fine Fairness Cream SPF 20 / PA+
58. Neutrogena Fine Fairness Lotion SPF 30 / PA ++
59. Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Aging Cream (for Normal skin)
60. Olay Moisturizing Lotion (Pink Bottle)
61. Olay Moisturizing Cream
62. Olay Natural White All in One Fairness Day Cream
63. Olay Natural White All in One Fairness Night Cream
64. Palmolive Charmis Cold Cream
65. Patanjali Tejas Beauty Cream
66. Pond’s Age Miracle Cell ReGEN Day Cream SPF15
67. Pond’s Moisturizing Cold Cream
68. Pond’s Flawless White Visible Lightening Daily Cream
69. Pond’s White Beauty Spot-less Daily Whitening Cream SPF 20 PA++
70. Pond’s Active Moisture Revitalizing 24 hr Moisturiser
71. RevAyur Soft Day Cream Enriched with Rosehip Oil
72. Revlon Hydra Boost Intense Moisture Balance Night Cream
73. Shahnaz Husain Anti-Wrinkle Cream – Beauty Balm
74. The Body Shop Nutriganics Smoothing Day Cream
75. The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream
76. The Nature’s Co. Marshmallow Day Cream
77. Vicco Turmeric Skin Cream
78. Vicco Turmeric WSO Skin Cream
79. VLCC Fair Skin Snigdha Face Cream
80. VLCC Skin Defense Liquorice Cold Cream
81. Vivel Cell Renew Fortify + Repair Moisturizer

Face creams / lotions that may not be comedogenic

What follows is a list of face creams that may or may not work for acne prone skin. We have been unable to classify them either due to conflicting information or lack of a full ingredient list. Comment and let us know if you have used any of these.

• Himalaya Herbals Nourishing Skin Cream
• Garnier Skin Naturals Light Daily Moisturiser
• Garnier Essential Care Daily Moisturizing Lotion