Real Skin.
Real Talk.
Real BABES.

A safe space for acne struggles, skin education, and unapologetic confidence. You’re not broken. You’re not alone. You’re still a babe.

The Acne Files here

Chat with Blemish Babes

Acne Free Aisle

About Us

Hi, I’m Tiffany.

I struggle with acne. Research it. And simply get it.

So like, Why?

I’ve been in the acne trenches too. From dermatologists and prescriptions to lasers, facials, and herbal supplements, I’ve tried everything. Some things helped, many didn’t. But through it all, what I really needed, and couldn’t find, was a place to feel seen, supported, and a little less alone.

Then the idea for Blemish Babes entered the chat.

After too many nights spent hiding at home, obsessing in the mirror, and feeling like the only one dealing with this… I knew something had to change.

Why Shop With Us?

Every product is carefully screened and reviewed with acne-prone, sensitive, and breakout-reactive skin in mind.

Ingredient	Aliases	Comedogenic Rating (0-5)	Why It Can Clog Pores
Acetylated Lanolin	acetylated lanolin	4	Heavy and waxy—this one can sit on your skin and keep everything trapped underneath.
Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol	acetylated lanolin alcohol	4	Lanolin-based and rich—feels conditioning, clogs like it’s paid to.
Algae Extract	algae extract	5	Algae sounds fancy but your pores don’t agree—this one is breakout bait.
Algin	algin	4	Sea-derived thickener that can quietly contribute to congestion.
Beeswax	beeswax; cera alba; white wax	2	Forms a seal over skin—can trap oil and debris if you're clog-prone.
Bismuth	bismuth	2	Usually there for texture, but it can feel heavy on breakout-prone skin.
Bismuth Oxychloride	bismuth oxychloride	3	Common in makeup for shimmer and slip, but pores are not always amused.
Butyl Stearate	butyl stearate	3	A fatty ester that makes formulas feel smooth while pores slowly get crowded.
Carrageenan	carrageenan; chondrus crispus; irish moss; carageenan moss	5	Sneaky seaweed thickener that clogs like it has a personal vendetta.
Ceteareth-20	ceteareth-20; ceteareth 20	2	An emulsifier that can be a little too much for easily congested skin.
Cetearyl Alcohol	cetearyl alcohol	2	A fatty alcohol, not a drying one—but still richer than some acne-prone skin likes.
Cetearyl Alcohol + Ceteareth 20	cetearyl alcohol + ceteareth 20; cetearyl alcohol + ceteareth-20; cetearyl alcohol/ceteareth-20; cetearyl alcohol/ceteareth 20; cetearyl alcohol and ceteareth-20; cetearyl alcohol and ceteareth 20	4	This combo is where things get messier. Together, it can be a lot for clog-prone skin.
Cetyl Acetate	cetyl acetate	3	Waxy and smoothing, but it can overstay its welcome inside pores.
Chlorella	chlorella	5	Another algae-family ingredient with breakout energy.
Coal Tar	coal tar	5	Very heavy, very occlusive, very not what clogged pores are asking for.
Cocoa Butter	cocoa butter; theobroma cacao butter; theobroma cacao (cocoa) butter; theobroma cacao cocoa butter; theobroma cacao seed butter	4	Rich and dreamy until it’s sitting on your face like a pore-plugging blanket.
Coconut Alkanes	coconut alkanes	4	Coconut-derived and often sold as lightweight, but your pores may strongly disagree.
Coconut Butter	coconut butter	4	Buttery, rich, and not shy about trapping buildup.
Coconut Oil	coconut oil; cocos nucifera oil; cocos nucifera (coconut) oil; cocos nucifera coconut oil	5	Pore-clogging queen. Great marketing, terrible behavior on acne-prone skin.
Colloidal Sulfur	colloidal sulfur	1	More treatment-coded than clogging, but it can still be irritating in the wrong formula.
Cotton Seed Oil	cotton seed oil; cottonseed oil; gossypium herbaceum (cotton) seed oil; gossypium herbaceum cotton seed oil; gossypium herbaceum seed oil	3	A filler-style oil that can feel heavier than your pores signed up for.
Corn Oil	corn oil; zea mays (corn) oil; zea mays corn oil; zea mays oil	3	An emollient oil that can quietly add to congestion over time.
D & C Red # 3	d & c red # 3; d&c red #3; d and c red #3; d&c red no. 3; d & c red no. 3	3	Cute color, not-so-cute pore behavior.
D & C Red # 17	d & c red # 17; d&c red #17; d and c red #17; d&c red no. 17; d & c red no. 17	3	A dye your formula may love more than your skin does.
D & C Red # 21	d & c red # 21; d&c red #21; d and c red #21; d&c red no. 21; d & c red no. 21	3	Another synthetic dye that can bring extra irritation and congestion to the party.
D & C Red # 30	d & c red # 30; d&c red #30; d and c red #30; d&c red no. 30; d & c red no. 30	3	Pretty pigment, messy consequences.
D & C Red # 36	d & c red # 36; d&c red #36; d and c red #36; d&c red no. 36; d & c red no. 36	3	A color additive that can be more trouble than it is worth for acne-prone skin.
Decyl Oleate	decyl oleate	3	Silky-feeling ester that can leave pores feeling stuffed.
Dioctyl Succinate	dioctyl succinate	3	An emollient ester that can slowly build up where you least want it.
Disodium Monooleamido	disodium monooleamido	3	Mostly there for formula performance, but still capable of congesting skin.
Ethoxylated Lanolin	ethoxylated lanolin	4	Modified lanolin is still very much lanolin energy—rich, clingy, and porey.
Ethylhexyl Palmitate	ethylhexyl palmitate	4	Feels lightweight, behaves like pore glue.
Glyceryl Stearate SE	glyceryl stearate se	3	Important: only the SE version is the issue. Regular glyceryl stearate is not the same thing.
Glyceryl-3 Diisostearate	glyceryl-3 diisostearate; glyceryl 3 diisostearate	4	A rich ester that makes formulas feel luxe while pores quietly suffer.
Hexadecyl Alcohol	hexadecyl alcohol	2	A fatty alcohol that can be fine for some, but clog-prone skin may disagree.
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil	hydrogenated vegetable oil	3	Basically stabilized heavy oil energy—not always ideal if you clog easily.
Isocetyl Alcohol	isocetyl alcohol	4	Not the same as cetyl alcohol. This one deserves more suspicion.
Isocetyl Stearate	isocetyl stearate	5	Silky finish, brutal pore behavior.
Isodecyl Oleate	isodecyl oleate	4	A smoothing ester that can turn into buildup city.
Isopropyl Isostearate	isopropyl isostearate	5	Looks harmless on a label, sells you out in real life.
Isopropyl Linolate	isopropyl linolate	4	Rich and emollient—sometimes a little too rich for breakout-prone skin.
Isopropyl Myristate	isopropyl myristate	5	If breakouts had a best friend, it would be this ingredient.
Isopropyl Palmitate	isopropyl palmitate	5	Absorbs fast, clogs faster.
Isostearyl Isostearate	isostearyl isostearate	5	Very rich ester energy. Pores do not stand a chance.
Isostearyl Neopentanoate	isostearyl neopentanoate	3	Used for softness and slip, but it can add to congestion over time.
Jojoba Wax	jojoba wax	2	Less alarming than some oils, but still waxy enough to add buildup.
Kelp	kelp	5	Seaweed by another name. Same breakout baggage.
Laminaria Digitata Extract	laminaria digitata extract	5	An algae-derived ingredient your pores may wish stayed in the ocean.
Laminaria Saccharina Extract	laminaria saccharina extract	5	Another seaweed-family ingredient that can make acne-prone skin act up.
Laminaria Saccharine	laminaria saccharine	5	Different spelling, same algae problem.
Laureth-23	laureth-23; laureth 23	3	A surfactant that can sometimes lean irritating or congestive.
Laureth-4	laureth-4; laureth 4	4	One of the more acne-triggering surfactants. Not your skin’s friend.
Lauric Acid	lauric acid	4	Yes it has antimicrobial cred, but it can still be too cloggy for many.
Mink Oil	mink oil	4	Very heavy oil energy. Your pores did not ask for this.
Myristic Acid	myristic acid	3	A fatty acid that can push already-congested skin over the edge.
Myristyl Lactate	myristyl lactate	4	A richer ester that can feel elegant in a formula and chaotic in a pore.
Myristyl Myristate	myristyl myristate	5	Waxy, heavy, and very committed to clogging.
Octyl Palmitate	octyl palmitate	4	Smooth texture for the product, traffic jam for your pores.
Octyl Stearate	octyl stearate	4	Another silky-feeling ester that can slowly back things up.
Oleth-3	oleth-3; oleth 3	3	A formula helper that can still be too much for clog-prone skin.
Oleyl Alcohol	oleyl alcohol	3	A fatty alcohol that can add softness and congestion at the same time.
PEG 2 Sulfosuccinate	peg 2- sulfosuccinate; peg 2 sulfosuccinate; peg-2 sulfosuccinate	2	Lower on the clog scale, but still worth flagging if you want a strict checker.
PEG 16 Lanolin	peg 16 lanolin; peg-16 lanolin	4	Lanolin in a modified outfit is still lanolin.
PEG 200 Dilaurate	peg 200 dilaurate; peg-200 dilaurate	3	Can help a formula behave while still adding to buildup.
PEG 8 Stearate	peg 8 stearate; peg-8 stearate	3	Another stearate-based ingredient that can be less pore-friendly than it sounds.
PG Monostearate	pg monostearate	3	Texture helper, pore irritant. Tough combo.
PPG 2 Myristyl Propionate	ppg 2 myristyl propionate; ppg-2 myristyl propionate	4	A richer emollient that can absolutely become a clogging issue.
Plankton	plankton	5	Marine extract, same headache.
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate	polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate; polyglyceryl 3 diisostearate	4	A rich emulsifier that can leave pores feeling full.
Potassium Chloride	potassium chloride	1	More of a stabilizer than a true clogger, but included for a strict checker.
Propylene Glycol Monostearate	propylene glycol monostearate	4	An emollient-thickener combo that can be too much for breakout-prone skin.
Red Algae	red algae	5	Algae in a different outfit is still algae.
Seaweed	seaweed	5	Broad marine ingredient bucket with a long history of making pores unhappy.
Shark Liver Oil	shark liver oil	4	A very heavy oil that can feel nourishing while quietly backing up pores.
Shea Butter	shea butter; butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter; butyrospermum parkii shea butter; butyrospermum parkii butter	3	Nourishing for some, but acne-prone skin can experience it more like a traffic jam.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate	sodium laureth sulfate	1	More irritating than clogging, but still not especially kind to a stressed barrier.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate	sodium lauryl sulfate	1	Harsh cleanser energy. Not a major clogger, but it can make skin angrier.
Solulan 16	solulan 16; solulan-16	4	A lanolin derivative with real clogging potential.
Sorbitan Oleate	sorbitan oleate	3	An emulsifier that can contribute to congestion, especially in richer formulas.
Soybean Oil	soybean oil; soyabean oil; glycine soja (soybean) oil; glycine soja soybean oil; glycine soja oil	4	Usually there as a cheaper emollient, but it can feel pretty heavy on acne-prone skin.
Spirulina	spirulina	5	Health-food halo, breakout energy.
Steareth-10	steareth-10; steareth 10	3	A formula helper that can still end up being a little too much for easily clogged pores.
Stearic Acid Tea	stearic acid tea; tea-stearic acid; tea stearic acidstearyl heptanoate	3	A fatty-acid-related ingredient that can add richness and pore buildup.
Stearyl Heptanoate	stearyl heptanoate	3	An emollient ester that can make formulas feel smoother while pores get less thrilled.
Sulfated Castor Oil	sulfated castor oil; turkey red oil	3	Modified oil, same basic issue—it can still contribute to congestion.
Sulfated Jojoba Oil	sulfated jojoba oil	3	Not the most famous clogger, but still too much for some breakout-prone skin.
Wheat Germ Oil	wheat germ oil; wheat germ glyceride; triticum vulgare (wheat) germ oil; triticum vulgare wheat germ oil; triticum vulgare germ oil	5	Top-tier pore clogger. Hard no if you break out easily.
Xylene	xylene	1	More of an irritation concern than a pore-clogger, but definitely not skin-friendly.
Olive Oil	Olive Oil	3	Nourishing on paper, but for clog-prone skin it can feel heavy fast and quietly contribute to congestion.
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil	Olea Europaea Fruit Oil	3	Olive oil under its formal name. Same rich energy, same potential pore drama.
Olive Butter	Olive Butter	4	Olive oil made richer and thicker. Great for dry skin, not always for breakout-prone pores.
Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters	Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters	2	Modified olive derivative that may be lighter, but still worth flagging in a strict checker.
Shea	Shea	3	Usually shorthand for shea butter. Nourishing, but can sit heavy on some acne-prone skin.
Shea Butter	Shea Butter	3	Moisturizing favorite for some, traffic jam for others. Depends on your pores.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter	Butyrospermum Parkii Butter	3	Shea butter’s government name. Same richness, same possible congestion.
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter	Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter	3	Just shea butter in full INCI form.
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract	Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract	2	Usually lighter than raw butter, but still worth noting.
Shea Nut Oil	Shea Nut Oil	3	A softer shea derivative that can still be too rich for some clog-prone skin.
Avocado Oil	Avocado Oil	3	Nutrient-rich and moisturizing, but richer oils can be risky if you clog easily.
Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil	Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil	3	Avocado oil in disguise. Same nourishing, same pore gamble.
Avocado Butter	Avocado Butter	4	Extra rich avocado derivative that can overstay its welcome in pores.
Apricot Oil	Apricot Oil	2	Lighter than some oils, but still not a guaranteed win for breakout-prone skin.
Apricot Kernel Oil	Apricot Kernel Oil	2	Often gentler than richer oils, though some skin still gets congested.
Apricot	Apricot	2	Usually referring to apricot-derived oil/extract. Worth flagging.
Argan Oil	Argan Oil	2	Often tolerated better than heavier oils, but still not universal acne-safe magic.
Babassu Oil	Babassu Oil	3	Coconut-adjacent vibes. Can feel light but may clog reactive skin.
Baobab Oil	Baobab Oil	2	Less notorious than coconut or olive, but still an emollient oil worth monitoring.
Beef Tallow	Beef Tallow	4	Animal fat trend or not, it’s rich, occlusive, and not always breakout-friendly.
Tallow	Tallow	4	Same issue: heavy lipid energy that can back up pores.
Black Kelp	Black Kelp	5	Kelp by another name. Marine ingredients can be sneaky congestion triggers.
Blue Algae	Blue Algae	5	Algae family ingredient with breakout-prone skin side-eye.
Blue Green Algae	Blue Green Algae	5	Sounds wellness-coded, behaves like algae-coded. Worth avoiding if clog-prone.
Borage Oil	Borage Oil	2	Sometimes loved for barrier support, but oils are never one-size-fits-all.
Brazil Nut Oil	Brazil Nut Oil	3	Rich nut oil that may be too much for already congested skin.
Buriti Oil	Buriti Oil	3	Deeply nourishing, deeply rich. Some pores may file complaints.
Cacao Seed Butter	Cacao Seed Butter	4	Cocoa butter adjacent. Rich, buttery, and potentially pore-stuffing.
Camelina Oil	Camelina Oil	2	Not top-tier clogger territory, but still an oil worth flagging for sensitive users.
Canola Oil	Canola Oil	3	Cheap filler-oil energy that can feel heavier than expected.
Carrot Seed Oil	Carrot Seed Oil	2	Usually lower concern, but oils can still tip skin into congestion.
Coconut	Coconut	5	If it’s vague coconut wording, caution is justified. Coconut family ingredients can be risky.
Coconut Extract	Coconut Extract	3	Depends on type and concentration, but worth flagging due to coconut source.
Coconut Fruit	Coconut Fruit	3	Coconut source ingredient. Not always raw oil, but still worth noting.
Cocos Nucifera	Cocos Nucifera	5	Coconut by its legal name. Your pores know exactly who this is.
Cocos Nucifera Oil	Cocos Nucifera Oil	5	Coconut oil in formalwear. Same behavior.
Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil	Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil	5	Same story, same clog risk.
Cocos Nucifera Seed Butter	Cocos Nucifera Seed Butter	4	Coconut-derived butter with richer, heavier energy.
Cottonseed Oil	Cottonseed Oil	3	Heavier utility oil that can quietly add buildup.
Cranberry Seed Oil	Cranberry Seed Oil	2	Sometimes tolerated, but still an oil and not a free pass.
Evening Primrose Oil	Evening Primrose Oil	2	Barrier-supportive for some, congestion trigger for others.
Flax Oil	Flax Oil	3	Nutritious in smoothies, less exciting inside pores.
Flaxseed Oil	Flaxseed Oil	3	Same rich omega-heavy energy that some skin dislikes.
Linseed Oil	Linseed Oil	3	Flax by another name. Same potential congestion issue.
Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil	Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil	3	Full INCI name for flax/linseed oil. Worth flagging.
Kukui Nut Oil	Kukui Nut Oil	3	Rich tropical oil that may not play nicely with clog-prone skin.
Kukui Oil	Kukui Oil	3	Same issue, shorter name.
Lanolin Oil	Lanolin Oil	4	Lanolin family remains lanolin family. Rich, clingy, suspicious.
Lauryl Alcohol	Lauryl Alcohol	2	Can be more irritating than clogging, but still not ideal for reactive skin.
Lauryl Olivate	Lauryl Olivate	3	Olive-derived fatty ingredient that can be richer than it sounds.
Mango Butter	Mango Butter	3	Loved for softness, but rich butters are never universally acne-safe.
Mineral Oil	Mineral Oil	2	More debated than demonized. Occlusive and heavy-feeling for some users.
Neem Oil	Neem Oil	2	Strong-smelling plant oil that some love, but still an oil.
Palm Kernel Oil	Palm Kernel Oil	4	Richer than palm oil and more likely to feel pore-heavy.
Palm Oil	Palm Oil	3	Can be a bit much for acne-prone skin depending on formula load.
Palm Oil Butter	Palm Oil Butter	4	Concentrated rich butter version. Pores may object.
Peach Kernel Oil	Peach Kernel Oil	2	Generally lighter, but still an emollient oil worth watching.
Peanut Oil	Peanut Oil	3	Rich nut oil that can feel heavy and congestive for some skin.
PEG-100 Distearate	PEG-100 Distearate	2	Texture helper with stearate roots. Not top offender, but worth flagging.
PEG-150 Distearate	PEG-150 Distearate	2	Similar story: emulsifier with possible buildup potential.
Prunus Dulcis Oil	Prunus Dulcis Oil	3	Sweet almond oil under a shorter label name.
Sweet Almond Oil	Sweet Almond Oil	3	Can be lovely for dry skin, less lovely for some acne-prone pores.
Sweet Almond Butter	Sweet Almond Butter	4	Thicker almond derivative with richer clog potential.
Pumpkin Seed Oil	Pumpkin Seed Oil	2	Sometimes tolerated, still an oil and not universally acne-safe.
Rapeseed Oil	Rapeseed Oil	3	Similar territory to canola. Functional, but not ideal for all skin.
Sesame	Sesame	3	Usually indicates sesame-derived oil/seed component. Worth caution.
Sesame Oil	Sesame Oil	3	Rich seed oil that can be too much for some breakout-prone skin.
Sesame Seed	Sesame Seed	2	Depends on format, but worth noting.
Shark Squalene	Shark Squalene	2	Different from squalane, but source-derived lipids can still be heavy for some.
Soy	Soy	3	Broad soy wording often means oil/derivative. Worth flagging.
Soy Oil	Soy Oil	4	Usually there as a cheaper emollient and can feel heavy fast.
Soy Protein	Soy Protein	1	More of a formula additive than classic clogger, but included for strictness.
Soybean	Soybean	4	Broad soybean wording often signals oil-based derivatives.
Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil	Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil	4	Soybean oil in formal INCI mode. Same issue.