What is Plankton Extract?
Plankton Extract falls into the marine / algae category — a marine or algae-derived extract. A marine plankton extract grouped with algae on pore-clogging lists in the high range.
You may see it on labels as Plankton Extract, Plankton, so it can hide under more than one name in an ingredient list.
Where Plankton Extract shows up
As a marine or algae-derived extract, Plankton Extract typically appears in anti-ageing serums, masks, and 'marine' or 'seaweed' branded skincare. Separately from clogging, its irritancy is rated 2/5 — low, so it's unlikely to sting or sensitise on its own.
Is Plankton Extract bad for acne-prone skin?
For breakout-prone skin, a rating this high is a genuine flag. What matters most is where Plankton Extract sits on the label: near the top it's a real consideration, near the bottom it's usually a trace amount.
Worth flagging: Plankton Extract's rating is disputed. Credible sources land on different numbers, which is why we show a range rather than a single score — and why your own experience is the best tiebreaker.
Non-comedogenic alternatives
If you're avoiding Plankton Extract, these lower-risk ingredients serve a similar role and are gentler on pore-prone skin:
- Hyaluronic Acid — rated 0/5 (Low risk).
- Niacinamide — rated 0/5 (Low risk).