Alcohol In Skincare Products
Today I want to discuss with you one ingredient of cosmetic. It is alcohol. I often read comments and many people react very negatively to this component in cosmetics. But however it really isn’t all that bad for skin. Sometimes it may be useful. In addition, alcohol is of different kinds. Therefore, let’s find out more about it.
Alcohol
Alcohol is known as ethanol or ethyl alcohol. In the list of ingredients you can find alcohol denat., denatured alcohol or SD alcohol.
How is alcohol made?
Need to put grains, fruits or vegetables through a process called fermentation (when yeast or bacteria react with the sugars in food – the by-products are ethanol and carbon dioxide).
Benefits of alcohol
- Alcohols evaporate from the skin surface quickly. The fast-drying property of alcohol makes it an ideal ingredient in products such as hair sprays so that the hair dries quickly once the hairspray has been applied.
- Do alcohols dry my hair out? Styling products have a low alcohol content, therefore it doesn’t dry out hair in particular when product also contains nourishing ingredients.
- Alcohol is an ingredient that is often used in skincare products. But if alcohol is at the end of ingredients list, then don’t worry about it. Ingredients listed near the end of the list product typically comprise less than one percent of the total.
- Alcohol is a good preservative for a long shelf life. In this case, the product will always contain less than 10% alcohol. Don’t worry about it, when product also contains nourishing ingredients. However, people with sensitive skin need to be careful when using a product with alcohol.
- Hand sanitizers usually have a high alcohol concentration between 60–95% but it’s necessary. Otherwise it will not be effective at killing all germs. Fortunately, these products contain many moisturizing agents such as glycerin.
Risks of alcohol
- The main risk is dryness of the skin. Alcohol disrupts the skin’s barrier function.
- Alcohol helps other ingredients absorb into the deeper layers of the skin more effectively. If these are harmful parabens, we do not need this, and if these are active agents, of course, this is only benefit.
- Alcohol is usually found in astringent toners for oily and greasy skin. They provide an immediate matte finish. It can actually increase oiliness, so the immediate de-greasing effect is eventually counteracted, prompting your oily skin to look even more shiny.
Fatty Alcohols
Fatty alcohols are generally considered to be good alcohols and can be exceptionally beneficial for skin. Examples: cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, myristyl alcohol and behenyl alcohol. They are produced from palm oil or coconut oil.
Fatty alcohols are thick in its consistency. This makes them a good choice as emollients.
Fatty alcohols are also used as emulsifiers to form uniform formulations with a creamy and smooth finish. Fatty alcohols have a good moisturizing effect.
However, they may cause allergic reactions in people who have sensitive skin.
In conclusion
My opinion is alcohol in skin care is not always a bad. I think a small amount of alcohol in care can be helpful. It depends on your skin type and your skin needs. If you have dry and sensitive skin need to be careful when using cosmetics with alcohol. And remember, it is your responsibility to make an educated choice on a case by case basis about whether to use alcohol-based products or not.
What do you think about alcohol in skin care? Do you avoid them in cosmetics?
Mehr
April J, 2019I love this blog post as it’s a topic not many people speak about! I had no idea about the benefits of alcohol in cosmetic products! Thank you!
Mehr II https://mehrshares.com/2019/04/08/look-fantastic-beauty-box-april-2019/
Oxana
May J, 2019I am glad to be helpful.
Herah
April J, 2019Such an informative post and I always hear about alcohol is bad in skin care products. But glad to hear it isn’t! Thank you!
Paige
April J, 2019I try to avoid alcohol in my products but interesting take on the subject. Thanks for sharing!
Kat
April J, 2019This is really interesting. I’m glad you put the list of benefits and risks to your skin! I never even thought to see how it can be good or bad for your skin!
Oxana
May J, 2019Thank you!
AlkoZlo
May J, 2019For those with oily skin, alcohol can stimulate oil production at the base of the pore, so the immediate de-greasing effect is eventually counteracted by oily skin producing even more oil! Talk about spinning your wheels!
Oxana
May J, 2019Very well said!