Are you someone who pays attention to the ingredients in your skincare products? If so, you may have noticed the presence of alcohol in many of them. Alcohol is a common ingredient in skincare products, but not all alcohols are created equal. In fact, some alcohols can be beneficial for your skin, while others can cause dryness and irritation – it all depends on the particular type and amount present in a product, and your skin type.
While alcohol can have both positive and negative effects on the skin, it’s important to understand the difference between good and bad alcohol in skincare products. Our aim is to make it easy for you to recognize which ones to avoid, and which ones to look for on the label.
The Bad:
When it comes to alcohol in skincare, certain types should raise a red flag. These alcohols can strip your skin of moisture, cause irritation, and disrupt its natural barrier function. Here are some alcohols to watch out for:
- Alcohol (Surprise! It will sometimes be simply named “alcohol”.)
- Ethanol
- Propanol
- Denatured alcohol
- Alcohol Denat.
- Ethyl alcohol
- Methanol
- Isopropyl alcohol
- SD alcohol
- Benzyl alcohol
These types of volatile alcohols immediately de-grease super oily skin, create a matte finish, and feel weightless on skin, so it’s easy to see their appeal. But those short term benefits end up with negative long term consequences.
The Good:
Not all alcohols are harmful to your skin. In fact, some alcohols can be beneficial and even provide specific advantages for different skin types. Here are some alcohols that are generally considered safe and can have positive effects:
- Cetyl alcohol
- Stearyl or isostearyl alcohol
- C12-16
- Cetearyl alcohol
- Lauryl alcohol
- Isopropyl myristate
- Isopropyl palmitate
- Glyceryl stearate
- Glycol
- Myristyl Alcohol
All of the above mentioned good, fatty alcohols are suitable for dry skin, and in small amounts fine for any skin type. They’re not drying or irritating to your skin at all. In fact, they have the opposite effect. They act as emollients which protect your skin and help it to keep moisture in. The reason why at least one of these, especially cetyl alcohol, is an essential ingredient in moisturizers, lotions or even cleansers.
Understanding Alcohol Content in Skincare Products
When shopping for skincare products, it’s essential to pay attention to the alcohol content. The higher up an alcohol appears on the ingredient list, the greater the concentration in the product.
As a general rule, the first FIVE ingredients compose most (roughly 80 percent) of the product. So those are the most important ones to check.
Keep in mind that some products may contain a small amount of alcohol, which may not necessarily be harmful, especially if it includes beneficial alcohols.
PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS:
- CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. Buy It: $16, ulta.com
- Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. Buy It: $11; ulta.com
- FAB Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer. Buy It: $28; sephora.com
- Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion. Buy It: $8.68; walmart.com
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