In the ever-evolving skincare landscape, few ingredients spark as much debate as alcohol. The argument has raged on for years: is it a skincare saviour or a saboteur? With so much conflicting information swirling around, how can you understand this ingredient and its role in skincare? Curiously, while we’re mindful of consuming alcohol, its prevalence in skincare often goes unchecked. How does an ingredient known for its harshness fit into our beauty rituals? It’s a topic worth a closer look, especially if you’ve got sensitive skin. Let us put both your mind and skin at ease as we explore the hotly debated role of alcohol in skincare, answering your burning questions.
Understanding Alcohol in Skincare
What’s alcohol doing in skincare products and what does it mean for you? Well, to answer that, we first have to categorise alcohol into “good alcohol” and “bad alcohol”.
Fatty alcohols, or wax alcohols—aka the good kind—are derivatives of coconut or palm oil. Known for their moisturising qualities, they are unlikely to trigger negative skin reactions. They appear on ingredient lists as:
Stearyl Alcohol: Acts as an emollient, sealing in moisture for soft, hydrated skin.
Cetyl Alcohol: Works as a thickening agent, enhancing the consistency of the formula.
Cetearyl Alcohol: An emulsifier that holds oil and water together to stabilise the formulation. It also works as an emollient.
Propylene Glycol: A humectant that prevents moisture loss and helps the skin hold onto moisture, reducing dryness.
Lanolin: Forms a layer over the skin to prevent water loss.
“Bad alcohols” are generally used for their quick-drying and de-greasing properties, which explains their presence in skincare products, especially in products geared towards those with oily skin. But hold on, there’s more to the story. The adverse effects of these alcohols outnumber their apparent benefits. While their volatile nature allows them to dry quickly, it can also result in excessive skin dryness, leading to irritation, inflammation, a weakened skin barrier, increased sebum production, and even allergic reactions.
Ethyl Alcohol (AKA ethanol or grain alcohol): It’s a denatured alcohol (alcohol denat.) that is added to products to ensure nobody drinks (read abuses) them, since they’re not fit for human consumption.
Isopropyl Alcohol: Commonly known as rubbing alcohol, it helps give the skin a tight, matte look and also works as a solvent to help products reach deeper layers of the skin.
Methyl Alcohol or Methanol: A volatile substance used to denature ethyl alcohol, rendering it unsuitable for people to consume.
Benzyl Alcohol: An organic alcohol used as a preservative, thanks to its antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Effects of Alcohol on Sensitive Skin
Avoiding ‘bad’ alcohol is skincare 101, no matter your skin type. For those with sensitive skin, though, it’s a non-negotiable. Here are reasons you want your skin to stay as far away from alcohol as possible:
1. Excessive Dryness
Some kinds of alcohol are astringents and are used to make formulas less greasy, but they can also strip the natural oils of your skin, leaving you with excessive dryness and dehydration. Long-term use of such products may irritate the skin or worsen conditions like rosacea and eczema.
2. Impaired Skin Barrier
While certain types of alcohol can enhance the absorbing capacity of the products, they also disturb and weaken the skin’s natural barrier which is important in moisture retention. A weakened skin barrier not only accelerates moisture loss but also opens the door to irritants, causing inflammation and redness.
3. Increased Sensitivity
Continued irritation or inflammation can trigger the breakdown of collagen and elastin, two essential proteins responsible for maintaining the skin’s elasticity and firmness. This can lead to signs of premature ageing, such as wrinkles and fine lines.
4. Visibly Enlarged Pores
Alcohol is often used in products designed for oily skin, but it ends up doing more harm than good. It dries out the skin, prompting oil glands to go into overdrive and produce even more sebum. The end result? Oiliness (the irony!) and visibly enlarged pores.
Is Alcohol in Skin Care Good or Bad?
When it comes to skincare, alcohol can be a double-edged sword. While “bad” alcohols like ethyl and isopropanol are best left off your shelf, “good” alcohols can bring some real skin benefits. So, when you’re adding a new skincare product to your routine, always check for red flags–bad alcohols–that can derail your progress.
Alcohol-Free Skin-Care Products
When it comes to the best skincare products for sensitive skin, alcohol-free formulas lead the pack. It’s one of the kindest things you can do for your skin. At Simple Skincare, we are dedicated to bringing you just that: truly simple skincare solutions that give your skin exactly what it needs and nothing that it doesn’t.