Alcohol in Skincare: What to Avoid
With so much misinformation available online, it is not easy for individuals to know which ingredients or products are bad for the skin. Take alcohol as an example- it is easy to misinterpret alcohol as the superhero in skincare, but do you know that alcohol can be a supervillain too? Dive into this article to know more about the merits and demerits of using alcohol in skincare products.
Alcohols: Are they good or bad?
Some alcohols can be damaging to your skin, while others won’t cause skin damage. Let us have a look at them below:
- Damaging alcohols (the bad ones): Some of the damaging alcohols that you should avoid in skincare products include denatured alcohols like isopropyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, ethanol, methanol, SD alcohol, etc. Often, these alcohols are light-weight and easy to use, but they are known to cause skin irritation and inflammation. It can also trigger the androgen hormones to produce more sebum, resulting in greasiness on the skin.
- Non-damaging alcohols (the good ones): Non-damaging alcohols that can be used include fatty alcohols like cetyl, stearyl, or cetearyl alcohols. They are good for all skin types in small amounts.
How can alcohol damage your skin?
Alcohol can trigger oil production, which can clog the skin, resulting in acne breakouts, bumps, and an increase in the size of skin pores. Alcohol can damage the skin’s external barrier and promote aging. If your skin is sensitive and experiences rashes, application of alcohol can trigger a burning sensation on the skin.
Can alcohol benefit the skin?
Fatty alcohols can be beneficial for skin in reduced amounts. They can improve the absorption of ingredients like vitamin C and Retinol. Apart from this, it can improve hydration and work better for dehydrated skin. Alcohol (Ethanol) added to hand sanitizers can aid in killing viruses and germs. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers were widely used during the peak of COVID-19.
What should we look out for while choosing alcohol-based products?
- Check the ingredient list of the skin products. If alcohol is the main/primary ingredient, skip using the product as it can dry out the skin.
- Fatty alcohols are better compared to denatured alcohols. Check which kind of alcohol is added in the ingredient list of the product.
- Avoid going for harsh alcohol-based products as they can strip your skin of moisture and promote dryness.
- Make sure to consult a dermatologist to get proper skincare products suited to your skin’s needs.
- You can opt for alcohol-free skin care products if your skin is too sensitive.
- Patch test can be essential. You can apply alcohol-based product to a small part of your skin, then wait for 24 hours to check how it reacts with your skin.
So the next time, you observe alcohol in the ingredient list of the product, do not panic! Just pause and think which one to go for. Some alcohols can be skin-friendly sidekicks, whereas others can be undercover villains. With a little know-how, you can identify them in no time!
