Why is alcohol used in skin care products?
Different types of alcohol are used in skin care products and there is often confusion about it. One type of alcohol cannot be compared with the other and the pronunciation "Alcohol is bad for the skin" is not necessarily true.
In short, the two types of alcohol used in skin care products can be described as "hard" and "soft". And as you may have guessed, your skin of hard alcohol will not be happy and you better avoid it.
What is alcohol in skin care?
Mild or "fat" alcohol actually has a caring effect in skin care, because it helps your skin to better retain moisture and ensures that (plant) extracts are better absorbed. You can recognize this type of alcohol on the ingredient list under these names:
- Cetearyl
- cetyl
- behyl
- myristyl
- stearyl
Which alcohols should you avoid?
Rough alcohol dissolves the fat protective layer of your skin, making it dry out and becomes sensitive. You can recognize this type of alcohol on the ingredient list under the following names:
- Alcohol Denat. (Gedenatured alcohol - very drying)
- ethanol
- methanol
- Isopropyl
- ethyl alcohol
- SD alcohol
- benzyl
Benzyl alcohol needs some explanation. This ingredient is often used as a preservative or solvent for plant extracts used in natural skin care. These are minimal quantities that are harmless and do not dry out the skin in combination with other ingredients. If it is a product that is rinsed and the amount of lower than 0.01%, it does not even have to be stated on the package. So there are products that contain benzyl alcohol, but do not mention this on the package. Chicory Skincare considers transparency important and therefore states all the ingredients on the package, even if that is not necessary.
The alcohol used in chicory products is a combination of soft alcohols and benzyl alcohol that comes along as a natural component of essential oils. This combination is used to solve certain plant extracts and ensures that nourishing extracts such as vitamins and antioxidants are absorbed deeper into the skin, where they can do their beneficial work.
Position on the ingredient list
You can also assess whether the (strong) alcohol -drying effects used has by looking at the position on the ingredient list. If an ingredient is at the very bottom, the quantities are so small that it has no adverse effects. However, keep in mind that this does not apply to hormone -like substances such as parabens, which can even have an effect on your body in small quantities. That is why this does not apply to every type of ingredient.
Can alcohol cause acne in skin care?
That depends on it - of course one is more sensitive to some species of alcohol than the other. The aggressive alcohols mentioned above can damage your skin, irritate and dry out unnaturally. According to the American Academy of Dermatology It is advised not to use any cleaning agents with alcohol, but instead to opt for mild cleaning agents, regardless of your skin type. This applies in particular to toners, because they are not rinsed.
Does your skin agree due to alcohol in skin care?
We are all aware of the aging effects that can have drinking alcohol on your skin, but what about applying alcohol?
Indeed! Applying products with aggressive alcohols on your skin can damage the skin barrier, which can lead to different reactions, such as the excessive drying of your skin, so that your skin will produce more fat and also contribute to outdated -looking skin.
Is alcohol in skin care safe during pregnancy?
It National Institute of Health concludes that alcohols in skin care products are generally safe to use during pregnancy and do not entail major risks, regardless of whether it is hard or soft alcohols. Nevertheless, we recommend that you avoid hard alcohols, in the interest of your skin.
If you want to know more about the ingredients of skin care products, Then plan a free online skin consultation with Caroline.
