Alcohol in Skin Care: Is It OK?

Alcohol can help your skin absorb the product faster, but in some cases, the ingredient may cause redness and irritation. 

There might be something hidden in your moisturizer that you didn't even think about: alcohol. Alcohol comes in many forms—some can dry out the skin and make it more susceptible to irritation, and some can actually help moisturize the skin. 

However, there has been controversy recently about how much alcohol you should be careful about when it comes to skin care. Should you avoid it entirely? Is a certain amount okay? 

We spoke with board-certified dermatologists to help you make the best decision for the health of your complexion.The use of alcohol in skin care products 

According to CosmeticsInfo.org, alcohol is found in a variety of skin care products, including makeup, lotions, perfumes, shaving products, oral care, and skin and hair care products. 

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), alcohol is “a large and diverse family of chemicals with different names and different effects on the skin.” 

"There are many reasons to add alcohol," says Lauren Fine, MD, a dermatologist who is board-certified in cosmetic surgery and dermatology in Chicago. 

"Alcohol makes the product feel more elegant and lightweight and can also improve the overall feel of the product by making it absorb faster." 

Additionally, alcohol is a possible preservative, although it is not the primary preservative as there are other ingredients that can play this role. 

The name of alcohol in the ingredient list of skin care products. Here are some examples of alcohol found on skin care product ingredient labels: According to the FDA, ethanol is also known as ethanol or grain alcohol. Ethanol is denatured (see below), making it useful in cosmetics. 

Alcohol Denat According to CosmeticsInfo.org, to avoid paying taxes on alcohol in cosmetics, companies use denatured alcohol, an ingredient that makes the taste so bitter that you'll never want to drink it. You can find denatured alcohol in cosmetics, lotions, perfumes, skin and hair care products. 

It is known by several other names, including methanol and SD alcohols (such as 3-A, 30, 39-B, 39-C, 40-B, and 40-C). Isopropyl Alcohol You may know it by its more familiar name: rubbing alcohol. It can be found in a range of products including nail, hair and skin care. 

According to CosmeticsInfo.org, it has a variety of functions, including acting as an astringent, antifoaming agent, and solvent. Look for methanol in your bath products, says CosmeticsInfo.org. It is considered denatured alcohol. 

Benzyl alcohol An alcohol found naturally in fruits and tea. According to CosmeticsInfo.org, you can find it in soaps, makeup, cleansers, and hair care products. 

Cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, or lanolin alcohol According to the FDA, these fatty alcohols are very different from the traditional alcohols used in skin care. According to CosmeticsInfo.org these ingredients are found in conditioners, foundations, eye makeup, skin moisturizers and cleansers. These help moisturize the skin; when used in formulas, they also prevent oils and liquids from separating. Debate: Is alcohol good or bad for skin care products? 

There are pros and cons to using alcohol in skin care. Gretchen Frieling, MD, a dermatopathologist in Wellesley, Mass., says alcohol can penetrate built-up oil and dissolve dirt and oil on your face. But Dr. Freeling says you need to consider your skin type and your goals. 

For example, if you have very oily skin, an alcohol-based toner can help reduce the production of pore-clogging sebum. But if you have dry, sensitive skin, eczema, or allergies, the same alcohol-based toner can dry out your skin, she says. Research shows that some people are concerned that because alcohol enhances the penetration of other ingredients, the skin may be more likely to absorb potentially toxic or harmful contaminants in products. 

Despite the controversy, as long as you buy products that contain small amounts of alcohol, there's generally no reason to worry about the presence of alcohol (more on that later). "A lot of skin care products contain alcohol, and most people use it without any problems," says Dr. beautiful. For normal skin types, alcohol is unlikely to cause skin problems. However, if your skin is sensitive for any reason, read the ingredient label. "If your skin barrier is broken down due to irritation or rash, alcohol may irritate you. It may sting [when applied], although this can happen with almost any product if the skin is damaged," she says. 

Check where alcohol is in the ingredient list Just like food labels, you can find out how much alcohol is in a product by checking where it appears in the ingredients list. "At smaller or reasonable concentrations, products can still benefit from the good effects of alcohol to optimize their product while reducing the negative effects," Freeling said. If alcohol is one of the main ingredients, it's likely to be drying, Fine said. If used for a long time, it may cause damage to the skin barrier. 

A compromised barrier allows moisture to escape from the skin and allows potential irritants to enter, causing redness and inflammation. A logical place for alcohol to appear is below the ingredients list. "If it's further down the list, more than six, it may not be concentrated enough to weaken your skin barrier," Freeling says. She recommends avoiding products containing ethanol, methanol, ethanol, denatured alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, SD alcohol and benzyl alcohol, "especially if these ingredients are present in high amounts, as they can cause problems with dry skin," she says. Of course, managing this on your own can be difficult. 

A simple solution is to take your product to a dermatologist and discuss your concerns. Find alcohol-free skin care products According to the FDA, if a product is labeled "alcohol-free," it does not contain ethanol. But looking at the ingredients list can be confusing because your product may contain fatty alcohols such as cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, or lanolin alcohol. This is a completely different category. Types of Alcohol Useful for Skin Care Another type of alcohol is the fatty alcohols. These include cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and cetearyl alcohol obtained from fats. "Fatty alcohols are often found in cleansers and moisturizers as thickeners and emulsifiers," says Freeling.

They are non-irritating and useful. "Because they retain moisture in the skin and form a protective barrier that prevents moisture from penetrating, products containing these ingredients are best for dehydrated skin," she says. Then there’s lanolin alcohol, which is made from wool. While it can be a source of contact dermatitis, it can even gently protect broken skin when specially formulated, according to an October 2019 study published in the Journal of Dermatological Drugs. The study examined the effects of using a wound healing ointment containing specially formulated lanolin alcohol. Of the nearly 500 people analyzed, no one developed a contact allergy to the product. 

Other worrisome ingredients that may irritate skin Fine stresses that if you find that your skin is sensitive to products containing alcohol, keep in mind that the cause of the irritation may not be alcohol at all. According to DermNet NZ, it may contain certain preservatives such as parabens and fragrance. 

To find out if your product contains parabens, look for ingredients ending in "-paraben," such as methylparaben and butylparaben. To find a scent, search "scent". (You can also buy products specifically labeled "fragrance-free.") Hair dye and using wipes on your face can also cause irritation, according to a June 2018 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. It can be difficult to know exactly what you are reacting to. 

That's why working with a dermatologist can be a huge help. Your doctor can analyze your product to find common active ingredients or determine if you need a patch test to identify problematic ingredients. A final word on alcohol and skin care products Freeling says alcohol can serve as a useful adjunct, helping ingredients penetrate the skin, preserving the product and giving it a lightweight feel when applied. Small amounts are unlikely to be harmful. However, be especially careful if you have sensitive, dry skin or are prone to eczema. Most importantly, read the label and ask your dermatologist if you are concerned that the alcohol in it may cause skin problems.