Skincare + Alcohol
Welcome back! We know it’s been a while, but now that the world is s-l-o-w-l-y getting back to normal, we figured it was high time for a blog.
If you’re like #TeamInfinity, you probably realized you needed to do a serious skincare revamp during shelter-in-place. When your Botox starts wearing off and you can’t get facials, you’re down to the MVP: skincare.
Skincare is surprisingly complex. Not only that, there’s quite a bit of misinformation spread about it. Plus, you have to remember that human beings are also complex. There’s no one-routine-fits-all. In this blog, we’ll go over the main types of alcohol used in skincare products, why they’re used, and why they may or may not work for you.
The Good vs. Bad
First things first: alcohol is seriously misunderstood. And we’re not talking about the kind you use to make a margarita—although if that’s part of your skincare ritual, kudos to you.
No, we’re talking about the types of alcohol used in skincare products. The “good” alcohols are those that are “fatty alcohols”. That means they’re derived from a source like coconut oil. Traditionally, these fatty alcohols help thicken a skincare product and they’re nourishing for the skin. Fun fact: vitamin A1 (retinol) and vitamin E are also technically classified as alcohols.
Here’s the bad: some skincare products, particularly those with gel formulations, are specifically made for the short-term benefits. As in, the creators wanted customers to have an instant sense of skin feeling tightened, cooled, and refreshed. Certain alcohols help achieve this, but are actually damaging to the skin barrier. These are called “simple alcohols” and they can also increase greasiness, which is the skin trying to overcompensate from being stripped of its natural oils. Even worse, these simple alcohols can actually enlarge pores over time.
Here’s what to look for:
When you’re scanning that product label, avoid products that include ingredients like isopropyl alcohol, denatured alcohol, SD alcohol 40, and ethanol. These may initially create a short-term improvement, especially for those with oily, acne-prone skin, but will damage the skin barrier over time.
Instead, look for the good/fatty alcohols. These include propylene glycol, behenyl, stearyl, cetyl, and cetearyl. All of these will either help the product thicken, help draw water into the skin, or help keep water in the skin.
Can you absolutely, never, ever use simple alcohols?
Of course not! There’s a place for simple alcohols in skincare:
As a spot treatment, to help clear a pimple and dry up the infection.
When getting a professional peel, your practitioner will most likely prep your skin with alcohol to help the peel penetrate deeper.
If you don’t have sensitive skin at all, and the alcohol is low on the ingredients list, meaning it has a small concentration in the product.
Otherwise, steer clear of simple alcohols. This is especially true if you have sensitive skin, or issues with rosacea.
A special note on benzyl alcohol:
Benzyl alcohol is often used as a preservative in “natural” skincare. If it’s used only as a preservative, it’s most likely at a low concentration and probably won’t irritate your skin (if you don’t have any underlying issues). As always, if you have any skin sensitivities, it might be best to steer clear of benzyl, or at least test it out on a small area a few times before your commit.
Happy Skincare-ing, everyone!
The author of this blog, Layla Hanson, is a writer and project manager for Infinity Aesthetics, specializing in holistic media production. You can see her popping in and out of the office from time to time to snap photos for our Instagram and website. Feel free to say hi and offer to pose for a picture!