Alcohol is used in skin care products for several important reasons. Its effect depends on the type of alcohol used, the amount and the type of skin. People generally believe that alcohol harms the skin, but not all types of alcohol are harmful, according to dermatology.
According to experts, some alcohol helps the active ingredients in the cream to dissolve easily and spread the cream evenly on the skin. Since alcohols such as ethanol evaporate quickly, the cream does not leave a greasy feeling on the skin after application and it feels light.
Apart from this, it also works as a preservative to protect the product for a long time by preventing microbial growth.
Not all alcohols dry the skin : There are mainly two types of alcohols used in skin care: simple alcohols and fatty alcohols.
Fatty alcohols such as cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and cetaryl alcohol are used to moisturize the skin and thicken the texture of creams. It keeps the oil and water mixture stable and makes the skin very soft.
These ingredients are completely different from normal ethanol or denatured alcohol and do not dry out the skin.
Can alcohol cause skin irritation? If a product is high in simple alcohol, it can deplete the skin’s natural lipids, causing itchiness, dryness or irritation in people with sensitive skin or eczema.
So when buying a skin care product it is important to check the type of alcohol in its ingredients list. If your skin is extremely dry or sensitive, choosing a moisturizer with ingredients that strengthen the skin’s protective layer, such as ceramides, glycerin or hyaluronic acid, is imperative.
