ALCOHOL IN SKINCARE
TEETOTALLERS MAY BE SURPRISED AT WHAT’S IN THEIR LOTIONS!
WHAT IS IT? Alcohol is not just an element of an espresso martini that has you feeling all giddy, it’s also a common ingredient in beauty products. WHY IS IT IN THERE? Rachel Robertson, founder of local skincare company Prologic, says there are a few reasons you will find alcohol used in a skincare product, including as a penetrant enhancer, a humectant (to attract moisture), a stabiliser or a preservative. HOW DOES IT AFFECT
OUR SKIN? When it comes to skincare, alcohol falls into a couple of camps – the good and the bad. “The bad ones have a very irritating and drying effect on the skin, and can also cause swelling of the mucous membranes,” explains Rachel. “They break down the barrier function of the skin.” But not all alcohols are bad. “The good ones can act as a humectant,
WHAT TO TRY
If you are suffering from a skin disorder, scanning your skincare labels to ensure they don’t have any of the irritating alcohols mentioned above is a good idea. Stripping alcohols are something to look out for in gel cleansers, but that’s not the case with
(1) Prologic Gel Cleanser, $72.50. You can also try
(2) Glow Lab Age Renew Cleansing Balm, $19.99, which uses the plant-based emulsifier cetyl alcohol. A good option for sensitive skin,
(3) Simple Radiance Boosting Sheet Mask, $4.99, has no alcohol, added parabens, phthalates or perfume. While it can help fake tan dry faster, it can also dry out skin. For an alcohol-free version, try (4) Tan Organic Self Tan Mousse, $41. increasing water levels in the skin, aiding in better penetration of actives and supporting stability of a product without destroying the skin’s natural microbiome.” WHAT SHOULD WE LOOK FOR THEN? Read your skincare labels. Rachel advises avoiding alcohol such as denatured alcohol (alcohol denat), SD alcohol, benzyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol. The good types, however, include propylene glycol, glycerin, sorbitol, saccharides (sugars), cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and cetearyl alcohol. As a side note, new research suggests that ethanol, frequently used in preservative-free products and once considered to have a very drying effect to the skin, is okay in small amounts (under 20%). “Using it at lower percentages has real advantages and does not have dehydrating effects on the skin,” says Rachel. Just make sure it’s not one of the first ingredients on the list!