Alcohol in Cosmetics: Is It Good or Bad for Your Skin?

You’ve probably seen terms like "alcohol-free" or "no alcohol" on skincare products. There’s a lot of debate online about whether alcohol in cosmetics is good or bad, but what’s the real truth? In short, many studies have clearly shown that alcohol, which is commonly used in cosmetics, can actually cause problems for your skin.

Let's take a closer look at which types of alcohol in skincare products should be avoided.

Bad Alcohol vs. Good Alcohol in Cosmetics

When it comes to concerns about alcohol in skincare or makeup products, there are a few types of alcohol that often come up. The most common ones are SD alcohol, denatured alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol. These volatile alcohols quickly evaporate after application, leaving a fresh, light feel, which is why people with oily skin may prefer them.

However, these temporary effects can lead to negative results in the long run.

If alcohol is one of the top six ingredients listed on a product, it’s a clear sign that it could worsen and irritate your skin. Alcohol in large amounts as a main ingredient harms all skin types, drying out the skin, disrupting the skin’s natural bacteria, and damaging the skin barrier. Once the skin barrier is compromised, it can take a long time for the skin to repair itself and regain vitality. Alcohol is essentially an ingredient that worsens all aspects of your skin.

On the other hand, some alcohols are beneficial for the skin. These are called fatty alcohols and are known to be gentle and beneficial, unlike the harmful types of alcohol. These include cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and cetearyl alcohol. These alcohols are great for dry skin and, when used in small amounts, help improve the texture of products and stabilize other ingredients.

It’s important to distinguish between skin-friendly alcohols and harmful ones. If you’re unsure about the alcohol content in your skincare products, check out Paula’s Choice Beautypedia’s ingredient glossary for more information.

How Alcohol Damages Skin and Worsens Acne

If you have oily skin, you might be tempted to use products with alcohol because they seem to remove excess oil and leave a refreshing, matte finish. However, using alcohol-based products to treat oily skin can end up damaging your skin barrier. Once the barrier is damaged, pores can get clogged, and acne can worsen, creating a vicious cycle.

In fact, alcohol can actually increase oil production in your skin. The short-term effect of oil removal is just that—temporary. Eventually, your skin may become oilier than before, making all your previous efforts useless.

You may have heard that alcohol helps active ingredients like retinol and vitamin C absorb more effectively into the skin. While it’s true that alcohol can boost the absorption of other ingredients, it also damages the skin’s surface and compromises long-term skin health. There are gentler ways to help active ingredients absorb without using alcohol.

Key Takeaways About Alcohol in Skincare

The research on alcohol in cosmetics is clear: alcohol damages the skin’s protective barrier, depletes essential substances needed for healthy skin, and worsens oily skin. In simple terms, alcohol can accelerate skin aging. Since there are hundreds of skin-friendly alternatives, it’s best to avoid products that contain harmful alcohol.

The only exception to using alcohol on your skin is hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizers need at least 60% alcohol (ethanol) to effectively kill viruses and bacteria. While washing hands with soap and water is preferred, hand sanitizers are used when that’s not possible. Even though alcohol can harm the skin, hand sanitizers serve an essential health protection purpose, so they’re an exception!

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