Learn About The Alcohol Used In Cosmetics

When selecting skin-friendly formulations, we know to avoid certain ingredients that can affect our skin overall health, and alcohol is one of them.

In this article, we will learn about the alcohol used in cosmetics. We will also understand both the types of alcohol we should avoid, the types that can be beneficial for our skin, with a few of our favorite formulas as alternatives.

Firstly, alcohols are a diverse group of organic compounds. Simple alcohols include Alcohol Denat, SD Alcohol and ethyl alcohol. These alcohols are emulsifiers and preservatives in skin care and hair care products. These types of alcohol are the ones we want to avoid, which is very important for those of us prone to dry, dehydrated and sensitive skin types.

These drying alcohols can alter the skin microbiome and the hydrolipidic barrier. We see how they can worsen certain skin conditions and even promote dehydration, redness and the proliferation of acne. We can often find them lurking in toners, serums, gels and creams. They can temporally make the skin feel squeak clean and mattify oily areas. However, within a few hours, our skin will compensate and secrete even more oil to rebalance and protect our skin. A vicious cycle that oily and acne-prone skin types can face when using conventional formulas.

At Druide, our goal is to provide you and your family with Certified Organic formulas inspired by our expertise in skin health.

One of our pro tips for healthy skin is to choose products that avoid simple alcohols like those commonly found in facial toners. This simple step will assist in maintaining a healthy balance. For a soothing and hydrating alternative, we love the Druide BioLove Soothing Toner for its additional soothing, calming, and hydrating benefits. This daily skin cleansing essential is a must to rebalance sensitive, dry and acne-prone skin.

These drying ingredients causing damaging effects are also in hair care products containing alcohol, such as hair spray and styling gels. The Druide Styling Hairspray and Styling Gel are great alcohol and synthetic fragrance-free alternatives that keep your scalp and hair hydrated and healthy.

Now let’s look at the types of beneficial fatty alcohols used as emulsifiers in skincare and hair care formulas. These fatty alcohols include Cetearyl, cetyl, and stearyl alcohols. This group of ingredients supplies the skin with emolliating, hydrating, and protective benefits for the skin and hair.

These positive types of alcohol come from plant extracts such as coconut. These hydrating fatty alcohols are in many of our Druide skincare formulas including, our BioLove Face Creams and BioLove Body Lotions. Our creams and body lotions will impart a lightweight and fresh hydrating veil to the skin with each use.