INCIpedia Alcohol
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ALCOHOL IN COSMETICS
Alcohol-free cosmetics are popular for a good reason - alcohol destroys the skin's natural sebum layer, not only making it more susceptible to all kinds of irritations, but also increasing existing ones. But there are also “good” alcohols that play a very important role in skin care!
WHY DOES ALCOHOL COME IN COSMETIC PRODUCTSAT ALLPURE?
There are two reasons for this. There is hardly any other ingredient that kills bacteria absolutely reliably and dissolves fat at the same time. The fat-dissolving effect in particular is necessary for herbal active ingredients that are not water-soluble. In this case, alcohol is the most commonly used extraction agent for natural extracts, or to put it more simply: alcohol elicits the active ingredients. It sounds logishish and somehow natural, but what's the problem then?
WHY DOES ALCOHOL COME IN COSMETIC PRODUCTSAT ALLPURE?
There are two reasons for this. There is hardly any other ingredient that kills bacteria absolutely reliably and dissolves fat at the same time. The fat-dissolving effect in particular is necessary for herbal active ingredients that are not water-soluble. In this case, alcohol is the most commonly used extraction agent for natural extracts, or to put it more simply: alcohol elicits the active ingredients. It sounds logishish and somehow natural, but what's the problem then?
THE TYPE OF ALCOHOL MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
Alcohol is not just alcohol. The details from the chemistry lecture are not exactly exciting, what is important is the essence. A distinction is made between "good" (caring) and "bad" (potentially drying / irritating) alcohols.
The so-called fatty alcohols, which are used as thickeners or plasticizers, are named as "good" alcohols. Fatty alcohols are obtained exclusively from the fatty acids found in plants. They ensure soft, supple skin and are neither irritating nor comedogenic. In other words - existing skin irritations are calmed and potential ones even prevented.
"Bad" alcohols are those that are also found in spirits. The only difference between the "bad alcohols" from cosmetics production and the "bad alcohols" from spirits is that the variants used in cosmetics production are undrinkable. They are denatured with phthalates. This process alone makes the bad alcohols even more harmful, because phthalates are chemical softeners that are absorbed through the skin. They get into the bloodstream and, if used frequently, can not only damage the skin but even lead to diabetes or impair fertility. On the list of ingredients (INCI), these plasticizers are called diethyl phthalate and dimethyl phthalate, sometimes abbreviated DEP and DMP. The designation Alcohol denat or SD Alcohol as an abbreviation for denatured alcohol is also common.
"GOOD" AND "BAD" ALCOHOLS AT A GLANCE
In order to better orient yourself when buying cosmetic products, you should know the exact designations.
"Good" alcohols: Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Lanolin Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol
"Bad" alcohols: Alcohol denat. , Benzyl Alcohol, Ethyl Alcohol, Ethanol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Methanol, SD Alcohol
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT "BAD" ALCOHOLS
Sometimes the use of "bad" alcohols in cosmetic products cannot be avoided. This applies in particular to certain product types from the medical sector or products that can only be manufactured with "bad" alcohols due to a recipe based on certain plants. In these cases, however, the concentration is the lowest possible in order to protect the skin as much as possible.