| QUESTIONS | ANSWERS |
|---|---|
| What is this chemical? | Alcohol is a group of organic compounds that have a vast range of forms and uses. |
| What is its purpose? | In benign form they are glycols used as humectants that help deliver ingredients into skin.
When fats and oils are chemically reduced, they become a group of less-dense alcohols called fatty alcohols that can have emollient properties or can become detergent cleansing agents. Alcohol, also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol, is the alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. When used in non-food products (such as cosmetics) or pharmaceuticals, it is required that the alcohol be denatured. |
| Where is it found? | Alcohols are a large and diverse family of chemicals. Some of the more common uses are:
|
HEALTH CONCERNS Is this chemical a carcinogen? None found.
The alcohols to be concerned about in skin-care products are ethanol, denatured alcohol, ethyl alcohol, methanol, benzyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and SD alcohol, which can be extremely drying and irritating to skin. In a product where these ingredients are at the top of the ingredient list, they will be problematic for all skin types; when they are at the bottom of an ingredient list, there most likely is not enough present to be a problem for skin.
Denatured alcohol is ethanol that has additives to make it toxic, unpalatable, or otherwise undrinkable.
Are there opposing opinions? Cosmetic products, including those labeled “alcohol free,” may contain other alcohols. For many years, cosmetic manufacturers have marketed certain cosmetic products that do not contain ethyl alcohol (also known as ethanol, or grain alcohol) as “alcohol free”.
Some consumers select “alcohol free” products because they believe ethyl alcohol dries out their skin or hair. However, “alcohols” are a large and diverse family of chemicals, with different names and a variety of effects on the skin. This can lead to some confusion among consumers when they check the ingredient listings on cosmetic labels to determine alcohol content”.
In cosmetic labeling, the term “alcohol,” used by itself, refers to ethyl alcohol. Cosmetic products, including those labeled “alcohol free,” may contain other alcohols, such as cetyl, stearyl, cetearyl, or lanolin alcohol. These are known as fatty alcohols, and their effects on the skin are quite different from those of ethyl alcohol.
Isopropyl alcohol, which some consumers may think of as drying the skin, is rarely used in cosmetics.
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