Alcohol In Skincare?

Should you avoid products with alcohol at all costs?

The short answer – no.

You've probably been told to run from any products that contain alcohol, especially if you suffer from rosacea.

But that isn't always the case.

There are a few different types of alcohols Simple & Fatty.

Simple alcohols are alcohols such as isopropyl (aka rubbing alcohol), ethanol, or methanol, which are irritating and drying for any skin type which is why they should be avoided at all costs. 

But fatty alcohols, like cetyl alcohol, do just the complete opposite and is an occlusive agent, similar to petroleum.

Fatty alcohols are great at protecting the skin barrier from drying out and preventing water loss which is super important for those with rosacea as a dry skin barrier can lead to painful, frequent flare ups.

But for anyone with sensitive skin conditions, you should patch test anything with ceytl alcohol first to make sure you don't have any sort of allergic reaction.

So next time you see alcohol on the label, see if it's the drying or hydrating kind & see what's right for your skin.