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When it comes to the ingredients of cosmetics, the addition of alcohol (ethanol) has become the focus of much controversy and attention. Alcohol has many different functions and uses in cosmetic formulations, and we’ll take a closer look at why it’s a common ingredient in cosmetics.

Alcohol, chemical name ethanol, is an organic solvent. Some dermatology experts believe that the reasonable use of alcohol is beneficial to skin health, especially for oily skin and skin prone to acne and acne. Moreover, alcohol is an integral ingredient for formulators to develop products. The addition of alcohol in cosmetics is mainly based on the four major properties of alcohol. These properties make it difficult to find substitutes for alcohol.

(1) Penetration: Alcohol is a natural penetration enhancer, which can help some active ingredients better enter the skin to work. Especially for some products with certain efficacy, such as freckle removal and whitening products, oil control products, etc., alcohol can be used to promote the absorption of functional ingredients.

(2) Oil control effect: Alcohol can dissolve facial sebum and is a good cleaning and oil removal ingredient. It also has an astringent effect, helping to shrink pores. This is very useful for oily skin, as it can regulate oil secretion and prevent facial oiliness, but it is not suitable for dry and sensitive skin.

(3) Softening effect: Alcohol can promote the metabolism of keratinocytes, accelerate the detachment of keratinocytes, and help renew the stratum corneum. This effect is very suitable for skin with a thicker stratum corneum, but not suitable for skin with a thinner stratum corneum.

(4) Solubilization effect: Some effective oil-soluble ingredients are difficult to dissolve directly in water. In this case, an intermediary is needed to help dissolve them in water. Alcohol is a good intermediary, which can not only help these active ingredients dissolve in the water, but also maintain the transparency of the toner. In addition, many plants require alcohol as an extraction solvent, because without the use of alcohol, the active ingredients in the plants cannot be extracted. This is one of the reasons why many plant extracts contain alcohol.

Alcohol controversy
Despite its diverse functions in cosmetics, alcohol's use also raises some concerns. Some consumers may be concerned about products containing alcohol, which may dry out the skin, irritate or trigger allergic reactions. Therefore, cosmetics containing alcohol may not be suitable for some people with sensitive skin or allergies to alcohol.

Alcohol choice
On the modern market, cosmetics offer a wide range of products with different alcohol concentrations. Some products use high concentrations of alcohol, while others are formulated with low or no alcohol to meet different consumer needs and skin types.

Conclusion
All in all, alcohol is used in cosmetics for a variety of reasons and functions. It is important for consumers to understand the effects of alcohol and understand their skin type to make the right product choices for them. This helps ensure that your needs and skin health are taken into consideration when choosing products during your beauty and skincare routine.