What is Alcohol (Alcohol Denat.)?
Also known as: Alcohol Denat., Ethanol, SD Alcohol, Denatüre alkol
Short answer
The 'Alcohol Denat.' in cosmetics is a fast-evaporating, mattifying alcohol. It gives a light feel but in high amounts and frequent use can stress the skin barrier and cause dryness and irritation. 'Fatty alcohols' like cetyl/stearyl are different and moisturizing.
What is Alcohol (Alcohol Denat.) and what does it do?
'Alcohol Denat.' (denatured ethyl alcohol) is a volatile alcohol that makes products dry fast, gives a matte feel on oily skin, and helps dissolve some actives. It is common in toners, sunscreens and gel-textured products.
What is it for?
It gives a light, oil-free, fast-drying feel; it helps dissolve and spread some actives and UV filters on the skin. Oily skin tends to like this 'mattifying' effect.
What to watch for
In high amounts (near the top of the ingredient list) and frequent use it can weaken the skin's natural oil barrier and cause dryness, tightness and irritation; it is harder on dry and sensitive skin. In small amounts low on the list its effect is usually negligible. Do not confuse it: cetearyl/cetyl/stearyl alcohol are the opposite, softening fatty alcohols.
If you want to avoid it
If your oily skin is trouble-free, alcohol-based gels/toners are fine. If your skin is dry, sensitive or barrier-weak, avoid products with 'Alcohol Denat.' near the top of the list; fatty alcohols (cetyl/stearyl) are not a problem for you.
Products containing Alcohol (Alcohol Denat.)
- Gillette Clear Gel Cool Wave 70 MlGillette
- Axe Number 10 Erkek Deodorant 150 MlAxe
- Old Spice Captain Erkek Terleme Önleyici Jel Deodorant 70 MlOld Spice
- Rebul Bouquet Edc Unisex Lf Kolonya 250MlRebul
- Cire Aseptine Şeffaf Sprey Güneş Kremi 50 SPF 200 MlCire Aseptine
- Arko Suncare Koruyucu Yüz Kremi Spf50+ 50MlArko
- Selin Çiçek Buketi Kolonyası Pet 400 MlSelin
- Arko Suncare Koruyucu Sprey Spf30 200MlArko
- Emotion Natural Bloom Deo 150 MlEmotion
- Duru Okyanus Tazeliği Kolonya Cam Şişe 200 MlDuru
- Arko Suncare Koruyucu Losyon Spf50+/ 200MlArko
- Cire Aseptine Baby & Sensitive Sprey Krem 50 SPF 200 MlCire Aseptine
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Frequently asked
Is alcohol in cosmetics harmful?
Volatile alcohol (Alcohol Denat.) can dry/irritate at high levels and frequent use; in small amounts it is usually fine. Fatty alcohols, on the other hand, are moisturizing.
Is Alcohol Denat. the same as Cetyl Alcohol?
No. Alcohol Denat. is volatile and drying; Cetyl/Stearyl Alcohol are softening, moisturizing fatty alcohols. Despite similar names their effects are opposite.
How do I tell how much there is?
Ingredients are listed in descending order; if 'Alcohol Denat.' is near the top the level is high, near the bottom it is low.
Sources
This page is for general information; it is not medical/dietary advice. Personal suitability varies by skin type, allergies and health status.