In the end, should there be alcohol in cosmetics?

Cosmetics are good friends of women

In the past, many people have a concept that if alcohol is contained in cosmetics, it will irritate the skin and be harmful to the skin. So, is this concept of health scientific, how should we treat alcohol correctly? Professor Li Li from the Department of Dermatology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University School of Medicine put forward the idea of ​​balancing skin care to help people understand the principles of alcohol use.

Misunderstanding 1: Alcohol is harmful to the skin

As a common ingredient in cosmetics, alcohol has a special skin care function, especially for certain types of skin. Alcohol has been proven by many authoritative skin agencies to be a good sanitizer, detergent and degreaser. Its natural ability to remove oil is beneficial to skin that is prone to acne. Professor Li Li said that alcohol is a common ingredient in cosmetics, and the rational use of alcohol is beneficial to the health of the skin. Of course, shoddy products can damage the health of the skin with or without alcohol.

Myth 2: Alcohol is equivalent to "disinfecting alcohol"

"Alcohol" is a general term for a large class of chemicals with different properties. Generally used for disinfection, it is an alcohol called isopropyl alcohol, which does cause dryness of the skin. But this alcohol is rarely used by cosmetics. The alcohol used in cosmetics is a special alcohol that has been specially treated. This type of alcohol quickly evaporates from the surface of the skin, leaving the skin feeling cool and refreshing, but does not cause dryness or sensitivity.

Misunderstanding 3: Alcohol can be used on any skin

Alcohol is harmless and does not mean that alcohol-based cosmetics are suitable for all people. In this regard, Professor Li Li explained that the concentration of alcohol in different products is very different, people should choose the most suitable skin care products according to the characteristics of their skin. It is generally not recommended to use alcohol-containing preparations for dry skin. People who are allergic to alcohol should not be used. However, oily skin or people with acne can choose alcohol-based skin care products. Of course, for those who need long-term use of alcohol preparations, it is best to use a moisturizing preparation to ensure the balance of various ingredients on the skin surface.

Misunderstanding 4: If you don't smell alcohol, it means there is no alcohol?

Many people often choose the skin care products to judge the alcohol content by smelling the smell. In fact, this method is not very reliable. Because although alcohol has a special smell, many skin care products add spices or other additives to neutralize or mask the smell of alcohol, so the sense of smell alone cannot be accurately judged. Therefore, if you are sensitive skin, the best way is to ask the consultant directly if the skin care product contains alcohol. In general, if the alcohol content is suitable for your skin type, then it is not easy to cause allergies or dryness, and you don't need to worry too much about it.