These types of drying alcohols give products a quick-drying finish, immediately degrease skin, and feel weightless on skin, so it’s easy to see their appeal, especially for those with oily skin. But those short term benefits end up with negative long term consequences. When you see these names of alcohol listed among the first six ingredients on an ingredient label (SD alcohol, ethanol, denatured, isopropyl, methanol or ethyl alcohol), without question they will aggravate and be cruel to skin. No way around that, it’s simply bad for all skin types. Consequences include dryness, erosion of the surface of skin, and a strain on how skin replenishes, renews, and rejuvenates itself.

Why It’s Commonly Used: Matte finish

Why We’ll Seriously Never Use It: Irritant, carcinogen, toxicity