Is Alcohol Denat Harmful for Skin? We Asked the Experts.

When you think of alcohol in your beauty products, your first thought it that it's probably not that great of an ingredient to be slathering all over your face and body. But the reality is that there's a very high chance it's sneakily in a bunch of the products in your routine. And while it's true that some types of alcohols are beneficial, there are some that should probably be avoided at all costs—some like alcohol denat.

Although alcohol denat is commonly used in everything from serums to creams to masks and toners, what do we really know about its effects on skin? To find out more, we tapped a slew of experts—namely, David Petrillo, Jessie Cheung, Vanessa Johnson, and Annie Gonzalez—to explain exactly what alcohol denat is and whether or not it belongs in our skincare product arsenal.

Keep scrolling for your complete guide to alcohol denat in skincare.

What Is Alcohol Denat?

Also known as denatured alcohol, it's an alcohol that has any type of denaturant (or chemical agents that turn common alcohol into volatile alcohol), rendering it intolerable to taste or ingest, explains Petrillo. While alcohol denat is undrinkable, it is a choice ingredient for formulating products ranging from cosmetics to cleaning products, given all the aforementioned formulation benefits it offers.

It's important to note that while alcohol denat is a volatile alcohol that draws out the natural oils in the skin, it's very unlike fatty alcohols, which are non-irritating and do have legitimate benefits for the skin, notes Gonzalez. For example, "Stearyl alcohol is an emollient that traps moisture, while propylene glycol is a humectant that attracts water to the skin," she says. "Just because a product has alcohol in it doesn't mean you should avoid it altogether." Still, alcohol denat is one that, generally speaking, should be avoided.

Benefits of Alcohol Denat for Skin

On that note, "This ingredient doesn't really have any true benefits for the skin," says Johnson. "People with oily skin might like its effect because it can temporarily reduce oil and grease. However, it's essentially drying out the skin, and increased use can cause irritation and redness," she warns.

In fact, frequent use of the ingredient can even increase oiliness—while it's often found in many spot treatments, points out Gonzalez, this can prove to be potentially problematic and end up exacerbating the issue for those with oily and/or breakout-prone skin: "Prolonged use of alcohol denat can enlarge pores and increase sebum production, resulting in greasy skin," she explains.

As mentioned, alcohol denat is commonly found in so many different types of products because of the way it makes said products feel. Its low molecular weight means it evaporates quickly so products absorb and dry faster; even thick and creamy products feel lighter and more matte to the touch, notes Petrillo. It's also why you'll often find it in gel formulations, which are known for their lightweight texture and cooling feel, adds Cheung.

Side Effects of Alcohol Denat

As mentioned, marked skin dryness is a major side effect of this ingredient. Alcohol denat strips the natural oils from your skin, disrupting the skin barrier, explains Johnson. This not only means more moisture can escape (AKA your skin will be dryer), but also that more irritants may permeate, potentially increasing the likelihood of redness and sensitivity. And to just drive the point home even further, this excessive drying of the skin can actually lead to a rebound-type of effect where your skin produces more oil to compensate, which could lead to increased breakouts, adds Cheung.

How to Use It

The bottom line here is that while there are valid reasons why alcohol denat is found in so many products, it can ultimately cause more harm than good and there are less harmful ingredients that fulfill the same function, says Johnson. Still, because it is so frequently used, avoiding it can be tricky; even products labeled for sensitive skin may sometimes contain it, she says. Your best bet is to read ingredient labels carefully.

Gonzalez suggests that those whose skin is dry and/or sensitive make it a point to avoid the ingredient entirely. Otherwise, "monitor your skin for excessive dryness, especially if you're using a product that contains alcohol denat frequently," advises Cheung.