What it does
Denatured alcohol gives products that weightless, instantly-absorbed feel, and it helps some actives penetrate. Low in an ingredient list, it is usually irrelevant. Near the top, it is a meaningful drying and irritating agent with repeated use.
It is worth distinguishing it from fatty alcohols — cetyl, stearyl and cetearyl alcohol are waxy emollients that do the opposite job and are perfectly fine. The similar names cause a lot of unnecessary panic.
If a toner or essence leaves your skin feeling tight and squeaky within a minute, check where alcohol denat sits in the list.
In a routine
Do not layer with
- Retinol
- Exfoliating acids
Same routine is fine for some pairs — same step is the problem. Split them morning and evening when in doubt.
