Alcohol-Free Skincare
Toners and sunscreens with no drying alcohol (alcohol denat. or ethanol) in the ingredient list.
Why some people avoid drying alcohol
Alcohol denat. (ethanol) makes products feel light and dry down fast, which is why it turns up in toners, gels and sunscreens. High in a list, it can dry out skin and sting when the barrier is already damaged.
Not every "alcohol" on a label is the drying kind. Fatty alcohols such as cetyl and cetearyl alcohol are waxy, moisturising ingredients that are fine to use, so we do not count them.
How we check
We count a product as alcohol-free when its ingredient list has no alcohol denat., ethanol or SD alcohol anywhere, not just near the top. Fatty alcohols are allowed. We go only by the ingredient list, so we leave out lists that look cut short. Of the 860 products we have full lists for, 683 qualify.
Alcohol-Free Toners
Old-style toners relied on alcohol for a tight, "clean" feel that can leave skin dry. These toners and essences list no alcohol denat. or ethanol at all.
Alcohol-Free Face Sunscreens
Many lightweight sunscreens use alcohol to dry down fast, which can sting dry or sensitive skin. These face sunscreens list no alcohol denat. or ethanol.