Denatured Alcohol
Also known as: ethyl alcohol, SD alcohol, alcohol denat
A type of volatile alcohol that can irritate skin | Depletes key substances in skin’s moisture barrier
Addresses
EWG Safety Score
What Is Denatured Alcohol?
Denatured alcohol (also known as ethyl alcohol, SD alcohol, or alcohol denat) is a common ingredient in skin care, hair care, makeup and other personal care products.
What is denatured alcohol used for? It acts as a solvent, helping to dissolve other ingredients and creates non-greasy, quick-drying, lightweight formulas that many people (especially those with oily skin) prefer. However, there’s a catch: long-term use of denatured alcohol in cosmetics can cause skin problems under certain conditions. Let’s explore why.
Denatured alcohol becomes problematic for skin when used in concentrations of 10% or greater (typically listed as the fifth ingredient or higher on a cosmetic ingredient list). When used in this high of concentration, denatured alcohol does more than just dehydrate skin—it can irritate skin, weaken its barrier, and even trigger cell death. This is particularly concerning when combined with other irritants often found in personal care products, like menthol or fragrance/essential oils.
The information above pertains to in vivo (on human skin) data; in vitro (petri dish) studies looking at the impact of this type of alcohol on isolated skin cells has shown that small amounts—as low as 3.1%—can cause a statistically significant increase in apoptosis (cell death) within 24 hours of exposure.
Uses of denatured alcohol include in over-the-counter products, in skin care products (including denatured alcohol in sunscreen), and in makeup and fragrances (i.e. perfumes). The level of usage can be as high as 75%. Amounts lower than this are used based on formulation needs around aesthetics and absorbency. Denatured alcohol can be used as a solvent and to improve the texture of fluid/gel formulas. While denatured alcohol can be beneficial for enhancing the penetration of other ingredients into skin, the downsides outweigh the benefits if included in high concentration. There are other types of ingredients (specifically glycols) that can step in to function as solvents and penetration enhancers, although their aesthetics may differ from the “invisible” finish alcohol leaves behind.
Hand sanitizers regulated by the U.S. FDA contain 60-80% alcohol.
Also worth noting: Alcohol concentrations of 10% or more can cause the formulation to be designated as “flammable.”
Denatured alcohol may be sourced synthetically or derived from agricultural products such as corn. In order to keep people from drinking cosmetic alcohol, a bitter-tasting denaturant is added per government regulations. The “SD” in SD alcohol stands for “specially denatured.”
Benefits for Your Skin
Clinical Evidence & References
Published Research
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Pharmaceutics, February 2025, pages 1-18 [URL not available]
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Pride Ethyl Alcohol Handbook (Supplier Info), Accessed April 2024, ePublication [URL not available]
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Skin Research & Technology, January 2024, pages 1-7 [URL not available]
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RSC Advances, March 2020, pages 12,234–12,248 [URL not available]
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International Journal of Cosmetic Science, April 2017, pages 188–196 [URL not available]
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Biomembranes, May 2015, pages 1,196–1,202 [URL not available]
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Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, November 2008, pages 1–16 [URL not available]
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Alcohol, January 2002, pages 179–190 [URL not available]
Related Ingredients
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Primarily functions as a polymeric emulsifier | Used to enhance the texture of skin care and hair care products
Aluminum Hydroxide
Found naturally in certain minerals | Opacifying agent, skin protectant, and absorbent
Arachidyl Glucoside
Mild surfactant and emulsifying agent | Often used to enhance the texture of skin care products, such as facial creams
Beeswax
Beeswax is often used as a thickening agent in skin care and
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