Many cosmetic products list Alcohol Denat as an ingredient. This name immediately alerts those who care about their he alth and select cosmetics wisely. Should we be afraid of this component, which causes associations with alcohol? What are the consequences of using in the composition of care and decorative cosmetics? All of these questions have answers that will be provided immediately.
Alcohol Denat - what is it?
In the manufacture of cosmetics and perfumery, this component is presented as a degreasing agent, defoamer, solvent, and a substance that effectively inhibits the growth of bacterial flora.
Alcohol Denat is a derivative of alcohol. In fact, this is ethyl alcohol, which has certain characteristics. It should be noted that ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is widely used in drinks, medicines,fuel. Speaking of cosmetics, it can be found in bath products (gels and foams), in facial care cosmetics, and in oral products.
Chemical structure of matter
Having found out what the phrase Alcohol Denat has a translation, the chemical nature of this component becomes clearer. The name translates as "denatured alcohol". Accordingly, Alcohol Denat in cosmetics for the face and for other parts of the body is ethyl alcohol that has undergone a certain purification.
A molecule of a purified substance has the same components as the original one: hydrogen and oxygen, connected by certain bonds. It is a monohydric alcohol having a small molecular weight.
Delivery method
Alcohol is obtained through fermentation. The microflora living in the substrate converts organic substances into alcohol compounds in the course of its life activity. As a nutrient medium, plant material is used - cereals, potatoes, reeds. On an industrial scale, ethanol is produced by chemical synthesis through hydration.
A denaturing agent is added to the solution during the conversion of alcohol, which gives a bitter taste to the product. And this is perhaps the only organoleptic difference between denatured alcohol and ethanol.
It should be noted that the Alcohol Denat component is a permitted substance in perfumery as well as in the production of cosmetics. Most products usealcohol exclusively rectified from food raw materials. Thus, it has nothing to do with the denatured alcohol known in the post-Soviet space, which is of technical origin.
The peculiarity of Alcohol Denat is that it is a substance obtained from food raw materials. As a denaturing agent in perfumery, bitrex is added to ethyl alcohol, which is harmless to the body.
As you know, alcohols are volatile compounds. The denaturation process transforms the spatial bonds in the ethanol molecule, due to which its volatility decreases. In addition, this process is regulated and controlled at the legislative level in a number of countries.
Why do we need Alcohol Denat?
So, Alcohol Denat in cosmetics - what is it? A similar substance performs a number of functions:
- Binding useful substances in the composition of a cosmetic product and transferring them to the place of application.
- Extraction of nutrients from herbs and flowers.
- It is a good preservative.
Only certain types of denatured alcohol are approved for use in the production of he alth and beauty products. Conscientious manufacturers indicate it in the composition with the prefix SD and a numerical-letter designation, which indicates the origin of the substance and purity. For example, the prefix SD (Specially Denaturated) and encodings like "23-A" can be added to the list. For SD Alcohol Denat, the translation into Russian sounds like specially denatured alcohol. It is used to comply with the technologyproduction of exactly the product in which it was found.
Is it dangerous to use denatured alcohol?
Today, the use of a denaturing additive - diethyl phthylate, is prohibited at the legislative level. This impurity determined the poisonous properties of denatured alcohol, glorified in the decade before last.
The toxicity of the substance in the composition of certified cosmetics and perfumes, as well as skin and hair care products is practically absent. Such alcohol is of natural origin, and is also added in low dosages. Alcohol of technical origin can cause premature aging of the skin, dryness of the skin surface and irritation. The toxic effect of a technical substance is due to aldehyde impurities in the composition, the formation of which accompanies the technological process for the manufacture of alcohol, which is not intended for contact with the human body.
Effect of alcohol in cosmetics on humans
Alcohol is a highly volatile compound, so when it comes into contact with the skin, it binds to water molecules on its surface and dries out the skin. Alcohol in cosmetics containing retinol (vitamin A) can cause it to break down before it reaches its destination, and therefore, the effectiveness of the product is significantly reduced. The lack of moisture and nutrients in the skin cells lead to premature aging of the integument and a decrease in turgor.
Alcohol Denat for hair and skin is only neutral for oily skin types for whom a little drying is desirable.
The degree of influence on the body from the standpoint of science
Studies have found a number of effects of denatured alcohol in cosmetics:
- Destructive effect on skin immunity. The high reactivity of ethanol causes its aggressive reaction with the skin, as a result of which the protective properties are reduced.
- The rate of spread of infections is increasing. Means with antiseptic properties, which are provided due to the presence of ethanol in the composition, are able to destroy the lipid cover of the skin, which prevents the growth of pathogenic bacteria. As a result of such exposure, the bacterial microflora can spread freely in the upper layers of the skin, and the degree of destructive effects of ultraviolet rays also increases.
- It is noteworthy that Alcohol Denat is a substance that, with prolonged exposure, can cause the destruction of cell membranes.
- The ability of alcohol to conduct beneficial compounds inside the skin can also have negative manifestations. If there are carcinogens and allergens in the cosmetic product, their penetration is also accelerated. This can manifest itself in the appearance of skin reactions, allergies.
- There are frequent cases of focal rashes when using cosmetic skin care products. This is due to the fact that the surfactants in the formulation usedenhance the irritating effect of alcohol.
Tips for choosing safe cosmetics
The property of alcohol to dry the surface with which it comes into contact is due to its chemical structure. Therefore, it is not possible to level it. The choice of a conscious cosmetics buyer who asks the right questions, for example, Alcohol Denat - what is it, what is the composition, should occur with knowledge of the safe percentage.
So, in most cosmetics there is alcohol in an amount of 20% or more of the total volume. Such a concentration is more likely to cause negative reactions from the skin and hair. The most gentle is the concentration of denatured alcohol, which is within 10%.
Many oily skin care products are positioned as helpers in the regulation of lipid balance due to the presence of ethanol in their composition. However, cosmetologists are practically unanimous in this regard - to solve skin problems of any type, it is more effective to use gentle products that do not contain alcohol. Those who are ready to completely abandon cosmetics containing Alcohol Denat can be replaced by products that do not contain water. These include oil-based balms and serums, as well as pure oil products.
A few words about Organic products
It is noteworthy that organic cosmetics also often contain alcohol. This is due to the fact that the product needs to be preserved for a certain period of time. In organiccosmetic products have the alcohol content as low as possible, so the shelf life of such products is shorter than traditional care products. In the production of cosmetics marked Organic, alcohols are most often used, obtained by mild fermentation from grapes or grains.
Speaking of organic cosmetics and detergents, it is worth pointing out that the use of ethanol as a preservative leads to a less aggressive effect on the human body of these products than the use of parabens. Alcohol, obtained from cereals, fruits and berries, has the most gentle effect on the skin. It is a substance of this origin that is used by manufacturers of organic, natural products.
Concerns about the content of Alcohol Denat in cosmetics that come into contact with our skin and hair every day are not groundless. However, with a competent approach to the choice of products at the stage of purchase, you can stock up on cosmetics that will give the maximum of the useful properties that are contained in it without a noticeable negative impact.
To do this, it is necessary to study in detail the composition of each product purchased, choose the one with the lowest alcohol content. However, we should not forget that this substance is used on an industrial scale for a reason. It is he who allows you to use a jar of your favorite cream for more than one month, and a perfectly matched shampoo allows you to make your hair clean, elastic and radiant after repeated use.
