Skincare Alcohol 101

At Intoxicating Beauty, we are pro-alcohol-in-skincare. Before you run for the hills, we’re not talking about the kind you think. We are a full-service beauty bar without the hangover. Alcohol ingredients like, ethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, alcohol denat, and methanol are all used in conventional skincare products to make them more lightweight, and allow them to dry quickly upon application to the skin. The reason why many people avoid these kinds of alcohol like the plague, is because they tend to dryout our skin, wear down our moisture barrier, and eventually lead to breakouts. We are NOT for this kind of alcohol.

The alcohol we support is the kind you are far more familiar with: Sake, Vodka, Beer, Wine, and Champagne. All of which are packed with skin-loving benefits that plump, moisturize, and help clarify your skin instead of drying it out. It’s like happy hour for the skin. Read on to find out why you should toast to these intoxicating, clean ingredients.

Beer

Research has shown that when applied topically, beer can have wonderful benefits to the skin. Thanks to powerful antioxidants, Vitamin B and proteins, beer and hops, an ingredient contained in beer, can be beneficial to dull, dry, sensitive and mature skin.  Beer and hops can also help deeply exfoliate the skin, flushing out toxins from the skin, to give you a natural glow and softer skin. Our Sweet Hops collection, for example, is powered by beer’s quintessential ingredient, and is designed to help calm inflammation in the skin and protect it from environmental aggressors thanks to its hefty count of phytonutrients.

Vodka

Vodka, the all-star in our Beautitini collection, is excellent at clarifying the skin and balancing your moisture levels – not sucking them dry like many would assume. Naturally antiseptic and antibacterial, vodka in skincare helps reduce blemishes and prevent new ones from sprouting by warding off acne-causing bacteria.  Not only does this popular drink ingredient tightens and brightens the face when used topically, it also unclogs pores leaving a beautiful glow.

Champagane and Red Wine

We all love our champs and wine.  The champagane and red wine we use in our Vino Bella collection is high in antioxidants such as polyphenols and resveratrol, which protect skin from free-radical damage while keeping it bright and radiant. Shielding skin from UV rays and boosting the efficacy of your sunscreen, the antioxidants present in our Vino Bella collection help slow down the aging process before it even starts.

Sake

Fermented rice (sake), which is also known as rice wine, is full of vitamins, amino acids, and minerals that can brighten, soften and tighten the skin.  It is rich in exfoliating enzymes. When using sake in skincare, it will help gently remove dead skin cells from the surface without stripping away moisture. Our Sake Blossoms collection utilizes the gentle exfoliating powers of sake to promote skin softness, minimize uneven texture, and promote a brighter, more even complexion.

So there you have it – turns out that the alcohols we use in our products are the kind you’re already familiar with, and boast skincare benefits you may not have known existed. We hope you’re pleasantly surprised and prepared to scan the ingredient lists in the name of healthy, glowing skin.  Celebrate “you” by using these intoxicating, clean ingredients, which are packed with skin-loving benefits, that won’t dry out the skin. Now, let’s toast to that! Cheers!