Cleansing, toning, and moisturizing have been the holy grail of skincare for ages. But the wrong kind of products can do more harm than good. It is better to not have a skincare routine at all if the products to use have alcohol. Some people seek alcohol-based products for oily skin, wittingly or unwittingly, but the truth is simply that alcohol does not help reduce oiliness, much against your expectation and beliefs. In fact, you might be surprised to know that the best toners for oily skin are alcohol-free.
Why is Alcohol used?
Now, if alcohol is hands-down bad for all skin types, why do skincare products have alcohol at all? Isn’t that what you are thinking? Well, ethanol and isopropyl alcohol have some uses that make skincare products manufacturers put in products.
- They help absorb vitamins and other ingredients in the products.
- They help control sebum production. “Apparently” is the keyword here.
- They increase the shelf life of products.
- They are believed to have antibacterial properties.
While it’s true that alcohol-based products do last longer and have the innate ability to blend into the skin better quite effortlessly, these are frankly advantages for the seller and not the user, and that is you! Alcohol is a cheap convenience for sellers that can cost your skin its nourishment. This is why the best toners for oily skin do not use alcohol.
Myths busted
At the cost of sounding repetitive, alcohol doesn’t help control excess oil. It rather tends to dry out the skin way too much which then triggers excessive sebum production. Hence, automatically, it is counterproductive.
Natural products are the best anti-bacterial treatment options. Unlike alcohol-based products, they don’t kill skin cells along with bacteria. As stated already, alcohol makes the skin too dry and therefore, all the vitamins do seep in but at what cost? The alcohol itself also seeps through the pores, along with the chemical perfumes and colorants. This clogs pores and dehydrates the skin. For efficient and safe product absorption, it is best to use alcohol-free products and take the time to massage them into the skin. To help the product enter deep under the skin and set in well, you may consider using a jade or rose quartz rollers. These tend to consolidate positive results further.
Reasons why alcohol-free toners are the best toners for oily skin
Alcohol-free toners are the best for all skin types, including oily skin. And here are the reasons why such is the case.
Prevents premature aging
By drying the skin, alcohol-based products result in collagen loss and decrease the elasticity of the skin. This invites the early onslaughts of wrinkles. Buying alcohol-based products directly means paying money to get premature wrinkles! Alcohol-free products maintain normal hydration and keep the skin looking youthful.
Prevents acne and pimples
Alcohol-based toners are rough on the skin and damage the pores. They irritate the skin, causing numerous ugly breakouts. Alcohol-based products also cause oxidation damage. It makes the skin more susceptible to bacteria and germs, leading to pimples.
Prevents dry skin
Alcohol-based products are used on oily skin to control excess oiliness. It does not control sebum production; it dries out the skin by pulling out sebum indiscriminately. This gives the skin yet another reason to breakout due to irritation. It also makes the skin more susceptible to dirt and grime.
On the other hand, alcohol-free products gently remove excess moisture instead of forcing all the necessary oil out of the pores.
Prevents oily skin
You read it right, non-alcoholic skincare products help prevent oily skin. Contradictory to what alcohol-based products claim, alcohol causes more oiliness and pimples than it prevents. The best toner for oily skin too is alcohol-free.
When the natural sebum is drawn out by alcohol-based products, the skin is tricked into believing there is a sebum deficit. It, therefore, starts producing even more sebum. Someone who doesn’t know better thinks they just need to apply more of the alcohol-based product.
Natural alcohol-free ingredients help the skin stay hydrated so that the body knows it does not need to produce more sebum. This balanced oil control method results in beautiful skin that is neither too oily nor too dry.
Helps sensitive skin
Alcohol-based products are the worst for sensitive skin. They cause inflammation, dermatitis, and even skin allergies. They can dry the skin too much and cause eczema. Alcohol-free products don’t only prevent these unfortunate consequences, but also nourish the skin to glow better.
Protects the skin barrier
If you think your alcohol-based toner makes your skin better and tighter you might be mistaken. The sudden excessive tightness of the skin comes from lipid breakdown. It triggers itchiness and irritation. The elasticity of the skin is maintained with natural alcohol-free products.
These are the issues with alcohol-based products that possibly no one told you about. Well, now you know! Therefore, armed with the information, make the best decision when you shall need to get toner for your oily skin, making sure that the product does not contain ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, glycolic acid, or hydroxyl acids.