Over the years, I’ve come across a lot of misinformation and misconceptions about cosmetics that unfortunately are perpetuated
across the internet and media. So, here I offer the first article in series of Zaega “Beauty Myth-busters” aimed at delivering the
truth from a real cosmetic chemist. At the heart of this myth is a misunderstanding of the term “alcohol”. So, before going any
further, let me explain the mainly two different types of alcohols commonly used in cosmetics, as each one exhibits very different properties.
Regular old alcohol: Ethyl Alcohol. One of the most common alcohols used in cosmetics is Ethyl alcohol, also referred to as
Ethanol (or simply Alcohol on some cosmetic ingredient listings). It’s the regular old alcohol we are all most familiar with –
found in beer and wine, as well as in our hairsprays, gels and facial toners. Yes, really –it’s the exact same thing. But, to remove
the tax burden imposed on alcohol intended for ingestion, and also to ensure that people (especially kids) aren’t drinking hairspray, the ethanol used in cosmetic formulations is typically denatured, which creates a bitter taste. Denatured alcohol appears
in a