Why is alcohol added to sunscreen? Is it good to add alcohol to sunscreen?

The rapid evaporation of alcohol takes away moisture and heat, which can cause discomfort, so alcohol is added to sunscreen products to make the skin feel more refreshing. However, cosmetics containing alcohol have a common problem of not being suitable for dry skin and sensitive skin. So, why do we add alcohol to sunscreen?

Why is alcohol added to sunscreen?

Alcohol has bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects, and oil is easily soluble in alcohol. Adding alcohol to sunscreen can control oil after applying it on the face, making the skin more refreshed and less heavy. In addition, alcohol evaporates faster. If you add alcohol to sunscreen, the alcohol will evaporate quickly after applying it on your face, which will speed up the film formation of the sunscreen.

Sunscreen with alcohol

1. The alcohol content in sunscreen can make its texture more refreshing and non-greasy. Alcohol is an ingredient that is easy to volatilize. The addition of this ingredient can make the sunscreen feel more refreshing. Moreover, alcohol has some antiviral and penetration-promoting effects. Adding it to sunscreen can keep the skin surface refreshed and healthy.

2. Oily skin secretes too much oil, and a lot of bacteria may form on the skin surface. Sunscreen with added alcohol ingredients can not only effectively control oil and inhibit oil secretion, but also make the skin feel more refreshed and has the effect of sterilization and disinfection. However, adding alcohol to the face is very safe and it can promote the penetration and astringency of sunscreen, allowing the active ingredients in it to penetrate deeper into the skin.

3. It can also shrink pores to a certain extent. After applying skin care products containing alcohol, the pores on the face will look smaller, but dry skin and sensitive skin should avoid using alcohol sunscreen.

Is it normal for sunscreen to smell like alcohol?

It is normal for sunscreen to smell like alcohol. Because some sunscreens want to ensure a refreshing touch, they add some alcohol ingredients, so that the sunscreen will be refreshing and non-greasy when used on the skin, and will not become muddy even if other makeup is applied over it. Therefore, the ingredient alcohol is actually very suitable for combination skin and oily skin. The alcohol ingredient can ensure the freshness of the makeup, and the sunscreen with added alcohol is generally very transparent and not overly white. As long as you avoid applying sunscreen containing alcohol ingredients around the eyes, it will cause little damage to combination skin and oily skin.

What skin types are not suitable for sunscreen containing alcohol?

People with dry or sensitive skin should avoid using this sunscreen because the alcohol content can irritate the skin and cause tears. Some sunscreens do not contain alcohol and can be used by sensitive skin and dry skin, but this type of sunscreen will feel greasy. However, regardless of whether alcohol is added or not, the sunscreen will have a certain sun protection effect based on its sun protection multiple and factor. Therefore, different skin types can choose whether to use sunscreen containing alcohol ingredients according to the desired sun protection effect. The comfort level of different added ingredients is different. When choosing a sunscreen, you should check whether it contains alcohol. The higher the alcohol content ranks, the higher its content. Correspondingly, the higher the alcohol content, the more refreshing it will be. Generally, this type of sunscreen is very effective for people with oily skin and closed comedones, but people with other skin characteristics should avoid this type of sunscreen.