Are you sensitive to alcohols in your skin care? Then this easy to follow five step alcohol-free skin care routine is for you.
Alcohol is one of those ingredients that tends to show up in most skin care products these days because it helps to decrease the dry down time and helps to provide a greaseless finish. If you have oily skin, those attributes probably sound pretty alluring to you, but the reality is that simple alcohols like SD alcohol, denatured alcohol, or isopropyl alcohol will strip the skin of its natural oils and could ultimately cause more sebum production.
On the other hand, for dry, sensitive skin, these alcohols will only leave your skin more dry and irritated. However, not all alcohols are created equal, so we don’t want to demonize an ingredient without proper research, but if you have a sensitivity to alcohol, it’s better to avoid them in your routine. To help you out, we created this five step alcohol free routine:
Cleanse: Neogen Real Fresh Green Tea Cleansing Stick
You may be wondering where the oil cleanser is in this routine, but don’t freak out. The Neogen Green Tea Cleansing Stick is an innovative cleanser that actually combines an oil cleanser and water-based cleanser in one. This easy-to-use product breaks down your makeup and thoroughly cleanses your face at the same time without the use of harsh alcohols.
This is thanks to the fact that it’s formulated with 13 natural oils, like green tea seed, coconut and sunflower seed oil, making this an effective yet nourishing cleanser that won’t strip the skin. The ingredients speak for themselves as it’s packed with fresh green tea leaves to deliver a burst of antioxidants and gentle exfoliation while evening primrose oil keeps your acne in check.
Tone: Cosrx Galactomyces Alcohol Free Toner
Are you used to astringent toners that leave your skin feeling tight? It’s time to ditch those unnecessary alcohols and instead invest in the Cosrx Galactomyces Alcohol Free Toner. While the the product name might say it all, it goes without saying that this toner is meant to hydrate and nourish without stripping the skin like traditional Western toners can. This particular one has 10% galactomyces ferment filtrate, which helps to even out your skin and refine texture while hyaluronic acid provides intense moisture.
Essence: Erborian Dongbaek Camellia Essence
The Erborian Dongbaek Camellia Essence is a unique oil-based essence that packs a punch of moisture which is the opposite of alcohol infused ones. It’s formulated with 73% of camellia oil, along with macadamia, sunflower, argan and grape oils that will leave your skin looking brighter and more elastic. Camellia is known as the rose of winter since it can withstand harsh temperatures, making this ideal for the winter weather. Just use a drop or two of oil and pat away for hydrated, glowing skin.
Treat: Acwell AC Defence Ampule
If you have acne-prone skin then you’ve likely encountered rough treatments that string upon application and are likely to leave your skin feeling parched. Instead of sticking with that routine, use the Acwell AC Defence Ampule to soothe redness and irritation while keeping acne at bay.
Centella asiatica helps to soothe inflammation while four different Korean herbal extracts reduce excess sebum production. It comes in a convenient mist form that makes it easy to use and more hygienic. You just have to spritz away before moving onto your next step. No irritating alcohols here!
Hydrate: Klavuu Blue Pearlsation Marine Aqua Enriched Cream
The reason why we usually avoid alcohols is because they can leave the skin feeling tight, dry and uncomfortable and they usually increase the need to apply more moisturizer. To avoid this, invest in an intense moisturizer that’ll keep your skin hydrated all day long.
Find an alcohol-free moisturizer like the Klavuu Blue Pearlsation Marine Aqua Enriched Cream. This moisturizer contains hyaluronic acid which draws water to the skin so it stays happy and hydrated. It also has cacao seed butter and algae extract to provide even more moisture while pearl extract brightens skin without any greasy feel.
Protect: TonyMoly BCDation Multi-Use Sun Oil
Most sunscreens can feel heavy and greasy or dry and tight, making it seem almost impossible to find the right sunscreen. If you apply a sunscreen and your skin is left feeling dry after application it’s likely that the company included alcohol in the formulation since it’s known to dry down quickly, helping to avoid any greasy feel.
Instead of dealing with midday dry skin, you can try the Tony Moly BCDation Multi-Use Sun Oil, which is a revolutionary sunscreen that actually comes in an oil form. It contains a flower oil complex comprised of calendula, rose, and raspberry seed oils that provide nourishment and moisture to skin without any white cast or heaviness. You can use this oil in a multitude of ways: as a facial oil, sunscreen or even a makeup base. It will leave your skin looking dewy and glowy while protecting it at the same time.
The bottom line:
For those with sensitivities to alcohol, this simple and hardworking five step routine will leave your skin feeling cleansed and hydrated. No squeaky clean feeling here!
+What would be in your alcohol-free skin care routine? Let us know in the comments below!
