Nearly every time I’m out in department stores doing research, I encounter some form of cosmetic counter insanity. My most recent research outing, however, yielded a double helping of the same ridiculous misinformation—from two entirely different cosmetic counters! If I heard this twice in the same day, then who knows how many people are getting this same bogus, 100% incorrect sales pitch as well?!

I went to Macy’s to take a look at Dior’s new DiorSnow D-NA Reverse Night Serum, and quickly noticed that “Alcohol” was the second ingredient, right after “Water.” My expression must’ve visibly turned, because the sales lady immediately asked me what was wrong.
“It’s just too bad this has so much alcohol in it,” I said.
“Oh, honey,” she smiled, “It’s the face kind of alcohol. Nothing to worry about!”

Now, there is simply no such thing as “face” alcohol. There are, in fact, innocuous fatty alcohols (with names like cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and so on), but when an ingredient label simply lists “Alcohol,” “Alcohol Denat.,” or “SD-Alcohol 40,” you can be sure that it’s the very bad kind! These types of alcohols are extremely detrimental to skin: drying it out, causing free-radical damage with continued use, and, for those with oily skin, triggering more oil production in the pore lining. Sure, it can temporarily de-grease skin, but the long term damage (and the triggering of more oil production) is not worth the short term benefit (check out the research here).

Not more than an hour later while at the Nordstrom’s Lancome counter, I was surprised to find myself in front of yet another cosmetic salesperson trying to convince me of the virtues of alcohol as skin care. Looking at Lancome’s Flash Bronzer Tinted Body Gel Enriched with Vitamin E, I remarked that it was a shame to see that alcohol appeared second on the ingredient list.
She was quick to clarify, “Does the label say “Alcohol” or “Alcohol Denat.?”
“Denatured Alcohol,” I said, “the bad one.”
Her tone softened, and she explained, “That kind of alcohol is used as a preservative, which is a good thing!”

Ugh. There are so many things wrong with that statement! First, alcohol denat. is grain alcohol (think gin or scotch) made undrinkable by denaturing it. Second, it is absolutely not functioning as a preservative; it’s being used to ensure that the tinted gel dries quickly so that it doesn’t make a mess when it’s applied. It has nothing whatsoever to do with good skin care! Third, were it actually a preservative, how could anyone rationally extol its place up front and personal on the ingredient list? Considering that vitamin E (this product’s alleged star ingredient) appears halfway down the list (as it happens, far below methylparaben, the product’s actual preservative), how exactly is that “a good thing”? And of course, there’s still all those other detrimental issues when alcohol is high up on an ingredient list. This is clearly a product that anyone who knows anything about skin care would gladly pass by.

Of course, I said none of this because it would’ve only gotten me kicked out. Then again, I didn’t purchase the product either—and I can only hope that said it all!