3 Commonly Misunderstood Skincare Ingredients

Using the right skincare product with beneficial ingredients can work wonders for your skin. Unfortunately, people often misunderstand the benefits of some ingredients and consider them harmful.

Read on to find more about the 3 commonly misunderstood skincare ingredients, including alcohol, menthol, and skincare oils, along with their benefits and uses.

Commonly Misunderstood Ingredient #1: Alcohol

Many people avoid alcohol in their skincare products as they think it will irritate their skin and cause the skin to be dry. However, small amounts of alcohol in skincare products can be beneficial as it helps to enhance absorption and helps you feel refreshed in the morning.

Additionally, a major percentage of the alcohol evaporates while the product is applied to the skin. There are also different forms of alcohol – some might irritate the skin, while others can help to moisturise your skin.

Alcohols used in skin care products include ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, methanol or methyl alcohol, denatured alcohol, lanolin, Cetearyl, Cetyl, and Stearyl alcohol. These alcohol types are not harmful to the skin.

Some benefits of alcohol in skincare products include:

• Alcohol helps your skin absorb the ingredients present in the skincare product quickly.
• Alcohol acts as a preservative for the skincare product.
• Alcohol helps moisturise your skin and prevents oil and liquid from separating.

Takeaway: Alcohol, when added in smaller amounts is unlikely to be harmful, especially because it evaporates when applied to the skin. However, if you have extra sensitive or eczema-prone skin, use products that contain lesser amount of alcohol or undergo a small patch test on your skin before using any product.

Commonly Misunderstood Ingredient #2: Menthol

Many people dislike menthol in skin care products. But did you know that menthol is a peppermint-derived ingredient that is responsible for giving a refreshing and cooling sensation?

The cooling sensation you feel from skincare or cosmetic products on your skin is probably because of the presence of menthol. If you are a mint or peppermint lover, products containing menthol such as the Minty Fresh Morning Mask might be of interest to you.

Menthol is an organic compound enriched with peppermint. It is extracted naturally from mint or peppermint oils. If you want to give your skin an instantly refreshed and energised feeling, try purchasing skincare products that contain menthol in their ingredients.

The benefits and uses of menthol include:

• Menthol gives a mild plumping effect to the lips when added to lip balms by stimulating blood flow to the area.
• Menthol has an appealing minty flavour and scent.
• Menthol has a refreshing and cooling effect on the skin and scalp.
• Menthol boosts soothing properties and relieves mild pain. Hence, it is beneficial for irritated skin.
• Menthol improves the aroma of skincare products.

Takeaway: Menthol has various benefits. It gives soothing and cooling properties and adds minty flavour to your skincare product. However, do note that products containing menthol should be avoided around eye areas. Apart from that, menthol has no major drawbacks.

Commonly Misunderstood Ingredient #3: Oils (Orange Oil, Grapefruit Peel Oil, And Others)

It is not necessarily true that oils used in skincare products are bad for the skin and lead to clogged pores.

Instead, they come with various benefits. These oils moisturise the skin and have antibacterial, deep cleansing, and antioxidant properties. Moreover, they can also have a brightening effect when added to skincare products.

The benefits and uses of oils for skin include:

• Grapefruit Peel Oil helps in toning and firming the skin, and reduce cellulite and fat through detoxification.
• Grapefruit Peel Oil contains potent antimicrobial and antimicrobial properties. Hence, it is a perfect ingredient for acne-prone skin.
• Grapefruit contains vitamin C, which acts as an anti-inflammatory that fights inflammation.
• Orange Oil can help to improve the texture of the skin and enhance skin cells rejuvenation to prevent fine lines and wrinkles.
• The high limonene content present in Orange Oil fights free radicals that can harm healthy cells. Orange Oil fights acne and inflammation and keeps your skin fresh.

Takeaway: Oil does not clog pores but has various benefits for your skin. It boosts moisturising, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and deep cleansing properties. For a start, you may consider trying the classic Saborino Morning Mask which contain Orange & Grapefruit peel oil for day use and the Saborino Goodnight mask with Orange oil to help you unwind after a long day.

Conclusion

All three ingredients, including alcohol, menthol, and oils, are valuable for your skin. Alcohol, when added in small amounts to cosmetic products, moisturises your skin and helps to absorb ingredients on your skin quickly.

Menthol is known for its soothing and refreshing properties. Various skincare oils contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, if you are still unsure about using the products because of extra sensitive skin, the best way is to test it from a small patch before full application.