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Benzyl Alcohol

Our database includes 5,329 products that contain Benzyl Alcohol.

Explained

Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.

Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.

Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.

Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.

Other types of astringent alcohols include:

According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.

Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.

You should know

Concerns

Dry Skin
Oily Skin
Irritation
Rosacea
Eczema
Community Rating
Very Disliked

What it does

Perfuming A substance that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor, especially a volatile liquid distilled from flowers or preparedsynthetically.
Preservative Tending to preserve or capable of preserving.
Solvent Capable of dissolving another substance.

Prevalence

Somewhat common Percentage of products that contain it
8.1%
Top categories
Moisturizers
Cleansers
Treatments
Position Predominant list placement
Bottom 25%
Concentration Concentrations we've seen
0% to 6%

References

CosIng Data

CosIng ID 32153
INCI Name BENZYL ALCOHOL
INN Name benzyl alcohol
EC #  202-859-9
Ph. Eur. Name alcohol benzylicus
All Functions Perfuming, Preservative, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling