SD Alcohol 40-B in cosmetic formulations (especially at the beginning of the ingredient list)

FK1221

You read in beauty articles that SD Alcohol 40-B can be very drying and irritating to skin especially when it is listed at the beginning of the ingredient list (like the old toners/astringents). Avon has come out with their new " Clinical Resurfacing Expert Smoothing Fluid ". Below is their ingredient list:

WATER/EAU
SD ALCOHOL 40-B
GLYCOLIC ACID
GLYCERIN
PVP
THIODIPROPIONIC ACID
TRIOXAUNDECANEDIOIC ACID
SODIUM HYALURONATE
ARGININE

Is it necessary to have SD Alcohol 40-B (2nd ingredient) in an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) product ???

Right Brain

This puzzled me too. I'm looking into it now and if I find an answer I'll let you know!

FK1221

Thanks so much for checking this out Right Brain ! ! ! !

AleV

Correct me if im wrong but Avon always uses alcohol with its AHA and BHA product (there used to be some famous exfoliating pads with AHAs). AHAs are water soluble and BHAs are oil soluble right? diluting salycilic acid in alcohol is easier (I mean its much more soluble in alcohol than in water) but the most important, its cheaper than using other solvent like propylene glycol -a common ingredient to dilute salycilic acid-.
At least that happens with salycilic acid products, I know both are different but maybe something similar happens with AHAs?. Ooor maybe the forumula is easily stabilized with alcohol, since the pH must be between 3 and 5 for exfoliation to occur...

Manufacturers in my country (and most of the BHA products Ive seen from other countries) go for the easy way and most of the salycilic acid and lactic or glycolic acid products come in an alcohol base.

In the other side, I dont think irritating your skin in this way really worth it but I read at futurederm.com that some fancy vitamin C serums use an alcohol base cause it enhances this active ingredients penetration (my guess is that they go for the easy way too, diluting vit C crystals in alcohol, getting the right pH and making the formula more stable). Maybe that happens with AHAs too?, that penetration is enhances through alcohol.

I stay away from products with high content of alcohol anyway, If you ask me I prefer an alcohol free than an oil free product.

Sorry for the mess, its just I had several ideas and I didnt know how to explain myself.

FK1221

Thanks AleV for replying. I read the article at futurederm.com. I read a lot of future derm reviews, but I am not too " crazy " about some of her product reviews.

Hopefully, the Right Brain will find out some information on SD Alcohol 40-B's inclusion into skin-care products and its effects.

alchemist

In this product the alcohol looks to be serving two purposes; as a preservative and to reduce the stickiness of the product. As noted above it may help with peneration of the actives also.

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