Denatured Alcohol

This is an automatic translation

Alcohol, also called ethanol or ethyl alcohol, is a solvent that is used in the cosmetic sector in its denatured form. Ethyl alcohol is a highly odorous, colorless and volatile liquid, completely miscible in water and many other organic liquids.

It can be obtained synthetically or naturally, through the fermentation of sugar. In the latter case it is obtained by hydrolysis of starch in the presence of yeasts, at a temperature below 37 ° C.

When alcohol is used for a purpose other than ingestion, it undergoes the denaturation process, with one or more denaturing agents according to the national legislation of each European Community (EU) country: this procedure therefore consists in the addition of substances able to give it an unpleasant taste so as to make it unsuitable for consumption as "drinkable alcohol".

In contact with the skin, alcohol evaporates quickly, leaving a pleasant sensation of freshness and relief, in fact it can be found in cosmetic products such as deodorants, perfumes or even in aftershaves.

In cosmetics it has several functions: it can be used as a solvent, but often also as an antimicrobial.
If it is added in some liquid finished products, it is able to reduce or avoid the formation of foam, in case this is excessive or not sought after. Denatured alcohol is not recommended for very sensitive skin, as it tends to dry out the skin, causing possible irritation. It can also be used to control the viscosity of cosmetic formulations.