Derms Say You Should Never Use This One Ingredient If You Struggle With Sagging Skin—It Makes It So Much Worse!

Alcohol

According to Dr. Hsu, "This is an ingredient commonly found in many retail products. So if someone has mature skin or saggy skin, be very careful." He emphasizes that it is important to read the labels of the items you are thinking of purchasing. "If it contains any sort of alcohol, steer clear of that product. The higher the alcohol is listed on the ingredient list, the larger its content in the formulation."

In fact, alcohol comes in many variations. The most common ones include ethanol, methanol, ethyl, denatured, isopropyl and benzyl. Dr. Hsu says, "Alcohol [is] commonly used in skincare products because it is extremely inexpensive and can act as a preservative. [Also, it is an ingredient] that would enhance the consistency in a skincare cream or lotion to make it [feel more elegant]."

Additionally, he explains, "When alcohols are in skincare, it makes the formulation lighter and smoother. When used in formulations that are for [sagging] skin, retail companies will make claims that it tightens the skin." Dr. Hsu confirms and agrees that "it does have that instant effect."

However, the scary downside to this is that the alcohol just purely sits on the skin. He notes, "Solvent alcohols such as isopropyl and ethyl will actually strip away the skin's natural moisture, compromising the skin barrier over time. [When it comes to aging], having a healthy skin barrier is key to keep the skin [hydrated as well as protected] from further damages and loss of collagen from external factors."

Dr. Hsu also points out that high alcohol content in skincare products can extremely irritate your skin. In conclusion, he warns, "The skin’s microbiome can become imbalanced and this can lead to acne and clogged pores. Furthermore, it can also dehydrate the skin further—increasing the appearance of rough textures, dry patches, fine lines, and wrinkles."