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Alcohol Denat.
AKA “ethanol, ethyl alcohol, alcohol, grain alcohol, Methylcarbinol, Ethyl hydroxide, Ethyl hydrate, Tecsol”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Alcohol denat.
AKA: Ethanol, Ethyl alcohol, Grain alcohol, Methylcarbinol, Ethyl hydroxide, Ethyl hydrate, Tecsol
Synthetic · Antimicrobial · EWG: 1
Synthetic
Preservative
Solvent
Astringent
Synthetic
Clean
A gentle alcohol that helps control texture and prevent foam, while keeping products fresh and lightweight on skin.
Solubility greater than or equal to 100 mg/mL at 73 °F (NTP, 1992)
Formula
C2H6O
Mol. Weight
46.07
CAS #
64-17-5
Form
Liquid
State
Ethanol with a small amount of an adulterant added so as to be unfit for use as a beverage.
See origin →
Functions
Antifoaming
Antimicrobial
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Astringent
Tightens and contracts skin tissue, temporarily shrinking pores and reducing oiliness. That "clean, tight" feeling after toner.
Solvent
Dissolves other ingredients so they distribute evenly in the formula. Often the invisible "base" everything else is mixed into.
Viscosity Controlling
Controls excess oil
Fights acne
Causing bacteria
Minimizes pores
Traditional Use
Ethanol denatured with additives like bitrex to make it undrinkable, introduced in the early 20th century to avoid alcohol taxes. Used in cosmetics as a preservative and solvent.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types, gentle
Best For
General
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
1
CIR
Safe
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
ewg-1
pregnancy-nursing-safe
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU⚠ restricted
JAPAN⚠ restricted
CANADA⚠ restricted
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Verified Feb 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR