Ethanol — Allergy Risk & Safety Profile

Name: Is Ethanol Safe? Allergy Risk & Alternatives
Creator: SkinDetekt

INCI: ALCOHOL

🟡 Medium Risk

Key Facts

CAS Number: 64-17-5
Category: solvent
Risk Level: medium
Common Allergen: No
Found In: perfume, toner, hand sanitizer

Is Ethanol safe in cosmetics?

Ethanol is rated medium risk in cosmetic products. It is not classified as a common allergen and is generally well-tolerated by most skin types. Safer alternatives include Water, Glycerin, Propanediol. Commonly found in perfume, toner, hand sanitizer.

What is Ethanol?

Ethanol is a solvent commonly used in cosmetic and personal care products. It has a moderate risk of causing skin irritation or sensitization in some people.

Allergy & Safety Information

Ethanol is generally safe for most people but may cause irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. If you experience redness, itching, or swelling after using a product with this ingredient, discontinue use and consult a dermatologist.

This ingredient carries moderate allergenicity risk. It can cause reactions in sensitised individuals but has a lower sensitisation rate than high-risk ingredients. Patch testing before full use is advisable for anyone with a history of cosmetic reactions.

How to Identify Ethanol in Products

Cosmetic ingredients are listed by their INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) name in descending order of concentration. To check whether a product contains Ethanol, scan the ingredient list for its INCI name exactly as it appears above. Ingredients present at 1% or less may appear in any order after the 1% threshold.

Product types to prioritise checking: Perfume, Toner, Hand sanitizer. These product categories are the most common sources of Ethanol exposure based on formulation data.

Not sure if your products contain Ethanol? Paste the ingredient list into the free ingredient checker to scan for Ethanol and other allergens automatically.