These Are the Best Alcohol-Free Skincare Products for Every Skin Type

Although we certainly approve of a glass of white on a sunny Saturday afternoon, we aren't necessarily fans of pouring the stuff onto our skin...

But in saying that, alcohol in skincare and other beauty products is common as it helps products go on smoother and absorb more easily.

Known for its mattifying properties, Alcohol is also a favourite ingredient found in anti-acne and oily skincare products.

That being said, alcohol can have some adverse effects on our skin. Mainly, it can dry out your skin over time. It’s also quite a no-go zone if you have sensitive skin, as alcohol can cause irritation and discomfort.

Whether you’re after a nourishing moisturiser for your dry skin, an alcohol-free skin cleanser for your sensitive complexion, we’ve got all the best alcohol free product picks for you!

Keep scrolling to discover all the best alcohol free skincare products for every skin type...

The Best Alcohol Free Skin Care Products for Sensitive Skin.

If you have sensitive skin, finding the right alcohol free products can be a search and a struggle. When everything seems to trigger your skin, you can become hyper-aware of ingredients, and a real skin minimalist.

Fortunately, with so many new, clean brands catering to your needs, you don't have to compromise on formulas.

You won’t be missing out on anything with these alcohol free products, which are not only gentle, but also highly effective and nourishing.

Below we have listed the best alcohol free skin care products for sensitive skin, if this is an irritating ingredient for you. 

• Pai Light Work Rosehip Cleansing Oil: If you have sensitive skin, alcohol free products are certainly the way to go. This alcohol free face wash for sensitive skin from Pai melts away all makeup, grease and impurities. We're calling it, it's the the best alcohol free face wash for sensitive skin.

• Vanessa Megan Group 11 Active Mist: Sensitive skin can begin to feel tight and uncomfortable throughout the day. If you often need a top-up of hydration, try the best alcohol free toner for sensitive skin. This alcohol free toner mist helps brighten and nourish your skin, eliminating any dullness and imparting a gorgeous healthy glow.

• Pai The Anthemis Calming Day Cream: With the right alcohol and fragrance free moisturizer, you can lock in hydration and help calm your complexion during a flare-up. This nourishing day cream is the the best alcohol free moisturiser for sensitive skin to rebalance your skin and soothe irritation. Plus, it's also a great alcohol free moisturizer for dry skin too!

The Best Alcohol Free Skin Care Products for Dry Skin.

As we know, alcohol has a particularly drying effect. So, if you already have dry skin this is an easy one to pass on in favour of alcohol free skin care products.

Below we have put together a list of our favourite alcohol free products for dry skin that include a range of nourishing oils and hydrating ingredients that will boost your skin’s moisture levels.

End the cycle of prolonged dryness and maintain skin that is hydrated and smooth with these easy to use alcohol free face products.

• KORA Organics Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil: Traditional face washes can remove much-needed moisture from your skin, which is an absolute disaster if you already have dry skin. This cleansing oil has been expertly created with dry and very dry skin in mind, and is the best alcohol free face wash for dry skin. Now it’s easy to remove makeup and impurities while maintaining optimal hydration levels.

• Vanessa Megan Rose Hydrosol Pore Refining Toner: Rose water is a must for dry skin, as it provides instant hydration and soothes discomfort. This alcohol free toner uses pure organic rosewater to immediately alleviate dryness and tightness of the skin. This mist is the best alcohol free toner for dry skin and works on oily skin too!

• Pai Love & Haight Hydrating Day Cream: Alcohol will dry out your skin, so if you have dry skin already, you’ll want to use alcohol free face products for sure. Looking for a face moisturizer without alcohol? This alcohol and fragrance free moisturizer is designed to nourish even the driest of skin. We think it's the best alcohol free moisturizer for dry skin, as it easily comforts your skin as it hydrates.

The Best Alcohol Free Skin Care Products for Oily Skin.

Alcohol is one ingredient that can really stimulate oil production by stripping the skin, causing the skin to go into over production.

For everyone who gets extra shiny, we have selected for you our favourite alcohol-free skin care products for oily skin.

These lightweight alcohol free face products won’t leave you feeling oily or greasy, and will work to soothe and calm any breakouts and irritation.

• COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser: Alcohol is one of the worst ingredients for oily skin. While at first alcohols can appear to mattify the skin, they’ll actually send your oil production into overdrive, and you’ll end up shinier than before. This is the best alcohol free face wash for oily skin, and has an exfoliating formula that helps to deal with oil production. Pair this K-beauty favourite with an alcohol free toner Korean's love like the COSRX Two In One Poreless Power Liquid.

• Pai Living Water Purifying Tonic: If you have oily skin, an alcohol free toner can normalise your complexion and control sebum levels and shine. This is the best alcohol free toner for oily skin, which calms and balances the skin without ever feeling greasy or heavy. Full of antibacterial agents, it's also the best alcohol free toner for acne-prone skin, as it helps prevent and minimise breakouts.

• Vanessa Megan Beauty Vitamin A+B+C Daily Face Cream: If you’re after a lightweight alcohol free moisturizer for oily skin, we couldn’t recommend this face cream more highly! Bursting with skin-loving vitamins, this alcohol free moisturizer for oily skin does more than just hydrate. It also helps repair, protect, and brighten your complexion without ever feeling heavy or greasy. Hands down, this is the best alcohol free moisturizer for oily skin.

Not sure what your skin type is? Watch the video below as Amy explains how to work out your skin type (and why it's important to know)...

Why Is Alcohol-Free Skincare Good for You?

There are some pretty good reasons why alcohol is included in skincare products, which is why we find it so commonly. Alcohol is a great preservative that makes many of our products last longer and stay stable.

Alcohol is also great at making skincare products feel lighter and absorb easily, as well as layer well with other skincare ingredients. However, with these great pro’s, there are definitely some con’s...

As we’ve mentioned, alcohol can cause dryness and discomfort, so it’s an ingredient to avoid if you already have dry skin or if you’re building up your anti-ageing skincare routine.

Alcohol can also irritate sensitive skin, so you’ll probably see a massive improvement when you start using alcohol free beauty products.

When it comes to oily and acne-prone skin, contrary to popular belief, alcohol may appear to help in the short-term, but it actually makes enlarged pores look even worse and can increase oiliness and shininess too. 

Ultimately, cutting alcohol out of your skin care diet and using alcohol free beauty products will have some massive benefits, as alcohol-free skincare tends to be more gentle and nourishing on all skin types.

What Ingredients Should I Avoid?

Alcohol comes in a few different forms. When you’re browsing through ingredients lists, look out for the following common culprits.

Alcohol: Straight-up Alcohol. High concentrations of this ingredient can not only increase dryness and stimulate oil production, it also works to the detriment of your skin’s natural barrier over time. Time for an alcohol free moisturiser? We think so!

Methanol: Methanol is another one that we see a lot, especially in bath and body products. While it might feel good on application, working to dissolve surface oils, it can cause dryness and irritation in the long run, so it’s best to avoid it.

Glycol: Glycol is included in a lot of moisturisers, as it retains and attracts water, and allows other products to absorb easier. However, this ingredient can be incredibly irritating. If you have sensitive skin, it’s time to start shopping for propylene glycol free products.

Phenoxyethanol: From face moisturisers and body lotions to hair conditioner and toothpaste, Phenoxyethanol is everywhere! Used as a stabiliser and for its antibacterial properties, there are benefits to using this ingredient. However, Phenoxyethanol can potentially have a cumulative effect on our nervous system, and can be majorly irritating to our skin and eyes.

Oxybenzone: Although not an Alcohol, Oxybenzone is one to avoid if you have sensitive skin. It’s a chemical UV filter that’s found in a lot of modern sunscreens, especially with the growing popularity of chemical sunscreens. Oxybenzone is a highly irritating allergen, so, if you have sensitive skin, it’s particularly important to ditch this one.

Artificial fragrances: Our Alcohol-free skincare products are also free of other harsh ingredients, including Oxybenzone (mentioned above) and artificial fragrances. Artificial fragrances are one of the main irritants of sensitive skin.

Looking to find more alcohol free skin care, makeup more? Discover your new favourites in our Clean Beauty guides:

• The Best Alcohol Free Toners

• The Best Alcohol Free and Cruelty Free Perfumes

• The Best Chemical Free Makeup Brands

• The Best Sulfate and Paraben Free Body Wash

• Our Favourite Paraben-Free, Phthalate-Free, and Cruelty-Free Makeup

• The 6 Best Face Massage Rollers

Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty’s highly trained Customer Service team. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.