The type of alcohols used in moss products are fatty alcohols. They are not the same thing as volatile alcohols. Examples of volatile alcohols include ethanol, vodka, rubbing alcohol, denatured alcohol, grain alcohol, etc.

Fatty alcohols are not a liquid – they are usually a creamy/waxy flake or pellet in appearance. They are included in our formulations as emulsifiers (helping to bind waters and oils into an emulsion like a cream/lotion) and/or as emollients (they help to hydrate and moisturize the skin). Examples of fatty alcohols include Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxystearyl Alcohol, etc.

One reason you may see grain alcohol or denatured alcohol in skincare is because it is commonly used in plant extracts. Alcohol helps to extract both the fat soluble AND water soluble plant nutrition. Glycerin can be used in much the same way, resulting in an extract called a glycerite. At moss, we use glycerin rather than alcohol in our in-house extractions.

Usually, the alcohol present in skincare as part of a botanical extraction is not a very high percentage, 10% or less. Seeing alcohol in the ingredient list of a reputable, green skincare company is not necessarily a reason to avoid the skincare – we recommend sampling the skincare at first and making the choice based on what your skin tells you, NOT based on what the internet tells you.

moss founder Celestyna personally uses and recommends demamiel Hydrating Nectar or Cotz Sunscreen Primer (this one does contain silicones just FYI).

Suntegrity and Mychelle also make sunscreens that are friendlier towards acne-prone skins.

We also recommend ALWAYS using antioxidant rich skincare in the am regardless of whether or not you are layering sunscreen over and/or planning to go outside.

Not all antioxidant skincare is created equal. Both moss’s Potentci Dermal Lifting Milk and AMBAR’s Daily Antioxidant Primer contain stable, powerful and (this is key) broad spectrum antioxidants that protect from oxygen and nitrogen free radicals as well as lipid peroxidation.