Let’s talk common skincare misconceptions with Revolution Beauty’s cosmetic scientist Liberty
Liberty is the NPD Formulation Manager at Revolution and has a degree in Cosmetic Science. She enjoys reading, eating and going on walks to meet new dogs. In this series Liberty will be de-myth-ifying common misconceptions about skincare and sharing the science behind your favourite Revolution Skincare products.
Myth:
Alcohol in skincare is bad.
Liberty says:
There are many different types of alcohol and not all of them are bad, despite their bad rep. At Revolution Skincare we only include proven and safe alcohols in our formulas, where necessary.
Alcohol denat is a water-soluble alcohol which evaporates easily, meaning it gives a cooling and refreshing effect on the skin. It helps with preserving formulas and a lot of everyone’s favourite active ingredients (the ones that gives your skincare its oomph) come pre-dispersed in alcohol denat as it’s the only thing they’ll solubilise in. E.g. alcohol is key for including Salicylic Acid in formulations. When used in high quantities it can be slightly drying, but overall, it’s widely used and tolerated.
Fatty alcohols like Cetearyl Alcohol, Lauryl Alcohol, and Oleyl Alcohol are waxy substances that act as emulsifiers – aka they help to bind water and oil to make a stable formulation. They also help provide emollience to the skin, keeping it soft, smooth and hydrated.
Myth:
If you have oily skin you shouldn’t use moisturiser or oils
Liberty says:
Oily skin may actually be a sign that you need to moisturise more! A lot of oil and blemish battling products can often be quite drying and remove the natural oils from the skin, which can help in the short term to reduce breakouts, but in the long term may create more as the skin over produces sebum to try to re-balance itself. This can result in a cycle of drying out skin to remove oil, which makes skin over-compensate by producing more. To create a balanced routine, try opting for lighter moisturisers, serums and oils like Passionfruit Oil or CBD oil.
Myth:
Low percentages of active ingredients mean they don’t do anything
Liberty says:
Some active ingredients are highly effective at low concentrations, and also less likely to irritate the skin. Lower concentrations are also great for building up tolerance over time. It can take up to three months to notice benefits from certain ingredients, so if you don’t notice results immediately it doesn’t mean it’s not working.
Remember good skincare is all about finding what is right for your skin and of course, a little patience. Good things come to those who wait after all.
Liberty from Team Revolution x
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