Can You Clean Your Face with Alcohol

Your face is the way you communicate with the
world; on it you display emotions, intentions, and identity. This is one of the
reasons why dealing with acne can be frustrating, discouraging, and depressing.
If you are in the midst of a breakout, you’re probably willing to try anything
to clear things up. There are a lot of old wive’s tales and anecdotes about how
to minimize acne, including using rubbing alcohol to reduce oil and kill
acne-causing bacteria.

But can you clean your face with alcohol?
Should you? We’ve gathered all the information you need to know before you give
this remedy a try.

The Truth About Isopropyl Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol (or Isopropyl alcohol) has a
very high alcohol content, typically about 70%. It has many uses and is a
must-have for your home first aid kit. It cleans and sanitizes wounds and can
minimize infection and fight bacteria. So, it stands to reason that it can be
used to clean your skin in the midst of a breakout,
right?

Can You Clean Your Face with Alcohol?

Alcohol strips the protective oils, or sebum,
from your face, leaving your skin tight, flaky, red, and dry. The oil balance
in your skin is delicate, and when you remove too much of it, you may actually
prolong your breakout. Since rubbing alcohol has such a high alcohol content,
prolonged daily use may cause scarring and permanent damage.

Get to Know Your Face

Some people see acne as a sign of poor
hygiene, but there is a lot more to it than just washing your face. Most
breakouts are caused by overstimulation of the oil-producing gland in your
skin, typically caused by hormonal changes and even stress. Stripping the
excess oil is not the only way to get rid of acne, the goal must be to bring
balance to all the factors that are causing your breakouts.

Natural Solutions to Minimize Acne
and Treat Breakouts

In order to keep acne in check, you want a
natural cleansing regimen with steps that approach treating breakouts
holistically. Here are a few of our favorite products.

Balancing
Neem & Turmeric Face Wash from Himalaya

If you’re looking for a gentle cleanser to
clear up normal to oily skin, Balancing Neem & Turmeric Face Wash from Himalaya
is a great choice. Enriched with powerful herbal extracts, this product
purifies skin with a luxurious soap-free lather. It also contains vitamin E to
moisturize and protect skin all day long.

Hydrating
Face Wash from Himalaya

If you struggle with dry skin, Hydrating Face Wash from Himalaya
can help cleanse and moisturize with a natural blend of herbal extracts. Using
white pumpkin to nourish and Bael Fruit to cleanse, this face wash is the
perfect addition to your facial cleansing regimen.

Thoroughly
Clean Face Wash from Desert Essence

Thoroughly Clean Face Wash from Desert
Essence is a gentle, but effective cleanser designed to bring
balance to oily and combination skin types. This organic face wash leaves skin
feeling clean and silky with a blend of tea tree oil, goldenseal, chamomile,
and bladderwrack.
If you’re looking to balance your complexion, this may just be the face wash
you’ve been looking for.

So, can you clean your face with alcohol? I
think we can all agree that you probably shouldn’t.

How do you naturally treat breakouts and keep
your acne in check? Share your solutions with us in the comments section below.