Alcohol has two primary effects on skin: it's both highly irritating and drying for skin. First, its harsh, astringent chemical makeup often irritates skin and causes discoloration and redness. Secondly, Alcohol can dry up your skin's natural oils, making the appearance of wrinkles and sunspots more pronounced. This is because while hydrated skin appears youthful and plump, dried skin can appear wrinkled, cracked, discolored, and sallow. Unfortunately, Alcohol is a fairly common ingredient in skincare and beauty products.

The best approach with alcohol in skincare is to avoid it altogether. Instead, opt for natural ingredient alternatives—either botanicals or essential oils with a delicate aroma, such as lavender or neroli. Botanical ingredients work well too because many produce a cooling effect when applied topically (think peppermint and aloe vera). This leaves skin feeling soothed and tightens pores for an improved complexion. Essential oils are an excellent choice too because they're potent but gentle.

For more info on the damaging effects of alcohol on skin, check out this post.