What Is Benzyl Alcohol in Skincare? Dermatologists Weigh in

With new research and innovative technology launching daily, the beauty community is more vigilant than ever about what we put on our skin. One ingredient category that has been under fire lately is preservatives, with parabens receiving the most heat. In an attempt to avoid the complex issue completely, many beauty companies are reformulating without the use of parabens in favor of alternative ingredients. In the wake of those changes, consumers are left to wonder about the safety of the preservative ingredients used in their place, such as benzyl alcohol, and whether or not preservatives are all that important in the first place. So what's the deal?

According to dermatologist Jessica Krant, MD, preservatives like benzyl alcohol are important and deserve a place in your skincare products. "Preservatives are vital for any product that we want to last more than a few days in the bottle—and not have to keep in the refrigerator," she explains. "They help to keep germs out and to keep the products from turning rancid or discolored."

Since some might still be on the fence about using benzyl alcohol, we turned to Krant and two other experts for their opinions on one of the more common paraben alternatives.

Here's what these experts have to say about the benzyl alcohol and whether you're safe using it in your skincare.

What Is Benzyl Alcohol?

Benzyl alcohol is an organic alcohol that is derived from fruits such as cranberries and apricots, according to board-certified dermatologist Geeta Yadav, MD. It appears as a colorless liquid that has a slightly sweet scent. Although it's most widely known as benzyl alcohol, the aromatic alcohol also goes by a few other names, such as benzene methanol or phenylcarbinol. As a multifunctional ingredient, you can spot benzyl alcohol on the ingredient label of many different skincare, cosmetic, and personal products, such as moisturizers, lip balms, face washes, and even makeup.

According to cosmetic chemist Michelle Wong, PhD, it's primarily used in product formulation as a preservative to stop microorganisms from overgrowing in products, which could later lead to an infection. "It's mostly used because of the scaremongering about parabens," Wong says. "Since a lot of consumers are worried about parabens, alternative preservatives have to be used for marketing reasons. It's found naturally, so companies can use it in products and still market them as 'natural.'"

Benefits of Benzyl Alcohol for Skin

Besides possibly having antioxidant properties and wound healing effects by promotion of collagen, benzyl alcohol doesn't have any specific benefits for your skin itself but rather helps to optimize skincare formulas so that they can better perform for your skin. Here's what benzyl alcohol can do:

• Preserve the product: According to Yadav, benzyl alcohol acts as a preservative in skincare and cosmetic products due to its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. "Any cosmetic or personal care product that is made with no preservatives (for example, preservative-free eye drops) generally comes in individual single-use containers to prevent contamination by contact or air," Krant says. Benzyl alcohol allows products to be bottled in larger packages designed for more than one use.
• Stabilizes the formula: Krant adds that the ingredient also acts as a stabilizing agent against the oxidative breakdown of the product, which means it allows your products to work more effectively for a longer period.
• Provides Antioxidant activity: Krant says benzyl alcohol also has antioxidant properties, and antioxidants protect against free-radical damage.
• Dissolves ingredients: Benzyl alcohol acts as a solvent and helps to dissolve other ingredients in a product's formula.
• Decreases viscosity: Benzyl alcohol also decreases viscosity, which allows products to flow more easily.
• Imparts a nice scent: As an aromatic alcohol, benzyl alcohol is naturally fragrant and slightly sweet. Yadav says it's also naturally found in some essential oils, including ylang-ylang and jasmine, and has a delicate floral scent. 

Side Effects of Benzyl Alcohol

"Benzyl alcohol is considered to be a safe ingredient in skincare and cosmetics when used on intact skin," Krant says, though it can cause a couple of side effects. Here's what to look out for:

• Can cause itching for some people: "As is the case for most preservatives, benzyl alcohol can, unfortunately, be an irritant and cause itching for some people," says Krant.
• Toxicity is possible with overuse: "Toxicity is a possibility with excessive ingestion, which is not considered a risk with normal usage," says Wong, adding that it's safe when used at a low concentration—and it usually is in well-formulated products.

However, Yadav points out that these symptoms only occur in rare cases when someone actually allergic to benzyl alcohol. If you experience an adverse reaction such as swelling or redness to products containing benzyl alcohol and suspect you could have an allergy to it, Krant says this can be identified through formal skin allergy patch testing with your dermatologist or allergist.

As for more serious risks of using the preservative in your products, those concerns aren't as valid. "The potential for allergenicity is low, and low risk of toxicity," Krant says.

How to Use It

As long as you don't have an allergy to benzyl alcohol, Krant and Wong say it's totally fine to use in your regular skincare routine. Because the ingredient is included in such a wide range of cosmetics, the time of day you would apply it, and the step in your routine depends on each specific product.

The Final Takeaway

Benzyl alcohol is a fruit-derived ingredient that acts as a preservative in skincare and cosmetic products due to its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. When used in a product, it can help stabilize the formula, dissolve ingredients, decrease viscosity, provide antioxidant properties, and impart a sweet floral scent. In extremely rare cases, using a product with benzyl alcohol may cause itching or toxicity (if excessively ingested, contrary to recommended usage). If you encounter any side effects or suspect an allergy to benzyl alcohol, speak with a licensed physician before adding it to your skincare routine for daily usage.