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The term ‘sd alcohol’ means specially denatured alcohol. On the other hand, ‘denatured alcohol’ means ethanol that has been adultered with toxic substances, otherwise known as denaturants, to make it unfit for human consumption. Various denaturants are added to ethanol to discourage people from drinking it. The most common denaturants include methane, pyridine, denatonium, and tert-butyl alcohol.
Ethanol is also denatured to exempt it from beverage alcohol taxation. The US Bureau of alcohol, tobacco, and firearms uses numbers to name denatured alcohol according to the denaturing method. Thus, sd alcohol 40-b means ethanol denatured with tert-butyl alcohol and denatonium benzoate.
Uses of Sd Alcohol 40-b
Sd alcohol 40-b is used in the cosmetic industry due to its antimicrobial, antifoaming, and astringent properties.
As an Astringent
An astringent is applied to the skin to tighten the pores. Thus, sd alcohol 40-b is used in cosmetic and beauty products because of its astringent properties. Keratin is one of the proteins that make your skin. It contains salt bonds that are sensitive to temperature changes. Thus, higher temperatures break the salt bonds, causing the skin to swell.
Cosmetic products containing sd alcohol 40-b cool the skin and reform the salt bonds. They also improve blood circulation and open up clogged pores. As a result, these products improve the skin tone resulting in more beautiful skin. Sd alcohol 40-b is mainly used in acne-prone and oily skin products because it prevents excessive skin oiliness by unclogging the pores.
Antimicrobial Properties
You will find sd alcohol 40-b in soaps, sanitizers, and lotions labeled ‘antimicrobial’ because of its potency against bacteria and fungi. Specially denatured alcohol kills bacteria and other microorganisms by breaking down the proteins in their cell structures. Thus, it/s used to formulate antimicrobial shampoos and soaps for certain cosmetic use.
As a Solvent
Sd alcohol 40-b dissolves other compounds. Thus, it’s used as a solvent in various industries. Sd alcohol 40-b is incorporated in cosmetic preparations to shrink their volume by thinning them out. Thus, it helps improve absorption of these products through the skin and improve overall product performance.
As an Antifoaming Agent
Sd alcohol is popular in the cosmetic industry because of its antifoaming properties. It prevents foam formation, thus improving the production process by increasing the machine capacity. In addition, they make product packaging easier and improve overall product performance.
Is Sd Alcohol 40-b Safe on Skin?
Controversy surrounds the safety of sd alcohol 40-b. Thus, the cosmetic ingredients review panel (CIR) reviewed the available data to determine its safety. According to the review, cosmetic products containing sd alcohol 40-b did not cause photoallergy or sensitivity to the skin. In addition, the review concluded that topical application of sd alcohol 40-b did not cause plasma concentrations.
In the same review, an irritation test on sd alcohol 40-b did not cause any effects. Thus, the review concluded that it does not affect the integrity of the skin barrier or cause systemic concentration when applied to the skin.
Although the CIR considers sd alcohol 40- b safe for use on the skin, high concentration in cosmetic products may cause excessive skin dryness and irritation. In addition, long-term use can disrupt the natural skin barrier, causing abnormal water loss. Thus, always check the levels of sd alcohol 40-b in cosmetics before using them.
Products containing sd alcohol 40-b are unsuitable for dry skin, eczema, sensitive skin, and allergies. In addition, long-term and consistent use may break the skin and expose the skin to inflammation. Thus, avoid products containing sd alcohol 40-b if your skin barrier is broken because it may cause irritation and burning.
Conclusion
Specially denatured (sd) alcohol has various uses in the cosmetic industry. It is adultered with tert-butyl alcohol or denatonium benzoate. Sd alcohol 40-b Is mainly popular due to its antifoaming properties. In addition, it has astringent and antimicrobial properties making it popular among beauty soaps, shampoos, and lotions. The cosmetic ingredients review panel considers sd alcohol 40-b safe for use on human skin. However, it’s only suitable for oily and acne-prone skin and unsuitable for dry and allergic skin. In addition, long-term and consistent use may break the skin barrier resulting in irritation and skin burns.
About the author: Nikolay Stoyanov is an SEO expert with 14 years of experience. Nik owns CBD Advertising Agency that helps CBD brands grow their business via cannabis SEO.
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