6 Unexpected Skincare Ingredients That Are Actually Making Dry, Wrinkly Skin So Much Worse: Toner With Alcohol & More

In a pure and perfect world, your skincare products would take your skin from parched to perfectly hydrated and smooth, while minimizing signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles . But the reality of skincare is different: you have to rummage through plenty of expensive rocks to find diamonds that are worth keeping.

You may be doing everything right, including maintaining a skincare routine that includes cleansing, serums with active ingredients, moisturizer , and — most importantly — sunscreen. But if your skin seems to be reacting more than usual, the problem might actually be your skincare products. If your products contain any of these six ingredients, they can cause irritation, make dry skin drier, and exacerbate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Cleansers with Sulfates

Cleansers should not be bubbly — we know that sounds all kinds of wrong, but hear us out. If your cleanser is creating a rich lather, there’s a good chance it contains sulfates, which are surfactants that cleanse, but that also strip away much-needed moisture from the skin. Your skin should feel clean after you’ve cleansed it, but it should not feel dry and tight. Try switching to a gentle formula and remember: lather isn’t necessary to clean.

Essential Oils

Some skincare products boast about the ways they incorporate “natural” essential oils in their ingredients. And some of these oils may be perfectly find for some skin types, but what they don’t always tell you is that they can also be highly sensitizing and cause irritation, dryness, and breakouts. Examples of oils that can be drying and irritating include jasmine, tea tree, and ylang-ylang.

Toner With Alcohol

A number of toners and other skincare products can contain alcohol, which helps cleanse your skin, but also removes essential oils and strips skin of moisture. Look out for products that contain “methanol,” “ethanol,” or “ethyl” in their ingredients list.

Fragrance

If you have dry or sensitive skin, products that contain fragrance can cause intense irritation, redness, and more dryness. Be careful about choosing products and stick with those that say “fragrance-free.” Even products that claim they are unscented or are naturally scented can contain fragrance.

Chemical Sunscreens

You’re wearing sunscreen every day — and that’s amazing and smart. But if your skin feels irritated by your SPF, don’t give up — just switch your formula. The problem may be that you are using a chemical sunscreen that contains chemical UV filters like oxybenzone, octocrylene, and avobenzone. Switching to a physical sunscreen without chemicals can help.

Mixing Retinol and Salicylic Acid

On their own, retinol can boost collagen and minimize fine lines and salicylic acid can unblock pores and reduce swelling and inflammation related to acne and pimples. They’re both wonderful ingredients that can do so many beneficial things for your skin, but you know what isn’t as great? Mixing them together.

Be careful about mixing actives together because they can be too drying and irritating on the skin. Go slow when trying a new ingredient and try one ingredient at a time. If you’re using something that can cause irritation, like a retinol, be sure to moisturize afterward with a product that contains hyaluronic acid or ceramides.