If you’re still suffering from acne and dry skin past your early twenties, consider getting rid of all your skincare products that contain denatured alcohol, especially your toner. It’s the one skincare trick that I stand by. Since I eliminated denatured alcohol from my routine years ago, my other products work better on my skin.

Denatured alcohol is quite common in drugstore toners, if not the main ingredient. It’s also in some acne spot treatments. A few micellar water formulations also contain a bit of it too. That’s why it’s hard to defeat acne with these products. It’s also hard to believe that something so common in the beauty industry is creating more problems. But that’s the thing with skincare: it is different for every person and it can take a lot of trial-and-error to find something tailor-made to your needs.

A small disclaimer, though: I have encountered people who say that these denatured alcohol products do help them. And denatured alcohol’s prevalence proves that it works for most, given its anti-bacterial power. But if you’re someone like me, who never misses out on doing their nightly routine yet still sees bumps, you may need to go the alcohol free-route.

Pixi by Petra Glow Peel Pads

A purchase I made last minute at the cashier, this product has rightfully earned its cult status. Not only did it keep my skin acne-free, it also helps lighten the dark spots caused by old pimples. Most skincare fanatics prefer the one which contains 20 percent glycolic acid. But if you’re just starting out, try first the 5 percent one and see how it goes.

Always Sunday Pink Punch BHA Clarifying Toner

This toner is from one of my favorite homegrown brands. It contains beta hydroxyl acid which makes pores smaller and unclogs them. The acid is balanced out by the calming effects of bearberry and tomato extracts.

Kiehl’s Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol-Free Toner

If your skin is particularly sensitive, this is one sure choice. I like how this feels like water on the skin yet still keeps my skin clear with calendula, burdock root and allantoin. All these plant-derived substances make for a gentle but effective way to reduce oil production.

T.N. Dickinson’s Witch Hazel 100% Natural Astringent

If you’re not yet sure whether the cause of your pimples is indeed denatured alcohol, try using this one for a month. It’s what I did when I initially tested my theory. Buy a small bottle and if your skin is like mine, you’ll see no new spots plus reduced redness, damage and blemishes.

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution

The hype over this product from this social media brand is real. There’s a bit of a sting to this formula so I would only recommend this if you’re certain that you can take the glycolic acid. If the witch hazel proves that you and denatured alcohol don’t get along, move on to this one to quickly exfoliate all the blemishes and old acne marks. JB

Anne Curtis’ beauty brand celebrates first year by looking back