A quick scan of OTC toners and astringents for acne-prone skin will show that most contain some form of alcohol. This raises a reasonable question — why not skip the specialty products and just use rubbing alcohol directly on breakouts? While rubbing alcohol can help clear pimples to some degree, it isn't a reliable long-term solution due to its side effects and limited scientific support. The Science Behind It Rubbing alcohol — technically isopropyl alcohol — is inexpensive,