What kind of alcohol do you use for extractions for products. Ethyl alcohol or isotropic alcohol? Or do you use drinking alcohol?

Do I need to extract the active ingredients with an alcohol at all? I presume I don’t just add ingredients to my preparations/products as a powder, but that I need to draw out the active agent/ingredients?

I want to use green tea extract and Licorice in topical skin treatments both are items are purchased as powders, My products are made in volumes of 10 liters at a time.

One is a base of apple cider vinegar with essential oils and an emulsifier, the other treatment is a moisturizer. In the future I also want to use the Licorice in a wax lip balm, or in an oil based liquid that’s painted on the lips.

If I use alcohol I see its sold in two forms.

Ethyl alcohol (96%) and isotropic alcohol, the ethyl alcohol says its Denatured with +1% isotropic alcohol, +1% MEK, +1g/100L Bittrex

Is the ethyl alcohol what you use? I think some of you might say use vodka, but for large amounts of extractions that are used topically that would be quite expensive.

Would I be better not using alcohol and using glycerin and a preservative to extend shelf life?