Glycerin for skin: Your Oh-So-Mighty Moisture Magnet

Glycerin is one of those ingredients that you see in a lot of skincare products but may not know what it does. This humectant keeps skin hydrated by drawing water from the air into the skin cells, but what else does this slippery substance do for our skin? Let's take a closer look at the benefits of glycerin for skin.

What is glycerin?

Glycerin is a friendly alcohol that is often used in cosmetics. It can be derived from plants or animal fats *sorry, vegan friends*. This ingredient can be used as an emollient, meaning it helps to soften and lubricate the skin, or as a humectant.

Glycerin for skin care can be found in many different products, including lotions, creams, and moisturizers since it can help to soothe and protect the skin. 

Pros & Cons of using products with glycerin for skin

Pros

• It’s a humectant, which means it helps the skin to retain moisture.
• Glycerin can be used to treat dry skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. 
• It’s non-comedogenic *thanks, God*, meaning it will not clog pores or cause acne
• Being non-comedogenic also translates to helping to treat acne by drawing moisture to the skin and keeping it hydrated.
• It’s hypoallergenic and non-irritating, making it a good choice for people with sensitive skin

Cons

• As we said before, glycerin draws moisture from the air. This can be great in humid climates, but in dry climates, it can actually lead to drier skin.
• Because it attracts moisture to the skin, it can dilute the sunscreen and make it less protective. However, to counteract this problem, you could use waterproof sunscreen.
• It’s not 100% vegan-friendly, since some glycerin ingredients are extracted from animal fats. Check the product label to see if the glycerin they use is from animal or vegetable sources.

Glycerin in skin care: Ingredients specifications

Clean

Glycerin is a natural substance that doesn’t contain any skin-damaging ingredients. It is generally considered safe for most people to use, but some may have skin sensitivities to it

Vegan

Glycerin is usually derived from animal fats. However, it is also possible to make glycerin from vegetables. This type of glycerin is called vegetable glycerin or v Glycerin.

Pregnancy safe

Glycerin is generally considered safe, but there's some concern that it may not be safe for pregnant women to use. In fact, this ingredient is added on some lists of ingredients to avoid during pregnancy, including the FDA, so it is better to stay away from it while expecting.  

Breastfeeding safe

It's safe to use while breastfeeding, but it's always a good idea to do a patch test first, since your skin could be more sensitive after giving birth. 

Active ingredient

Glycerin can be derived from natural sources, such as plants, or it can be synthetic. This means that the ingredient could be active or inactive depending on the product. 

Comedogenic

Glycerin is non-comedogenic *aka non-pore clogging*. In fact, glycerin can actually help acne-prone skin to stay hydrated. 

EWG (Environment Working Group) Score 

Glycerin in skin care has an Environmental Working Group (EWG) score of 0, which means it poses no health risks.

CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) Rating: A

Glycerin has a CIR rating of A, which means it's safe for use in skincare products. 

PRECAUTIONS: Things to know before using this ingredient 

The glycerin skin benefits are many, however, there are a few things you should bear in mind before including glycerin-rich products in your skincare routine: 

When to use glycerin?

In humid weather, glycerin can be used in skin care products year-round, twice a day since it works to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. However, if you live in a dry place, it is better not to use glycerin because it can dry your skin.

What skin type is glycerin good for?

As a humectant, it is an ideal ingredient for dry skin types that need a little extra hydration. Glycerin can also be beneficial for normal or combination skin types as it can aid to balance out the skin's natural oil production.

Moreover, if you have oily or acne-prone skin, glycerin for skin can actually help to regulate oil production by moisturizing your pores *oh yeah*

What you can’t mix with glycerin?

You should avoid mixing glycerin with alcohol, as this can dry out the skin. Glycerin can also cause irritation if mixed with essential oils or other strong fragrances.

Top Picks

Bestsellers

• White In Milk Whipping Foam
• Cica Sleeping Mask Mini
• G9SKIN Honey Eye Patch

$15 and under products with glycerin for skin

• Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner
• Milky Piggy 24K Gold Snail Cleansing Foam
• Tony Moly Master Lab Hyaluronic Acid Face Mask Sheet

Products that contain glycerin that are worth the price

• Neogen Wine Pads Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling
• Dr. Jart Vital Hydra Sleeping Mask
• Wrinkle Bounce Collagen Moisturizing Mist

FAQ’s

What does glycerin do for skin? What is glycerin used for? You ask and we answer within a line or less!

What does glycerin do for skin?

Simply put, glycerin is like a magnet that attracts and retains moisture in your skin. 

What is glycerin used for?

It is used as a humectant, so you can find it in many moisturizers and whitening products. 

Can you use glycerin twice a day?

You can use it twice a day, every day if you like.

Can you apply glycerin directly on your face?

It can be applied directly, however, it’s better to use products with the right amount of glycerin

Tips & Tricks to include glycerin in your skincare routine

• As a moisturizer: Glycerin can be used as the main ingredient in moisturizers or as a standalone product. 
• As a cleanser: even though it is not common, glycerin can also be used as a gentle cleanser
• As a face mask: if you want a hydrating mask, glycerin will be your go-to ingredient
• As an exfoliator: glycerin can be used as an exfoliating agent for sensitive skin