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GLYCERIN IN SKINCARE

What Is Glycerin?

Glycerin, a naturally occurring molecule, is renowned for its ability to enhance water retention in the skin, ensuring it remains hydrated and supple. As a vital skincare component, glycerin acts as a potent humectant, available in three forms: vegetable glycerin, animal-based, or synthetic. Its unique humectant properties enable it to attract moisture from the air and the skin's deeper layers, channeling it to the stratum corneum—the outermost layer of the skin. This process promotes maximum hydration, making glycerin an essential ingredient for maintaining skin's moisture balance.

Frequently Asked Questions About Glycerin

  • Glycerin’s main benefit for skin is its ability to capture water and keep it located on the skin’s top layer, ensuring skin stays smooth, soft and supple. In addition to maintaining skin’s hydration, glycerin also fortifies and strengthens the skin barrier function, protecting the body by compensating for transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Glycerin also shields against environmental skin irritants, while improving texture and enhancing the penetration of other key skincare products such as serums. The non-comedogenic, non-allergenic and gentle function of glycerin means that it is suitable for all skin types, including acne and eczema-prone skin, making it a beneficial addition to each and every skincare routine.
  • Due to its emollient form, glycerin in cosmetics is often found in moisturisers, lotions and cleansers, to add intense moisture to skin and boost softer, more supple results. This makes it an effective ingredient in cleansers as it ensures hydration is replenished, instead of being stripped out of skin while washing away makeup, dirt and impurities. Likewise, moisturisers, creams and lotions formulated with glycerin use this valuable ingredient to add a powerful shield of moisture to skin for added protection against environmental aggressors and to strengthen the skin barrier function.
  • Despite glycerin offering intense moisture, the ingredient boasts an incredibly lightweight, gentle and non-comedogenic formula that sits comfortably on the surface of skin without clogging up pores. This feature of glycerin means it is suited to all skin types including dry, oily and combination, as well as acne, rosacea and eczema-prone skin, due to its non-reactive and non-irritant properties.
  • Glycerin is an effective and versatile ingredient in skincare, suitable for use on the body, especially on areas prone to dryness such as hands, feet, and elbows. Its well-tolerated nature makes it appropriate for all skin types. A notable example of its use in body care is found in the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, which is designed for both the face and body. This product combines glycerin with hyaluronic acid and ceramides, enhancing moisture levels on the skin’s outer layer while maintaining the integrity of the protective skin barrier. This makes glycerin-based products ideal for comprehensive skincare routines that aim to hydrate and nourish the skin effectively.
  • Due to its moisture-locking properties, as well as its sensitive, fragrance-free nature, glycerin makes a tolerated ingredient for eczema-prone skin. The CeraVe Eye Repair Cream  features glycerin as part of its formula, adding 24 hour hydration with patented MVE Technology.

  • Glycerin is known for its gentle and non-reactive nature, making it an excellent companion for many other skincare ingredients within various formulas. It pairs exceptionally well with hyaluronic acid, as both substances are powerful humectants with strong moisturizing properties. While glycerin attracts moisture to the skin's surface, hyaluronic acid can hold over 1,000 times its weight in water, creating a highly effective duo for hydration in skincare products. For example, the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser utilizes both glycerin and hyaluronic acid to deliver intense hydration while also cleansing the skin, leaving it refreshed and moisturized.

    Additionally, ceramides are another crucial skincare component that synergizes well with glycerin. When combined with glycerin, amino acids, or cholesterol, ceramides help form lipids that enhance skin texture by providing a hydration boost that smooths and softens the skin. This combination is particularly effective in strengthening the skin's barrier and improving its overall appearance and feel.
  • A common misconception surrounding the ingredient, is the difference between glycerin vs glycerol. Glycerol is the pure form that is often used within medical products. Glycerin typically contains over 95% glycerol and is used in an array of skincare products including moisturisers, cleansers and lotions. Both chemical compounds are transparent, odourless and exude properties that characterise a powerful moisturising agent.

  • Glycerin is recognized for its non-comedogenic properties, meaning it does not clog pores. This attribute stems from its extremely lightweight composition, which effectively attracts and seals moisture on the skin's surface. Despite its powerful moisturizing capabilities, glycerin does not contribute to breakouts or a rough skin texture, which can often result from clogged pores. Consequently, glycerin is suitable for all skin types, including those that are oily or prone to acne, making it a versatile and beneficial ingredient in skincare routines.
  • Humectants, including glycerin, are typically used at a concentration of 5% or less and are formulated with other ingredients with skin softening properties such as other emoillients. This is because the pure form of humectants (100% concentration) can increase water loss in the skin when in areas of low humidity. When concentrations are kept lower than 5%, humectants are at their most effective and can work to efficiently fight off dryness while maintaining moisture levels in the skin.

  • Glycerin, a versatile natural compound, is derived from either vegetable oils or animal fats. Known for its excellent moisture-retention properties, vegetable glycerin is a key ingredient in many skincare products, promoting a smooth and healthy complexion. Chemically, glycerin is represented by the formula C3H8O3, which includes three carbon atoms, eight hydrogen atoms, and three oxygen atoms. This structure allows it to form three hydroxyl (-OH) groups, making glycerin highly hygroscopic. This means it can absorb and retain moisture from the environment, which is essential for maintaining skin hydration. By understanding the molecular makeup and benefits of glycerin, consumers can better appreciate how it helps keep skin moist and healthy.

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