What Is Glycerin And Why Is It Used For Skin?

What is glycerin? Research suggests that glycerin in your moisturizers or your soap can have a positive effect on your skin. The skin on your face tends to be more delicate. In certain conditions, glycerin can dehydrate the skin, and undiluted glycerin can cause blistering in some cases. It’s safer to consider using a product rich in glycerin rather than diluting the pure form.

If after applying a product with glycerin to your skin, you notice any signs of an allergic reaction, like itchiness or redness, stop using the product immediately. Always consult your dermatologist before changing your skincare routine. 

What is glycerin?

What is glycerin? Glycerin is a non-toxic, odorless, and colorless liquid usually found in animal fats and vegetable oils. A natural humectant or a skin conditioner, glycerin keeps your skin hydrated, soft, and supple. It also protects your skin from harmful environmental aggressors, while improving its texture.

Glycerin also treats several skin concerns, ranging from dry skin to wound healing. The ingredient has the potential of improving your overall internal health as well.

Glycerine can be natural or synthetic. Natural glycerine is produced as a result of hydrolysis of animal or vegetable fats. Hydrolysis is when a substance reacts to water and a chemical bond breaks down as a result. Synthetic glycerine is produced through chemical processes involving petroleum, propylene, and chlorine.

The benefits of glyerin for skin

What is glycerin and what are its benefits? There are many benefits of glycerine in skin care, whether you have oily skin, sensitive skin, or dry skin. All-natural, pure glycerine skin care products also have no harmful impact on the environment.

Let’s look at the top eight benefits of using natural glycerine for skin care, as well as why you’ll want to include it in your daily routine and DIY skin care products.

Keeps skin looking young

Applying glycerine to your skin traps moisture in your skin and gives it a youthful, healthy glow. By drawing moisture to the top layer of skin, glycerine helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and keeps skin looking soft and smooth.

Glycerine also improves skin function to slow down aging. For example, a study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology shows that glycerine may also help skin cells mature properly. Glycerine helps guide young skin cells from the deepest layers to the surface to form the skin’s protective barrier. As a result, glycerine makes skin look, feel and function better overall.

To reduce premature skin aging, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends applying a facial moisturizer every day and cleaning your skin gently. They also recommend washing your face after sweating heavily and to discontinue using skin care products that burn or irritate your skin. Glycerine is the perfect ingredient for gentle cleaning and moisturizing. (However, consult your dermatologist regarding your specific skin condition. Some dermatologists do not recommend using moisturizers regularly, particularly for those who have oily and acne-prone skin.)

Reduces acne

Some ingredients commonly found in cleansers and moisturizers for acne are actually too harsh for the skin. Strong skin care products can make acne worse for some individuals by causing inflammation and irritation. Glycerine, however, can be used to beautify your skin without the side effects of harsher products.

Safe for use

When it comes to choosing skin care ingredients, you’ll want to consider safety above all else. Your skin plays a critical role in protecting your body by keeping fluids in, keeping harmful bacteria and viruses out, and regulating your body temperature even. Therefore, you’ll want to use safe products that promote healthy skin.

Glycerine is oil-free and non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores. Clogged pores lead to breakouts, so glycerine for oily skin may be the right solution.

It’s gentle

Gentle cleansers and moisturizers are important for keeping skin comfortable and healthy, especially for individuals who are prone to acne. Acne-prone individuals are often told to use exfoliators to remove dead skin cells. Gritty, abrasive scrubs can remove dead skin cells and leave skin feeling soft, but they can also be too harsh for acne-prone skin and cause further irritation and redness where there’s a breakout.

Glycerine offers a gentle way to exfoliate, clean, and moisturize skin without causing irritation. Individuals with acne want to remove dirt and oil when cleaning their skin. But they also want to make sure they’re gentle with the outer layer of skin.

Helps in skin healing

Where the skin is dry, damaged, and cracked, glycerine can come to the rescue and increase skin hydration. Glycerine may be used to help skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis and to help heal wounds resulting from cracked skin. Overall, glycerine promotes skin health by improving skin function, accelerating the wound healing process, and protecting skin against irritants. Glycerine has even demonstrated antimicrobial effects.

Moisturizes skin

Glycerine acts like a sponge and draws more moisture to itself. It also helps slow down the evaporation of water from the skin, which can help keep skin moist and hydrated in the middle of winter. Glycerine can also help protect skin from the effects of wind or dry indoor air.

To further protect your skin, it’s a good idea to apply skin-moisturizing glycerine after showering. Glycerine will help hold moisture in your skin after you wash the natural oils away from your body. You might choose glycerine soap rather than soaps that contain harsh detergents to keep skin soft, smooth, and protected. 

Is glycerin good for skin?

Due to its gentle, moisturizing qualities, glycerine is a preferred soap ingredient for individuals with sensitive skin. Pure glycerine soap will not dry out the skin or make it itchy and irritated like harsh soaps with fragrances and various chemicals. Strong soap can wash away the skin’s natural oils and dry out the skin, which can lead to a range of issues. Glycerine, on the other hand, keeps skin hydrated and soft while gently cleaning the skin. Because glycerine is so effective as a skin moisturizer, you can find it in products such as:

Cleansers

Glycerine won’t add oil to the skin or clog pores, making it an excellent cleanser for individuals who have acne-prone skin. Any skin type can use facial cleansers containing glycerine.

Toners

Toners containing glycerine are a great way to freshen the skin without making skin feel sticky or greasy. Glycerine toners allow individuals with naturally oily skin to hydrate their skin with a light, refreshing mist.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen helps guard the skin against damaging UV rays. Glycerine can be found in some sunscreens as a natural moisturizer and to help make the sunscreen more spreadable.

Moisturizers

Glycerine’s most impressive feature is its moisturizing capabilities. As a humectant, glycerine can be found in many moisturizing products like face creams and hand and foot lotions — just to name a few. As glycerine draws moisture to the skin’s surface, it fills in wrinkles for a smooth, soft feel and appearance.

Face masks

Some face masks contain glycerine to brighten and moisturize skin. You can use a glycerine face mask for fast hydration and immediate age-defying results.

Soaps

Glycerine is commonly found in many different types of soaps and body washes. Because glycerine is gentle and won’t dry out the skin, it is also a common ingredient in baby skin products.

Negative effects 

What is glycerin and what are some of its side effects? One of the risks that you may face when using glycerin is irritation and skin allergies. Glycerin attracts water from the lowest layers of the skin. This can dehydrate the skin, even leading to blistering levels. Therefore, experts recommend that when using pure glycerin, it should be diluted first.

If you experience redness, itching, or a rash after using glycerin, stop using glycerin. Consult your dermatologist for the best products for your skin. 

Key Takeaway

Research suggests that glycerin in your moisturizers or your soap can have a positive effect on your skin.

The skin on your face tends to be more delicate. In certain cases, glycerin can dehydrate the skin, and undiluted glycerin can cause blistering in some cases.

If after applying a product with glycerin to your skin, you notice any signs of an allergic reaction, like itchiness or redness, stop using the product immediately and talk to your dermatologist. 

Learn more about Skin Care and Cleansing here.