What is glycerin? And what are its benefits for skin care?
Today we introduce you to an ingredient that you may have heard of but underestimated its power and impressive effects in your daily skincare routine. What exactly is glycerin? And what are its benefits for your skin? Let’s learn more about it.
What are the benefits of glycerin?
You will find glycerin as a natural component of healthy skin and is present in a wide range of skincare products. It can be obtained from plant and animal sources, or it can be produced synthetically to create highly effective moisturizing products. This is also supported by the fact that glycerin is a humectant, which means it absorbs moisture from the air around us, helping to retain moisture in the skin. With these clever moisturizing properties, glycerin also supports the skin’s Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) as it can mimic the skin’s NMF, making it plump and nourished, but which decreases with age. If you want to learn more, you can read our blog post on the Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) and its benefits for the skin.
Glycerin has a variety of skincare benefits, the main one being moisturizing the skin. Here are some other benefits of this skincare ingredient:
Glycerin works well with other emollients and oils to restore moisture levels to dry skin types and make them soft, supple, and comfortable.
Glycerin can help strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier, making the skin look healthier and appear younger overall.
Glycerin can help protect the skin from environmental influences that can cause irritation.
Glycerin retains moisture in the skin, allowing other ingredients in skincare products to absorb quickly into the surface layers of the skin.
Glycerin improves the appearance of the skin and significantly reduces all signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles.
Since glycerin is suitable for all skin types, it plays an important role in keeping the skin hydrated and balanced, especially during seasonal changes, when temperatures begin to drop and the climate becomes drier, which can affect skin health.
How is glycerin used in skin care?
In skin care, glycerin is often used with other types of moisturizers to lock in moisture in the skin. Because it does this so well, it has been ranked as the most effective moisturizer in various studies over the years. There are many other moisturizers found in skin care products, such as:
Alpha hydroxy acids, such as glycolic acid and lactic acid
Propylene glycol and butylene glycol
Hyaluronic acid
Sorbitol
Urea
Glycerin is becoming increasingly popular as one of the main ingredients in moisturizers and body lotions because it can have a positive impact on the skin, helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles on the skin, which can become very noticeable when the skin is dehydrated. It can also help address the other factors mentioned earlier, contributing to overall skin health and appearance.
Can I use glycerin on my face every day?
Glycerin is found in many skin care products, and when used regularly, it is gentle on all skin types because it draws moisture from the environment and the inner layers of the skin. However, when using glycerin overnight, you need to take some precautions to prevent your skin from eventually drying out and showing signs of premature aging. When using raw glycerin, it is best to apply a thick layer of glycerin to the skin and leave it on for about 15 to 20 minutes before washing it off with warm water. However, if your product contains the properly diluted ingredient, it can be safely left on overnight.
Does glycerin have anti-aging properties?
It wouldn’t be entirely accurate to say that glycerin is an anti-aging ingredient in itself, but it is an ingredient that can support and prevent the signs of aging. When our skin is dehydrated, which is quite common, it is reflected in the appearance of our skin, causing it to look older than it actually is, with fine lines and wrinkles. Once glycerin, with its water-attracting properties, is applied to the skin, it becomes smoother, plumper, and more elastic. As a result, all visible lines are visibly reduced.
Glycerin can also help fight skin aging by protecting against free radicals and other environmental stressors, such as UV rays, pollution, and the elements of city life. All of these factors greatly damage the skin’s natural protective barrier, reducing the skin’s moisture and oil content, which weakens its defenses against the natural elements and causes the skin to age rapidly. Fortunately, glycerin can restore the proper moisture levels, allowing the barrier to remain fully functional, keeping the skin healthy and happy.
What are the side effects of glycerin?
Glycerin is considered safe for all skin types and can benefit the skin in a number of ways. However, it is important to remember that glycerin is a natural ingredient and in some cases, it can cause redness, rashes, and itching due to allergic reactions. Performing a patch test 24 hours before applying a product all over your skin can prevent this reaction. If you still experience a reaction, it’s best to stop using the product immediately and look for an alternative that may not contain as much glycerin in its formula.
Now you have a clearer understanding of what glycerin is and why you’ve probably noticed it in most of your favorite skincare products. Add this hydrating hero to your daily moisturizer, serum, or cleanser, and your skin will look youthful and comfortable—with a radiant complexion, of course!
