Glycerin (Glycerol) in Skin Care

Glycerin (Glycerol) in skin care

Glycerin (glycerol) is one of the most popular moisturizing ingredients in skin care products.

It is a potent humectant with decades of research supporting its effectiveness in hydrating skin.

Studies have found that normal hydration of the skin requires the presence of glycerol. (5) It is one of the most important parts of healthy, hydrated skin.

If you have a dry skin concern, glycerin (glycerol) might be the perfect addition to your custom skin care regimen.

What is Glycerin in skin care?

Glycerin in skin care is a simple sugar alcohol present in most biologic life. The words glycerin and glycerol are interchangeable in skin care; they’re the same thing.

Fats in the body are made partially of triglycerides, which are multiple glycerol molecules attached to one another. Therefore, glycerin can be synthesized from many kinds of animal fats. (3)

Plant fats also contain triglycerides, and some glycerin is sourced exclusively from plants. This means that some glycerin products are vegan and some are not.

Skin care companies are not required to label their glycerin as vegan or animal based. If you are looking for vegan glycerin products, some brands do write “vegetable glycerin” on their labels.

Keep in mind that if the label says “glycerin” or “glycerol,” without mentioning vegetables, it could be animal based glycerin.

Glycerin structure

How does Glycerin work?

Glycerin is a unique moisturizer with several properties that make it a good moisturizing ingredient.

Glycerin’s Humectant Properties

Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it draws water into itself. Humectants are one of the most common types of moisturizing ingredients in skin care. (9)

Studies have found that glycerin has particularly strong humectant properties among the competition, and assists in hydrating enzymes needed to break down the connective proteins between cells. (3)

Glycerin Passes through Aquaporin Channels

Glycerin has the fairly unique ability to navigate AQP-3 (aquaporin) channels. Aquaporin channels are structures that pass between individual skin cells; this means that glycerin can move between skin cells and get deep into the skin better than many other ingredients. Water is one of the only other common ingredients capable of using these AQP-3 pathways. (6)

Glycerin has been used for years in cosmetics for its known humectant properties, and the recent discovery that it can use AQP-3 channels means it is likely to be used for years to come. (8)

What are the benefits of glycerin in skin care

What are the benefits of Glycerin in skin care?

Like most humectants, the primary benefit of glycerin in skin care is as a moisturizing ingredient.

Studies have demonstrated the crucial role glycerol plays in skin hydration; the hydration of your stratum corneum (SC) (the outermost layer of skin) is directly related to your skin’s glycerol levels. (2)

In one study comparing 16 moisturizing ingredient’s efficacy across 394 subjects with dry skin, glycerin products were found to have by far the most profound hydrating effects. (3)

In addition, glycerin products were found to keep the skin hydrated for longer after application than other products, including the standard for preventing water loss, petrolatum. (3)

Because of glycerin’s ability to navigate aquaporin channels, it is able to move between skin cells and create spaces for other ingredients to move between those cells. (4)

Side-effects

Humectants like glycerin are generally free from significant side effects, however there are a few considerations to make before you add a humectant to your skin care routine.

First, if you live in a dry climate and have dry skin, you should pair your glycerin products with occlusive moisturizers that prevent TEWL. Humectants bring moisture to the surface of your skin, and if the air is dry you will lose that moisture without an occlusive.

Second, if you are experiencing any kind of puffiness on your eyelids, humectants can actually worsen that puffiness.

Finally, lip balms without occlusive ingredients can result in TEWL as well; this can leave you feeling dependent on your lip balm for moisture. This has been called “lip balm addiction.”

Keep these features of glycerin and other humectants in mind while you look for the perfect products for your skin type.

is glycerin safe?

Is it safe?

Glycerin has been studied extensively for safety concerns, and is considered safe.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review board (CIR) released a report on various glycerides and has provided their stamp of approval. (11)

Glycerin is rated 1-2 by the EWG.

Glycerin may be considered a clean ingredient if it is plant derived.

If need a humectant,moisturizing ingredient for your skin care routine, glycerin could very well be the right choice for you!

For specific skin conditions

Glycerin is one of the best, most common, and cheapest moisturizing ingredients on the market; it’s great for skin conditions that benefit from a potent humectant and increased SC fluidity. (5,6)

In general, dry skin conditions like eczema, ichthyosis, psoriasis, and pruritis can all be treated with glycerin products. We recommend pairing glycerin with an occlusive ingredient such as an oil when using glycerin to treat eczema or psoriasis.

Besides dry skin conditions, glycerol is also useful for delivering other ingredients further into the skin. For this reason, you can often find glycerin in anti-aging and inflammation products. (4,10)

If you have a specific skin concern, be sure to take the best skin type quiz so you can shop for treatments by your Baumann Skin Type.

The best solution to any skin concern is having the right custom skin care regimen.

Eczema

Eczematic skin is, (to oversimplify), skin that has a hard time holding water, for that reason, ingredients that hydrate the skin are good for eczema.

If you are going to use a humectant like glycerin on eczema, be sure to include an occlusive ingredient so you don’t lose all the accumulated moisture into the atmosphere.

The best eczema treatments include a combination of different kinds of ingredients with complimentary anti-inflammatory, barrier repairing, and hydrating properties.

If you have eczema, consider some of these cleansers to use in your routine!

For Wrinkles

While glycerin does not itself remedy aging skin or wrinkles, it can be useful for helping anti-aging ingredients interact with the skin.

Studies have found that using glycerin alongside ingredients which struggle to penetrate skin (glycolic acid was studied) makes a significant impact in absorption. (10)

Anti-aging ingredients typically are antioxidants, collagen or elastin stimulating, or exfoliating; glycerin is none of those things.

Glycerin does not perform any of those functions, so it is really just used as a hydrating delivery system for other ingredients in wrinkle treatments.

However, its immense ability to bind water helps temporarily puff up the skin and make fine lines look instantly better. The results are temporary.

This ability to plump up the skin makes glycerin a favorite ingredient to get “glass skin”.

glycerin vs hyaluronic acid

Glycerin vs Hyaluronic acid

Glycerin and hyaluronic acid are functionally similar ingredients, but they are have very different structures. There are a few notable differences between these two ingredients even though they’re both humectants.

Of these two compounds, only glycerin is able to move through the AQP-3 (aquaporin) channels in the skin, meaning it is better at hydrating deep in the skin. (4)

Glycerin is a sugar-based alcohol, while hyaluronic acid is a glycosaminoglycan – a disaccharide (a different, more complex kind of sugar)

Glycerin is cheaper to synthesize than hyaluronic acid, meaning glycerin products tend to be more affordable.

As the word “acid” indicates, hyaluronic acid has a low pH, meaning it might be a better choice for low pH cleansers than glycerol.

Glycerin vs Polyglutamic acid

Polyglutamic acid is a chemical usually derived from food fermentation. It is related to the “umami” flavor compound glutamic acid. (MSG stands for mono-sodium glutamate.)

Because it is formed through fermentation, polyglutamic acid is harder and more expensive to synthesize than glycerin.

It is actually a far more potent humectant than glycerin and expresses anti-aging properties. (12) but it cannot use the aquaporin channels in the skin the way glycerin can.

Glycerin vs honey

Honey is a fascinating ingredient in skin care that varies in properties based on the flowers and bees it came from. In general, however, honey always contains glycerin. (13-15)

The glycerin in honey provides its notable moisturizing, humectant qualities.

Honey is a complexly composed ingredient, full of various phenols, flavonoids, fatty acids, and vitamins; it is acidic too.

Glycerin is a singular compound that serves a unique function as a humectant that can pass through AQP-3; honey is a broader ingredient that happens to contain glycerin.

Products

As one of the most popular moisturizing ingredients in all of skin care, there are no shortage of options for skin care products made with glycerin. It is found in varying amounts in the vast majority of products for dry skin. You can find our collection of products for dry skin here!

Before you choose your favorite, be sure to take our quiz and find your Baumann Skin Type. The best way to be sure the products you buy will work for you is to shop by your skin type!

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

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