What is Glycerin? The precious humectant we can’t get enough of

Say hello to glycerin, the natural humectant we have fallen head over heels for. It may look like another scary word on a long list of skincare ingredients, but glycerin is actually your best friend! When it comes to hydration, healing, and skin barrier strength, glycerin does it all. It is versatile and compatible with so many ingredients that it can be a very beneficial aspect to every part of your beauty routine! We love incorporating glycerin in our skincare routine, and here’s why you should too...

What is Glycerin?

Also known as glycerol, glycerin is a humectant, which is most often derived naturally from vegetable oils. Humectants work to preserve other skincare ingredients and retain moisture by drawing water from the surface of your skin down into the deeper skin layers. This colorless, odorless, thick liquidy skincare ingredient is our favorite humectant out there!

Why Use Glycerin?

Glycerin provides many benefits to keep your skin looking young and glowing! Here are our favorite reasons to incorporate glycerin in your skincare routine:

• Nourishes The Skin: As a humectant, glycerin retains moisture and increases skin hydration. Glycerin works well with different face oils to make dry skin feel super soft and healthy! It also helps to shield your skin from any type of environmental irritation as you go through your day. Not only is glycerin oil-free, but it is also non-comedogenic which means it won’t clog your pores!
  
  
• Healing Powers: Have rough or dry patches? Glycerin is your answer! Using glycerin can help revive cracked skin and treat skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. It also can enhance the diffusion of other ingredients into your skin’s different layers.
  
  
• Retains the Youthful Glow: Glycerin can play an important role in keeping your skin look and feel youthful. It improves your skin function to slow down aging, as well as being able to help make your skin look and feel better overall.
  
  
• Safe to Use: Choosing safe products to put on your skin is very important, as your skin plays a vital role in being able to protect your body. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), glycerin is considered to be a safe product to use, as there are no signs of toxicity or effects when used.

The Possibilities are Endless

Glycerin is most often combined with other skincare ingredients, so you likely will not use pure glycerin on its own. This is good news! Because glycerin is such a stable humectant that works well with other ingredients, it is extremely versatile and found in all kinds of products.

If you’re new to glycerin, a great way to incorporate the ingredient is starting with a gentle cleanser. If you want a product that will hydrate your skin and leave you with a silky soft texture, go for the Indie Lee Soothing Cleanser. The bonus of this glycerin infused cleanser is that it’s also great for sensitive skin!

Maybe some of the staple products in your routine already contain glycerin, and you’re ready to step up your hydration game. Try The Nue Co. The Pill  which is a revolutionary serum that contains a higher concentration of glycerin to plump skin and retain its natural moisture.

You can never go wrong with a cream that contains glycerin. We love the Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Moisture Cream because it is a luxurious yet lightweight moisturizer that can be used both morning and night. At night time, glycerin works to smooth fine lines and improve skin texture while you sleep. We also love this cream in the morning as a primer to prep the skin for makeup! The slippery consistency of glycerin in this moisturizer helps your foundation glide beautifully into place and keeps your makeup looking dewy all day.

Chapped lips? Blisters? Sunburns? Dry patches? The Dr. Rogers Restore Healing Balm heals it all. Can you guess the magic ingredient that promotes this healing and soothing? That’s right! This plant-based, glycerin infused ointment works wonders to heal all kinds of skin, nail, lip, and hair related damages.

Glycerin in Makeup

Not only can glycerin be found in skincare products, but it can also be found in makeup as it allows the product to glide beautifully onto the skin. The Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 is a long-wear foundation that contains glycerin to conceal imperfections and blend into the skin effortlessly. It also contains SPF to shield the skin from the sun. But of course, you can never have too much sun protection, so we love to mix the foundation with the Dr. Barbara Sturm Sun Drops as it’s Infused with - you guessed it - glycerin!

Searching for an eyeliner that doesn’t come with the drama of flaking or cracking throughout the day? The Sisley-Paris So Intense Eyeliner utilizes glycerin for a comfortable all-day wear that never flakes off. Thanks to glycerin, this smooth and silky liquid eyeliner guarantees a sleek application that allows you to wear your cat-eye with comfort and confidence.

Finish off your sleek and breezy look with a lip gloss that screams juicy. Lancome L’absolu Lacquer Gloss provides the ultimate shine and contains glycerin to keep your lips moisturized and scrumptious. You shouldn’t have to choose between hydrated lips and bold colors. This deliciously hydrating, glycerin infused gloss gives you both.

Beyond the Face

But wait there’s more! Glycerin’s naturally versatile properties also make it a key ingredient for beauty products beyond your face. This magic humectant can also balance the natural moisture in your hair to boost its hydration. Say hello to soft healthy hair with the R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo and Conditioner, which both contain glycerin to dramatically nourish your locks.

Make glycerin a full-body experience with the Sisley Paris Velvet Nourishing Body Cream with Saffron Flowers. This restorative body cream is the perfect body partner in crime for soft and supple all-over skin. The key hydrating ingredient lotion is in fact glycerin, and it works beautifully to retain moisture to soothe and repair even the driest skin types. The incorporation of glycerin, saffron flowers, shea butter, and other natural extracts work powerfully together to reveal an overall softer you.

With increased handwashing, it’s important to give some TLC to your hands! The Bastide Liquid Soap Miel de Lavande is a gentle hand soap with a dreamy and delicate fragrance. This luxurious soap contains a high concentration of glycerin to glide thoroughly through your hands to moisturize while you wash. No more dry hands from overwashing!

Glycerin is truly a showstopper when it comes to retaining moisture and hydration in your beauty routine. After learning all the ins and outs of why and how it works, we encourage you to go explore products with glycerin to see first hand why we love it!