Glycerin
Glycerin (also known as glycerol) is a clear, thick, and odorless liquid that is commonly used in skincare and personal care products because of its powerful ability to attract and hold moisture.
It is a humectant, which means it pulls water from the air and deeper layers of your skin to keep the outer layer hydrated. This helps soften and smooth the skin, making it feel healthier and more comfortable. Glycerin also helps protect the skin’s natural barrier, preventing dryness, flakiness, and irritation.
Glycerin is gentle and safe for all skin types – including sensitive or acne-prone skin. It’s often derived from vegetable oils like coconut or soy, though it can also be made synthetically. You’ll find it in moisturisers, cleansers, serums, shampoos, toothpaste, and even some medicines and foods.
Because it works well with many other ingredients, it’s a popular and trusted choice in both natural and high-performance formulas. Simply put, glycerin helps your skin stay soft, hydrated, and healthy.
💡 What It Does
- Humectant: Glycerin draws water from the air and deeper skin layers into the outermost layer of the skin (stratum corneum), keeping it hydrated.
- Barrier function support: Helps maintain and reinforce the skin’s protective barrier by maintaining hydration.
- Skin softening: Softens and smooths rough, dry, or flaky skin.
- Wound healing: Promotes repair of damaged skin and is often used in therapeutic skincare for eczema, dermatitis, or post-treatment skin.
- Penetration enhancer: Helps other ingredients absorb better by hydrating the outer layers of the skin.
- Stabiliser: Improves the shelf life of formulas and prevents crystallisation of some ingredients.
🧬 Safety & Toxicology
- Irritation/Sensitisation: Glycerin is considered non-irritating and hypoallergenic when used in appropriate concentrations. In rare cases, very high concentrations (>50%) in low-humidity environments may cause trans-epidermal water loss by pulling water from deeper layers of the skin.
- Toxicity: Extensive studies and widespread use have confirmed glycerin is non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, and safe for cosmetic use.
- Regulatory Status: Approved by the FDA, EU, and global authorities. Considered GRAS (Generally Recognised As Safe) in food and pharmaceutical applications.
- Environmental Impact: Biodegradable and non-toxic to aquatic life.