When it comes to skincare, there are a few names that are the stars of almost all products; Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin B5, etc. Glycerin is also a name that comes across quite a lot.
So how does glycerin help your skin? What are the benefits of using skin care products that have glycerin and is it better to use pure glycerin? We will answer all the questions in this article.
Let’s take a look at how glycerin became a celebrity ingredient in skin care and if the fame can be justified or not. Starting with the basics:
What is Glycerin
Glycerin is a type of carbohydrate. It has a sweet taste because it is a polyol (sugar alcohol). There are multiple uses of glycerin ranging from skincare to health and FMCG industry.
Glycerin has a thick, syrup-like consistency and it has no odor or color. Glycerin has been approved by the FDA and the CDSCO for skin care products.
Now that we know what glycerin is, let’s move to the interesting part. Let’s look at all the benefits of glycerin for your skin.
Moisturization
Glycerin is an excellent moisturizing agent. It is a humectant. Now what is a humectant? A humectant is a substance that allows the skin to retain moisture and even absorbs moisture from the surrounding.
Remember that glycerin will not moisturize your skin, but helps in retaining moisture. It should be used with a moisturizer or on damp skin. Glycerin needs water to hold. It cannot generate water.
Due to the humectant property of glycerin, it is great at keeping the skin moisturized, improves skin hydration, reduces dryness and flakiness, and relieves skin irritation.
Softens Skin
Apart from moisturization, glycerin is also a great emollient. Emollients are ingredients that improve the structure of the skin and make them soft.
Studies have shown that glycerin improves the structure of the stratum corneum; the outermost layer of the skin. It also improves the moisture level of the layer.
Helps in Soothing Skin
Glycerin has shown some anti-microbial properties which means that it can help in soothing some skin irritation and even infection.
Add the moisturizing effects and one can understand how glycerin is great in soothing irritated, dry skin. People with psoriasis and eczema can try glycerin after consulting their dermatologist.
Can Glycerin Whiten Skin?
Glycerin is not a skin-whitening agent. It is not like bleach. So do not try to use it for that purpose.
We have seen many people and forums recommend mixing glycerin with other ingredients and using it as a whitening agent. It does not work.
While there are no serious side effects of using glycerin for your skin, people with sensitive skin can be affected in a negative way. Some people might show an allergic reaction either to glycerin or some other ingredient used with glycerin.
It is important to do a patch test before you try any ingredient on your skin. If you notice any swelling, redness, irritation, or itching, stop using it immediately.
So in summary, glycerin is a great agent to help you moisturize your skin and make it healthier and plump. However, it does not whiten the skin but using it with other ingredients can be beneficial.
Make sure you do a patch test. Take care of your skin.
Research cited in this article:
