As we navigate the vast world of skincare, it’s easy to feel lost in the sea of products and ingredients that promise to deliver healthy-looking and glowing skin. But amidst the chaos, an ingredient that stands out for its simplicity, effectiveness, and versatility is glycerin. Many of us know it for its moisturising and healing properties. But this is just one part of the story; there’s more to it. This unassuming yet incredibly versatile ingredient works behind the scenes in countless products you use every day, from keeping your skin hydrated to sweetening your snacks and even helping in medical treatments. But what exactly is glycerin, and why is it so widely used? In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the benefits of glycerin for skin, how to use it, and potential drawbacks, so you can make informed decisions about incorporating it into your skincare routine.

But before that, let’s begin with knowing a little more about this hydrating ingredient.

Glycerin: Introduction

glycerin, often known as glycerol or glycerin, is a natural compound derived from animal fats or vegetable oils. Despite coming from fats, it’s not oily at all. It’s a colorless, clear liquid with a syrupy consistency. While glycerin doesn’t have a distinct smell, it’s pretty sweet when tasted.

For science enthusiasts, glycerin’s chemical formula is C3H8O3. It’s created naturally when sugars break down. But most of the glycerin we use is made from fats and oils. Some are also made from yeast, sugar, or starch.

How Was It First Formed?

The first man-made attempt to produce glycerin was in 1779 by K. W. Scheele, a Swedish chemist. It was when he was boiling a mixture of olive oil and another chemical containing lead. During this experiment, he accidentally invented this thick, transparent liquid called glycerol. He reported his findings and the glycerin production process in 1783. Scheele’s method of preparation was used in the first commercial manufacturing of glycerin, which quickly found uses in many fields, including health care, cosmetics, and food.

Is Glycerin Good for Your Skin?

Yes! Glycerin is highly beneficial for the skin as it has several benefits to offer. It helps maintain hydration, strengthens the skin’s natural barrier, and renders a soft and smooth texture. Furthermore, it is suitable for almost all skin types, including dry, oily, and sensitive skin.

Glycerin Benefits for Skin

Here are the top five benefits of glycerin for skin:

• Intense Hydration

Several studies reveal that glycerin is the most effective humectant that increases hydration on the top layer of your skin. It deeply hydrates the skin by drawing moisture from the environment, prevents dryness, and keeps your skin soft and plump. This makes glycerin a key ingredient in moisturisers, lotions, serums, body washes, and many other skincare products.

• Improves Skin Barrier

Glycerin strengthens the skin barrier by attracting and retaining moisture, keeping the skin hydrated and supple. It helps repair and protect against environmental damage by reinforcing the skin’s natural lipid barrier.

• Has Anti-Aging Properties

One of the notable benefits of glycerin for skin is its anti-aging properties. As you age, your skin tends to lose its elasticity. Applying glycerin to your skin traps moisture and gives it a youthful, healthy glow.

In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology advises using a gentle skin cleaner and face moisturiser daily to fight early skin aging. Wash your face after heavy sweating for best results. Stop using products that cause burning or skin irritation. And glycerin is one of the best ingredients that may clean and hydrate gently. It’s a great choice for daily skincare. Don’t you agree?

• Soothes Irritated Skin

Another benefit of glycerin is its ability to calm itchy skin and redness. In pregnant moms, stretch marks are a common skin problem. Thanks to its gentle and soothing properties, it helps alleviate stretch-mark-associated skin itchiness and redness in expectant moms. So, at any point in time, if you look for stretch mark cream, make sure it has glycerin in it.

• Has Anti-Inflammatory Property

Adding further to the benefits of glycerin for the skin, it possesses antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. All of these help reduce the appearance of skin irritation, itchiness and redness that a baby experiences because of diaper rash. Therefore, glycerin, as an ingredient, calms skin and soothes diaper rash-affected areas.

Can Glycerin Irritate My Skin?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that glycerin is generally considered safe when used under good manufacturing practices. While glycerin is usually safe and well-tolerated, on extremely rare occasions, it may cause allergic reactions in some people. If you notice redness, itching, or a rash after using a product with glycerin, stop using it right away.

Therefore, we suggest conducting a patch test always before using glycerin on your skin if you’re using it for the first time.

Are There Side Effects To Using Glycerin?

While glycerin is considered safe for most skin types, some potential side effects include:

• Mild irritation or redness
• Sticky feeling if applied in excessive amounts
• Allergic reactions in rare cases

How To Use Glycerin On The Face

It’s very easy to add glycerin to your skin care routine.

• As a Moisturiser: Mix a few drops of glycerin with rose water or aloe vera gel and apply it to your face.
• In Face Masks: Add glycerin to DIY face masks with honey or yogurt for extra hydration.
• As a Makeup Primer: Apply a thin layer before makeup to create a smooth base.

Other Uses of Glycerin

Apart from skincare, glycerin has multiple uses, including:

• Haircare: Adds moisture and prevents frizz.
• Lip care: Helps heal dry and chapped lips.
• Hand and foot care: Softens rough, cracked skin.
• DIY beauty recipes: Used in homemade lotions, scrubs, and toners.
• Food industry: As a sweetener and preservative
• Liqueurs: As a thickening agent

Conclusion

After discovering the transformative benefits of glycerin for your skin, are you ready to say goodbye to dryness, irritation, and dullness? Well, if your skin has been giving you a hard time lately, then you should definitely think of switching to glycerin-based skincare. Why? We have already given you enough reasons to incorporate this versatile ingredient into your skincare ritual, right? And if you’re eagerly looking for such products, we have done your homework too! Try AreoVeda — India’s 1st EWG Verified, Ecocert Certified & Cellularly Proven skincare range for Moms & Babies. Fortunately, they have enough products with glycerin for you to try. And the top-up? It’s completely safe to use for pregnant and expectant moms.

So, go on, check out their entire collection if you’ve n’t yet!

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