What Does Glycerin Do for Your Face? Benefits and Uses

Glycerin is everywhere. In gels, creams, moisturizers, and cleansers, and yet we’re not exactly sure why. The several benefits of glycerin for skin make it clear that it’s not a filler ingredient. But is it meant for your skin type? Dive right in to understand what does glycerin do for your face and how to use glycerin for skin.

Keynotes:

• Glycerin is a vital skincare ingredient known for its hydrating properties.
• As a humectant, glycerin draws moisture from the environment to deeply hydrate the skin, improve softness, reduce dark circles, and strengthen the skin barrier.
• Glycerin is suitable for all skin types and can be used in cleansers, serums, moisturisers, and under-eye creams.

Glycerin for skin, also called glycerol, typically comes from plant or animal fat. It is one of the most effective humectants used in skincare. This means that glycerin can attract water from the environment to hydrate your skin, making it an essential part of products like moisturisers, cleansers, serums, and toners.

It usually has no colour, smell, and is lightweight. It’s easy to make use of glycerin skin benefits as it is non-comedogenic and does not clog pores. Glycerin is also gentle and can be used for sensitive skin unless you’re allergic to it.

It’s easy to run into claims that say glycerin is good for the skin. But here’s what makes it a must-have in skincare products -

• Deep Hydration

  Glycerin is a powerful humectant that attracts water from the environment to the outermost layer of the skin to give you a softer, plumper skin texture. Glycerin benefits also largely help those with dry, aging, and textured skin types.

• Skin Barrier Protection

  Your skin barrier is the outermost layer of your skin. It helps your skin prevent water loss, protects it against allergens, and maintains the overall health of your skin. Glycerin skin benefits help you strengthen this barrier, especially if you have dry or compromised skin.

• Prevents Moisture Loss

  Your skin loses a lot of moisture throughout the day due to transepidermal water loss (TEWL). This means that water evaporates through your skin’s surface and leaves it dehydrated. A stronger skin barrier prevents TEWL. With its moisturising benefits and barrier repair functions, using glycerin for skin helps you prevent moisture loss.

• Improves Skin Softness

  Glycerin helps soften rough and flaky skin by maintaining optimal hydration levels and enhancing the skin’s natural exfoliation process (desquamation). Its ability to restore moisture balance improves overall skin texture and smoothness, reducing visible roughness.

• Helps Dark Circles

  Not all dark circles are caused by pigmentation. Many people also have structural dark circles, where thin, dehydrated skin makes the underlying blood vessels more visible. By hydrating and plumping up the under-eye skin, glycerin reduces the visibility of blood vessels. Hydrated skin also reflects light better, which lets glycerin brighten the area naturally.

• Gel-Based Cleansers

  Gel-based cleansers with glycerin cleanse the skin without disrupting its natural moisture barrier, whereas harsher soap-based cleansers can leave the skin tight and dry. This works out since glycerin is a humectant, it hydrates the skin while other ingredients help with cleansing.
  
  We Recommend: DermoPurifyer Triple Effect Cleansing Gel

• Hydrating Serums with Glycerin

  Serums contain a higher concentration of actives, which can be reactive. These can be balanced out by humectants like glycerin, which penetrate deeply into the skin's layers to draw and retain moisture. It also helps you tackle aging skin to smooth over fine lines and wrinkles.
  
  We Recommend: Anti-Pigment Skin Illuminating Serum

• Moisturizers

  Moisturisers with glycerin create a protective layer on the skin’s surface, locking in hydration and reducing water loss. It seals in the benefits of your skincare and prevents dryness and flakiness. This glycerin use for the face also strengthens your barrier over time.
  
  We Recommend: Anti-Pigment Day Care SPF 30

Glycerin remains a gold-standard ingredient in skincare, helping you hydrate, protect, and soften the skin. The gentle ingredient suits all skin types, including sensitive skin. So, check out the vast range of glycerin-based Eucerin products in your daily routine for healthy, resilient skin.

1. Can glycerin clog pores?

   No, glycerin is non-comedogenic and suitable for oily and acne-prone skin as well.

2. Is glycerin safe for sensitive skin?

   Yes, glycerin is a gentle and non-reactive product that is suitable for sensitive skin. However, you should check for any underlying allergies before using glycerin for skin.

3. Can glycerin help with dry skin?

   Absolutely. As a humectant, glycerin benefits for skin make it highly effective for treating dryness and flakiness.

• Healthline. (2022, March 15). Glycerin for face: Benefits, how to use, and side effects. Healthline.
• WebMD. (n.d.). What Is Pure Glycerin? Uses, Benefits, and Side Effects. WebMD.
• WebMD. (n.d.). Skin Barrier: What to Know. WebMD.
• Medical News Today. (2023, March 3). Vegetable glycerin: Uses, benefits, and side effects. Medical News Today.
• Fluhr, J. W., Darlenski, R., & Surber, C. (2008). Glycerol and the skin: Holistic approach to its origin and functions. British Journal of Dermatology, 159(1), 23–34.
• Rawlings, A. V., & Harding, C. R. (2004). Moisturization and skin barrier function. Dermatologic Therapy, 17(S1), 43–48.