I don't know where you find this rubbish from, Speedy, but (sorry) sometimes you're full of it. Glycerine=glycerol, the same simple 3-carbon alcohol no matter where it comes from, and both will behave identically on your skin. That said, most commercially available glycerol is derived from plant fats.
Glycerin in skin care: Is it vegan or not?
There are two main types of glycerin: vegetable glycerin and animal glycerin.
Vegetable glycerine is made from plants and oils, while animal glycerin comes from animal fats. Both types of glycerin are safe for most people to use on their skin.
Medically reviewed vegetable glycerin is the type most often used in skincare products. It's a clear, odorless liquid that's derived from coconut oil, palm oil, or soybean oil. However, the fact that it is derived from commonly-known comedogenic ingredients, doesn’t mean that glycerin is comedogenic.
It can be derived from vegetable or animal sources, or made synthetically. Most of the suppliers sell vegetable glycerin made from vegetable oils. It is thick,
odorless and syrupy and
easily dissolves in any liquid, making it a dream to use. As with all ingredients, there is no difference chemically between vegetable or synthetic glycerin, but most of the natural brands like us will only buy natural vegetable glycerin because that is what customers want.
Animal glycerin is made from animal oils. It's a thick,
sticky liquid that has a sweet taste. Animal glycerin is less commonly used in skin care products because it can be comedogenic, meaning it
can clog pores. However, some people find that animal glycerin helps to soothe and heal dry, cracked skin.
Synthetic glycerin Synthetic glycerin is pharmaceutical glycerin derived from petroleum. With the petroleum word, the impression is not good for skin health. But it is not toxic and there is no problem using it. It is characterised by higher purity and fewer impurities than natural or vegetable or plant-based glycerin. Synthetic glycerin is widely used in the pharmaceutical field because it has higher purity than plant-based products and there is no concern about deterioration. If it has been used for pharmaceutical purposes, then it is safer for the skin too.
So, in conclusion, glycerin can be vegan or not. You just need to check the product’s label to see if it is vegan-friendly or if they are using animal glycerin!
10 Benefits of Glycerin
As we mentioned above, glycerin is one of those ingredients that performs a multitude of tasks. Although it’s often thought of as a moisturizer, that’s far from the only thing it does!
Here are 10 benefits of glycerin you may--or may not--be aware of:
- Glycerin moisturizes - Not only does glycerin moisturize the skin, it pulls moisture up from the lower levels of the skin (the dermis) to the upper levels (the epidermis), essentially allowing the skin to help moisturize itself.
- Glycerin creates a calming sensation - Plant-based glycerin is extraordinarily gentle on sensitive skin and can help alleviate temporary skin discomfort.
- Glycerin protects - By helping to maintain the skin’s protective layer of moisture, glycerin creates a barrier between the skin and elements that can harm it.
- Glycerin smooths the skin - Its hydrating properties help create a smoother looking appearance to the skin.
- Glycerin exfoliates - Yes, even though it’s a moisturizer, glycerin does play a role in the exfoliation process, helping to improve skin’s radiance.
- Glycerin brightens - Between glycerin’s rejuvenating properties and its ability to moisturize, glycerin plays a key role in keeping skin looking bright and luminous!
- Glycerin improves your complexion - Glycerin is non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores!
- Glycerin can be combined with other ingredients - One of the great things about glycerin is that it works well with so many other ingredients to add moisture.
- Glycerin has anti-aging benefits - By bringing your skin’s natural moisture to the surface, glycerin helps to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Glycerin acts as a natural preservative - When used in skincare products, it can be used as a preservative and solvent in products with herbal and botanical extracts.
What Skin Types Should Use It
One of the main reasons we love glycerin is that literally every skin type can use glycerin and benefit from it.
Here are a few examples of how glycerin benefits different skin types:
Glycerin for dry skin:
Those with dry skin in particular will really benefit from glycerin, since one of its main jobs as a humectant is to moisturize. In fact, not only does glycerin moisturize the skin, it pulls water from the second layer of the skin (dermis) and brings it up to the top (epidermis), giving you that extra boost of hydration.
Glycerin helps moisturize aging skin by not only providing your skin with moisture, but by pulling it from its second layer. This will provide a fresh and revitalized appearance by diminishing and reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Glycerin for sensitive skin: Glycerin’s gentle, hydrating properties have a calming effect on
sensitive skin, helping to beautify it by providing rejuvenating moisture. Remember that the source of glycerin we use is plant-based, so it’s less likely to cause irritation.
Glycerin for super-dry, cracked skin: If you have really dry skin, you probably spend a good part of the colder months trying to deal with cracked skin, which is uncomfortable and can even bleed if not treated. Glycerin not only provides protective moisture, but it can prevent your skin from such a state.
Glycerin for oily skin: Often, those with
oily skin will skip using moisturizer, worrying that adding moisture will result in even oilier skin. However, skipping moisturizer causes your skin to overproduce oil. The trick is finding an oil-balancing face cream or lotion that will benefit your skin type. Look for a moisturizer containing glycerin. Glycerin is non-comedogenic, so it’s less likely to clog pores.
Glycerin for combination skin: One of glycerin’s jobs is not only to hydrate the skin, but uphold the skin’s protective moisture barrier. This is why it’s so effective on combination skin.
Glycerin for aging skin: As we get older, our skin becomes substantially dryer and more apt to develop fine lines and wrinkles. This is especially true of the skin around the eyes, which is why we included glycerin in our
Eyes Eyes Baby eye cream. For this reason, it is important to make sure you increase skin hydration over time.
How To Use Glycerin for Your Skin
Glycerin is one of those ingredients that performs an astounding multitude of tasks—it just depends what you want it to do for your particular skin.
The main thing to remember when using glycerin in skincare is that unless you’re using it in a product like moisturizer (in which it is already mixed), it’s important to dilute pure glycerin with another ingredient, such as
rosewater or vitamin E. When we say glycerin pulls moisture from your skin, we really mean it; and if you use it on its own, you risk pulling too much moisture out and irritating your skin. As long as you combine glycerin with other compatible ingredients, you’ll reap the benefits of this multitasker.
1. Use glycerin as a facial moisturizer – If glycerin has a reputation for one thing in particular, it’s as a moisturizer. When you look for a moisturizer, keep an eye out for glycerin in the ingredients list. We have included glycerin in both all of our facial moisturizers:
Youth Fairy Retinol Moisturizer,
Crème de la Cream Brightening Moisturizer and
H2 Oh Yeah Hydrating Moisturizer.
2. Use glycerin as a body moisturizer – What’s good for the goose is good for the gander! Glycerin-infused body moisturizers are great for dry, thirsty skin.
3. Use glycerin as a cleanser – Chances are you’ve seen glycerin soaps—they’re usually almost transparent and feel creamy to the touch. Oil-free and non-comedogenic, glycerin makes a great cleanser for anyone with a tendency towards clogged pores or sensitive skin. That’s why we’ve included it in our
So Clean! facial cleanser.
4. Use glycerin as a toner – Rosewater and glycerin are like the Venus and Serena of skincare ingredient combinations. Together, they restore hydration into the skin like nobody’s business, so we have included glycerin in our
Rose and Shine rosewater toner.
5. Use glycerin as a hair conditioner – Glycerin’s moisturizing properties not only work on skin—they work on hair as well! Use it as a conditioner on dry hair; but be sure to dilute it with something else, like your regular conditioner. Also, if you have tinted hair, ask your hairstylist for advice about whether it’s safe for use on your chemically treated hair.
6. Use glycerin as a lip gloss/moisturizer – A little glycerin over the lips makes a great lip gloss that’s not only shiny, but gives your lips a little shot of moisture. This is especially beneficial, as the lip area is prone to dryness, wrinkles, and fine lines. We’ve included glycerin in our
One Lip Wonder lip treatment to help hydrate and smooth dry lips.
7. Use glycerin to make old make-up usable again – Have a dried-out lipstick or foundation that’s seen better days? Add a little tiny drop of glycerin to help bring it back to life.
As you can see, glycerin is one of the hardest working products in skin care; luckily, you don’t have to bang down any doors to get it! The next time you’re purchasing cosmetics, keep an eye out for glycerin in the ingredients list.
Ready to add glycerin to your skincare routine? Every product in our 5-step
Deluxe Set boasts glycerin as an active ingredient.
