I was quite surprised to see the following comment from Betty Brock in one of my entries concerning the usage of body lotion. In the comment, she stated that body lotion shouldn’t be used as a hand cream as it isn’t rich enough. In addition, she wrote something about avoiding glycerin as a key ingredient in hand creams.
…stay away from hand creams that contain too much glycerin. All they do is put an invisible glove on your hand. If you want to moisturize your hands, buy a cream that can actually penetrate the skin. Anything under $5 is junk.
Actually, I’ve come across some similar comments regarding this ingredient. Apparently, it is said that too much glycerin in a formula tends to irritate some people, causing their skin to become drier or causing them to break out. I can’t say for sure as I do not have similar experience. Moreoever, glycerin is a common ingredient used in skin care products as a humectant and as an emollient to soften and soothe skin.
What is glycerin?
In Paula Begeoun’s Ingredient Dictionary, glycerin is called glycerol or glycerine as well and is present in all natural lipids (fats), whether animal or vegetable.
It can be derived from natural substances by hydrolysis of fats and by fermentation of sugars. It can also be synthetically manufactured. Whether natural or synthetic, glycerin is a humectant and extremely hygroscopic, meaning it readily absorbs water from other sources. So, in part, glycerin works because of its ability to attract water from the environment and from the lower layers of skin (dermis) increasing the amount of water in the surface layers of skin. Another aspect of glycerin’s benefit is that it is a skin-identical ingredient, meaning it is a substance found naturally in skin. In that respect it is one of the many substances in skin that help maintain the outer barrier and prevent dryness or scaling.
However, Paula also mentioned that high levels of glycerin has no proven increased benefit for skin. In fact, pure glycerin (100% concentration) on skin is not helpful and can actually be drying, causing blisters if left on too long as they can increase water loss by attracting water from the lower layers of skin (dermis) into the surface layers of skin (epidermis) where the water can easily be lost into the environment.
What is it used in?
Personally, I’m not fond of glycerin and I used to hate to use it in my DIY vitamin C serum. However, I know many believe that soaps made with glycerin are beneficial for our skin and hence, would disagree that it’s drying or that it forms an invisible coat on the skin. Whilst I do not find it problematic and do not mind it in general, I do not find it particularly beneficial as a key ingredient. So going forward, I’ll probably keep a lookout for it. If a product is expensive and glycerin appears as one of the top 5 ingredients, I’ll probably think twice about buying it.
© www.vivawoman.net copyright notice
_______________________________________________________
I'm Sesame and Viva Woman is a 
I appreciate that some of you find my articles interesting and wish to share them. There are many ways you can share, such as via social media but copying or lifting content is definitely not the right way. Please note that all material here is copyrighted and I have a 
Have a question for me? Have something interesting to share with me? Then contact me! You may like to send me an email to vivawoman[at]gmail[dot]com. I will try to respond as soon as soon as I am able to. Emails requesting for link exchanges or containing unsolicited sales messages will be ignored.
I would have to disagree…I use pure glycerin and it has helped my skin greatly especially with pure lemon juice and my mom swears by it and uses it all over her body. I haven’t seen my skin get dry I wish..since I have oily skin….so I don’t know…
You use pure glycerin with pure lemon juice? Woah…very potent combination! Vegetable grade I suppose?
I think there are different views regarding glycerin and it might have to do with skin types as well. I never gave much thoughts to it but personally don’t like using it in DIY formulations. I think it’s the feel I dislike. But I would mind it if the product is expensive and has a lot of this. It’s quite cheap to get as an ingredient.
I have glycerin in my toner but I suppose that should be okay right? because I have pretty oily skin ((: but if i am not wrong usually i am still told to moisturize properly
Should be okay since it’s unlikely to be the first few. It’s probably there to also act as a stablizer/preservative. Most products would have glycerin.
I have heard the saying that hand creams just form a cover on the hand. Slowly the skin will die and then become dry. Subsequently need to put more hand cream to moisturize it. Not sure if its true.
In addition, I heard that SK II has got yeast ingredient in it and it will just “eat up” the old skin and renew the skin. Sounds terrifying to me.
I remember you writing this before…but the one about SK-II sounds scary. Yikes…
I do agree that concentrated amount of glycerin is not good for the skin. I’ve tried applying pure glycerin onto my face before just to see what happens and the face looked watery while my skin looked wrinkly. it was quite bizarre
Wow, you’re so brave! I hope it was just a small patch you tried on. Don’t do it again.
I am surprise to know glycerin can be drying (thanks for the info), it is a humectant that commonly existed in our daily skin care routine, of cause it is low-cost too. I read before about hyaluronic acid (or sodium hyaluronate) is also functioning by attracting water from environment. If the environment is not humid enough, then it will absord water from dermis in order to keep the skin hydrated. I didn’t rely on single ingredient since we might need both oil and water moisturizing agents in less humid environment/for dry skin. From my experience in dry weather, even a heavy pure oil product can be drying after few hours, that’s why I am not avoiding synthetic ingredients like silicone, carbomer… etc.
It seems glycerin works the same way and the humidity plays a big role too. Anyway, I just don’t want to pay a lot for a product that uses glycerin as a key ingredient. Don’t find it does much.
hi sesame! i realised i havent been receiving your email updates since the start of the year! is there something wrong? i dont know of anything i can do from my side…
Oh dear…I’ve been told by a few other readers too. Not sure what went wrong. Anyway, I’ve unsubscribed your email and then re-subscribed again. Can you verify the confirmation at your end? I hope that’ll solve the problem.
I think I have the ingredient in one of my product but too lazy to see which one. Hopefully it won’t ruin my skin in the long run!
I’ve heard about the SK2 thingy about the yeast too. I used FTE once in a while, just for the sake of finishing it. But from some experiences I’ve heard, it sounded scary!
I think it’s okay. Glycerin won’t ruin your skin. Just that it’s not useful if the content is too much.
I stay off SKII. I tried it when it was first launched and find their products over-rated. But my hairstylist swear by the Pitera lotion.
hi
may i know what hand creams you are using now?
My facial skin is oily but my body and especially my hands are very dry. I once went for a full body massage and the masseuse had to keeping applying oil as my skin was soaking it up like a sponge.
I’m still looking for good affordable natural and/or organic skin lotions and hand creams. For body I’m using Rosken dry skin cream for now.
For hand creams, I have tried neutrogena norwegian forumla, Yuskin A, 100% Pure Organic Hand Cream. and some other brands available at watsons or guardian. the latest one I’ve tried from Bud Cosmetics is the Super Soothing Rescue Lotion which is good, but very expensive considering I can go through a 50ml tube @$22 in roughly 2 weeks. (I usually have to apply hand cream at least 2-3 times in an hour.)
some of the organic or natural ones i’ve tried, e.g. the 100% Pure Hand Creams, tend not to be able to penetrate into the skin well, leaving the skin shiny but dry and uncomfortable.
sorry for the ranting, but do you have something to recommend for someone with eczema prone sensitive skin who needs a good cheap hand cream?
(btw i know rosken’s not a natural brand, but I can’t find something else that works without an irritating smell.)
The one I tried that is cheap and effective was Lavera Basis Sensitive. The small tube was going for $5 at Watsons and the bigger one was $19 I think. However, I don’t seem to see it anymore. You can check my review here:
http://www.vivawoman.net/2008/08/25/review-lavera-basis-sensitiv-handcreme/
The other one I like is L’Occitane Shea Butter hand cream. Very nice but it’s also very ex at $42 and so I use it only sparingly before bedtime.
Hey, I just remember I’ve tried this product Skin MD Natural and it’s not bad…seems to be created for those with dry hands or skin problems. I saw it at Guardian if I am not wrong. I reviewed it long ago here:
http://www.vivawoman.net/2007/01/16/skin-md-natural-shielding-lotion/
i never really read the ingredient on my face cream…maybe i should start doing that….i never suffer from dry skin & i always use 3 or 4 different product all the time…i’m at the stage i’m not sure which one is working for me anymore…haha…but i’m suffering from blackhead on the nose & tzone area…any suggestion? i tried so many products….nothing seem to be working….
Why do you use so many products? If it’s just skincare, just limit to 2. A serum and a moisturizer. In the daytime, you can add a sunscreen or use a moisturizer with SPF.
Do you exfoliate your skin? That could help clear some of your blackheads.
Recommendation for a cheap hand cream for those with eczema: try Aqurea moisturizing cream from Guardian (usually put near the eczema products shelves). It is not natural. However, it penetrates the skin without being greasy/oily. I must admit I’ve tried a lot of natural creams – based on oils and butters, but the oils and butters just sit on the surface of my skin without penetrating. I find Aqurea to be cheap and effective. The active ingredient is 10% urea. It’s worth a try and if it doesn’t work for your hands, it’s also a good foot cream (for cracked heels).
aqurea seems to work for me…i have ezcema
Regarding glycerin, I have formulated with glycerin, but I find it sticky and I don’t like the feel of it on my skin. I keep the percentage as low as possible (5% or less).
Yup, I think that’s also the same reason why I don’t like the feel of it. I always cut down the % whenever possible.
I use glycerin for foiling sometimes, but I only use a real tiny bit. I hear it can cause blisters if you use it directly by itself – especially around the mouth. Scary.
What is foiling?
hi sesame,
i’ve not been receiving the email updates too.. please check mine too! thanks =)
Seems that something is not working. I tried subscribing and didn’t receive any updates. I need to check with Feedburner about this. Meantime, you may have to come visit the site directly. Sorry about that.
I’m a little late to this entry, but just wanted to chime in with my 2 cents – just like you mentioned in your entry, I remember glycerin soaps used to be the holy grail for clear skin at one time, when the older folks would stock up on Pears soap, so I too was intrigued when I first read that glycerin might actually contribute to dry skin conditions. However, the following entry in Afrobella’s blog regarding winter hair care cleared up the issue about humectants and moisturising care
http://www.afrobella.com/2009/10/27/winter-hair-care-advice-from-curly-nikki/
So perhaps it also depends on the season in which we use glycerin as a moisturising agent – maybe this dry, biting weather in Singapore this year is not the best time to whip out the glycerin enriched creams.
Interesting. It has to do with the humidity isn’t it? So season definitely plays a role.
Hey, just wanted to ask which code do you use for Related posts. Can you suggest me any?
Swathy
You mean the plugin? I use Similar Posts:
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/similar-posts/
You’ll need to install the Post-Plugin Library too.
hm i have always been wary of formulations with high amountd of glycerine. one reason being i know that it can cause alot of white heads.
and secondly i did not like the idea of paying so much when the main ingredient glycerine is so cheap.
my search for the product with the PERFECT formulation has been very tough. while some may not have glycerin, they often contain some other comedogenic humectant =/
It’s hard to find the perfect formulation. Either they’re imperfect or they’re too ex. But I think I’m happy with my current sunscreen formulation. It’s almost perfect to me.
Oh yes, I agree with TheUndercoverGypsy.
The glycerin needs to absorb moisture from the air.
Singapore is so dry now. I’m in Bangkok. Its slightly better. But I’m still breaking out. I hope to go back soon and do facial extraction plus the weather gets humid soon. Else my pores are gonna get so big, dirt and oil gets trapped in them.
Bangkok is pretty polluted isn’t it? But seems like you’re not the only one complaining about dry skin. Another local reader said the same thing as you.
I disagree.. as a kid I had the worst scaliest of dry skins on my legs and the only way it was cured was after a friend recommended to my mum that I apply a mix of glycerin and rose water (50:50). No other oils (olive included), cream, lotions ever worked, so I sort of swear by it. But that’s when I lived in Bangalore (drier place). In Singapore, a body lotion seems to work fine.
There’s some controversy over the ingredient…I guess it just depends on users. Maybe the skin type or maybe the weather.
Personally, I don’t like glycerin too much but don’t have an issue with it except I won’t want to be fooled into purchasing an expensive product with lots of this stuff. It’s so cheap when we use it DIY.
Hi, I was just looking around your site and came upon this post, I wanted to chime in a bit on glycerin. I have also used a 50/50 mix of glycerin and rose water (or other hydrosol) as a facial moisturizer for a couple of years now and it has served me very well. I do understand your problem with stickiness because I have tried using the same formulation on my body instead of lotion and I did not like the feeling. But my face seems to absorb it fairly quickly so this does not present a problem. Thanks!
That’s great. I have some telling me that they use the same formulation and it worked wonders for them too.
I have a serious question,
I want to start making my own homemade soaps and since glycerin is the main ingredient I started doing a little bit of research to find out if glycerin is actually good for you. As you mentioned, it absorbs moisture from the deeper layers of the skin to make the epiderm smoother and softer. But what happens to the dermis at that point, does it constantly produce moisture, or does the use of glycerine slowly make your skin dryer and addicted to more glycerin? Do you have any suggestions on what to use instead of glycerin as a base for my homemade soaps?
Thank you kindly.
I found a soap boutique that sells beautifully scented products made out of goat’s milk and oatmel! The milk has a bit of exfoliating and the oatmeal has a bit of nourishing qualities. I’m hooked on this stuff.
I have an autoimmune disorder. My Rheumatologist has told me to stay away from glycerin. That it actually does dry the skin and my condition causes drying so more dryness is something I don’t want. Finding products seems to be impossible.
Oh…so it does dry up skin. And you can’t use even if it’s just a little in the formulation? That’ll be tough…
I have heard so much about Glycerin and how it’s bad for you. A few years ago my aesthitician told me the benefits of using pure, botanical products on my face…not chemically manufactured. She told me about the brand MyChelle that is only available through health food stores – it’s a little pricey but felt good knowing i was putting good stuff on my face. Earlier this year, a friend introduced me to Arbonne and it is, undoubtedly, the best stuff I have put on my face. They are very proud to say they don’t put glycerin in their products…only the best botanical ingredients. Has anybody else heard of Arbonne? it’s a swiss product
Hello!
Thank you so much for sharing this! I was trying to figure out if glycerin was good or bad for you because I read such conflicting opinions.
It makes a lot more sense now! I am excited because I am going to make hot process soap and it cooks out the glycerin so it will work great! Thanks again!
Hannah
Glad the info helped you.
I don’t understand the negative reviews. glycerin mixed with water, 1 part glycerin to 3 parts water is the only thing that has helped my dry skin. I have bought everything from eucerin, la mer to kiehls and it is the only thing that has helped.
I guess it really depends…some ingredients work miracles for specific skin type. Some have said glycerin worked well for them too.
In the last three months I started using liquid glycerin soaps (I tried 3 brands all of which failed for me) because of the hype saying that they are better and more natural for your skin than other chemical ingredients and that they would also help to keep the skin clearer. Well, every brand I tried caused my skin to accumulate whiteheads and breakouts (and my skin was clear before I began using them). After about three weeks of use, every one of these soaps, touted as being mild and pure, actually began to burn and dry out my once smooth skin, especially in the eye area, and I was only using them once or twice a day. All my adult life my skin has been suceptible to breakouts and now that I’m 59 years old, I noticed that every one of these glycerin soaps resulted in the appearance of fine lines on my face that were not there before. They din’t go away, even after moisturizing. I was losing skin firmness and elasticity faster than I felt was normal even though I am fast approaching Senior Citizenville. My eye area was effected the worst. I never saw anything like it. I aged 10 years in the last 3 months!!!! I also got sores around my mouth that wouldn’t heal until I stopped using the soap 2 days ago. I’m hoping that the texture will go back to its previously smooth surface in another few weeks. So, glycerin may not be the best ingredient if your facial skin is sensitive, dry, and/or prone to breakouts. Also, when I rinsed the soap off my skin, it felt like I had a plastic coating left behind. Not so wonderful. Maybe these soaps are better for the body than the face (or for washing socks).
hi,
i know this is a very old post but just wanted to say that I used pure concentrated 100% glycerin on my skin on three occasions like an idiot because I had no idea. Anyway the result it dried my skin out painfully and i have oily skin. I then noticed dark marks and scarring around my mouth and wrinkle lines. needless to say i threw the bottle out and visited a dermatologist who says it has to be diluted to 5% or less glycerin and 95% water when you feel like you’re losing moisture, but not continuously. now I am taking vit e supplements and collagen based moisturizers to bring my skin back to life. Its been getting better… only hope it gets back to normal.
Thanks for sharing your experience with glycerin and I hope your skin recovers quickly. Really gotta be careful using some of these DIY ingredients.
I’m new to computers but i’m enjoying surfing! Came across your site and just had to let you know my findings! initially i read in a magazine that adding glycerine to nail polish remover made it kinder on your nails, but hey after using it as a moisturiser on top of my usual brand i have had so many compliments about my skin, i’m 51 but have been told i look as if i’m in my thirties! i’m so chuffed, i think the nicest thing about using glycerine is the lovely warm feeling it gives to your skin, i’ll be using it for the rest of my natural! life.
I hate the sticky feeling of glycerine pony the face but when mixing with rosewater,leon juice and a few drops of olive oil,i think it works good for the skin making it supple and soft.
Like others, I came across this web-site while researching the pro/cons of glycerin. For about a decade now my hands skin has been getting dryer and dryer (they even burn) to the point of where the skin cracks and flakes especially during the low moisture winter months. So, when it get too bad I usually buy an intensive care hand lotion that helps a little. My moisture starving skin quickly obsorbs the lotion. Yesterday, I started using O’Keeffe’s Working Hands which has glycerin as the second ingrediant. Like others who have mentioned in Speak Your Mind it does leave a noticeable sticky barrier/coating on my hands. Too soon to determine its effects; But so far it has slowed down the skin craking and peeling. I’ve added a little filtered water to my hands in order to re-activate and thin out the glycerin. As written in previous comments where different persons have varied skin issues maybe someone will come across a multi-purpose skin remedy that’s not expensive or harmfull to the body. Then they’ll return and tell us all. Good hunting.
I just bought glycerin today as part of a DIY make up project and I wanted to learn more about it. Ive already learned that glycerin is actually good for sensitive skin. It also attracts water, and that’s probably why some of you have had problems. You have to dilute glycerin well or it will take moisture from your skin and just sit on the top layer. If you live in a humid area, it attracts water from the air and adds that moisture to your skin. It sounds like those of you who’ve had negative reactions just had a bad combination of glycerin to water. Except for the soap story; it would seem difficult to get a bad combination of glycerin to water if you’re in the shower… Eh, I’m not an expert.