What is glycerin?
Glycerin has lots of benefits for the skin and can be found in a variety of products. It is also an ingredient that is a natural component of healthy skin. It is also known as glycerine or glycerol.
It is a humectant which means that it can draw moisture from the air to hydrate your skin. It helps to maintain moisture levels in the skin.
What are humectants?
Humectants are ingredients that attract water molecules from the environment and draw them into the skin. They draw water from the dermis (deeper layer of the skin), up to the epidermis (top layer of skin) where dehydration happens. Once the water has been attracted, humectants help to bind and retain this moisture within the epidermis, preventing and slowing water loss from the skin that leads to dehydration and impaired skin barrier function.
Other common humectants include hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and hydroxy acids (including lactic acid, glycolic acid and gluconolactone).
These ingredients help to hydrate the skin by increasing its water content, making it look plump and healthy. This increase in water content helps to decrease the appearance of fine lines and improve skin barrier function. Humectants should be paired up with either emollients or occlusives to help them carry out their role. You can read more about the difference between humectants, occlusives and emollients here.
Where does it come from?
It can be derived from vegetables, animals or synthetically created.
What does it help with?
Moisturises and hydrates the skin. Due to it being so hydrating, it helps to retain moisture to leave skin feeling plumper, firmer and smoother. With helping to maintain the moisture balance of the skin, it helps with dryness leaving skin feeling hydrated.
Helps protect the skin. It has been shown that glycerin mimics the skin’s natural moisturising factor (NMF). NMF are substances which work on the upper layer on the skin to keep it smooth, hydrated and healthy. Due to environmental stressors and with skin ageing, NMF depletes over time, and so it is beneficial to top up with hydrating ingredients.
Leaves skin feeling soft. In formulations, it is usually combined with emollients to leave skin feeling soft and supple.
Enhances your other skincare. Due to being able to penetrate deeply into the skin, it can also help to improve the penetration of your other skincare product actives.
What skin types does glycerin work for?
It’s great for all skin types including dry, normal, oily and combination. By replenishing the skin with glycerin it helps to support the moisture and skin barrier.
Products that contain glycerin
It can be used in a variety of products from cleansers, toners, serums or moisturisers.
Which Lucy Bee products use glycerin?
- Hydrating Foam Face Wash
- Naturally Glowing Self-Tan Drops
- Moringa & Pineapple Enzyme Face Mask
- Soap Range
- Hydra-Bod Body Cream
Our Reviving Cleansing Cream and Radiance-Boosting Face Cream contain Glyceryl Sterate which is a mixture of glycerin and stearic acid and works as an emollient in skincare and helps to moisturise the skin to leave it feeling softer and smoother.
