Glycerin (Glycerol)
INCI: Glycerin
A moisturiser that binds water in the skin's outermost layer
Good evidence: randomised trials
At a glance
- Suits
- All skin types
- Pairs well with
- Hyaluronic acid, Shea butter, Squalane, Panthenol
- Found in
- 84 ECOOKING products
What can glycerin help with?
Dry skin
In two randomised, double-blind studies, glycerin in a cream increased skin hydration.[1][2] A third study showed that glycerin helps the skin regain moisture after being dried out by a detergent.[3]
Dry hair
Glycerin is also used in shampoo and conditioner, where it binds moisture in the hair.
How it works
How to use it
- Can be used morning and evening.
- Apply a cream over your hydrating serum.
- Can be combined with hyaluronic acid and panthenol.
Products with glycerin
Self Tanning Mousse
Fragrance-free self-tanner for a natural glow that gives an even, sun-kissed ...
Peptide Volume Mascara
Gentle, fragrance-free volume mascara for sensitive eyes that gives lashes fu...
Night Cream
Night-time face cream that moisturises, firms and reduces fine lines and wrin...
CC Cream SPF 15
Fragrance-free CC cream, day cream and sun protection factor 15 in one, which...
Clay Mask
Fragrance-free clay mask for blemishes and large pores that deeply cleanses t...
Firming Cream SPF 50
Day cream with SPF 50 that gives visibly firmer skin in four weeks and protec...
Primer
Fragrance-free makeup primer in three variants: green for redness, peach for ...
Cleansing Gel
Facial cleanser for normal, oily and blemish-prone skin that cleanses thoroug...
Frequently asked questions
Yes, they are the same substance. Glycerol is the chemical name, while glycerin is the name used in skincare and on the ingredient list (INCI: Glycerin).
Glycerin is usually made from vegetable oils and fats, such as coconut, palm or rapeseed oil, when the fat is broken down. It can also be made from animal fat or produced synthetically. The substance is the same, regardless of where it comes from.
Glycerin is the INCI name for glycerol, the name used on ingredient lists throughout the EU. Ingredients are generally listed in descending order of quantity, but below 1 % the order may vary. You cannot see the exact amount on the list.
In randomised, double-blind studies, creams with glycerin gave skin more moisture than comparable creams without glycerin, both for dry skin and atopic eczema. Glycerin also helped the skin regain moisture after a detergent had dried it out. A review article describes how the skin itself uses glycerol to retain moisture.
Sources
- Combined effects of glycerol and petrolatum in an emollient cream: A randomized, double-blind, crossover study in healthy volunteers with dry skin (Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2020)
- Placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, prospective study of a glycerol-based emollient on eczematous skin in atopic dermatitis: biophysical and clinical evaluation (Skin pharmacology and physiology, 2008)
- Effects of glycerol on human skin damaged by acute sodium lauryl sulphate treatment (Archives of dermatological research, 2010)
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions (British journal of dermatology, 2008)