Glycerin has long been used by our mothers and grandmothers and was an essential part of their daily skincare routine. This is because glycerin for skin has many benefits that had held them in good stead, long before fancy creams and cosmetics had flooded the market. It is a beauty essential that has been popular over the ages because of its amazing skin benefits.
According to a 2014 Cosmetic Ingredient Review, glycerin is the third most frequently reported ingredient in cosmetics after water and fragrance. It is recognized as a major ingredient in lotions and moisturizers. The use of glycerin for skin in its pure form is also gaining popularity.
What is Glycerin?
Glycerin, also known as glycerol, is a natural compound that is derived from vegetable oils or animal fats. It is clear, colourless, and odourless and is sweet to taste.
Glycerin is a humectant, a type of moisturizing agent that can pull water into the outer layers of the skin, from the deeper levels of your skin and also from the surrounding air.
Glycerin protects your skin from the harmful environmental aggressors and is also known to change the texture of your skin. It can treat several skin disorders, ranging from dry skin to wound healing.
Benefits of Using Glycerin For Skin
Here are the benefits of using glycerin:
1. Moisturizes the skin
Glycerin is an excellent moisturizer for your skin. Regular usage of glycerin on skin helps maintain the hydration level of your skin. If you have extremely dry skin, make glycerin a part of your daily skincare routine and bid goodbye to dryness. It attracts moisture from the environment as well, keeping your skin hydrated and fresh.
2. Protects and heals the skin
Glycerin protects the skin against external pollutants. It also helps to repair cracked skin.
3. Helps maintain the pH balance of your skin
Glycerin helps you to maintain the pH balance of your skin. Using it regularly will help you to minimize the water balance of your skin, thus keeping it hydrated. It creates a layer of moisture on your skin that protects the skin from harmful UV rays of the sun. It helps you to keep your skin healthy, glowing, and hydrated.
4. Glycerin has Anti Fungal Properties
Glycerin has healing properties and acts as a natural medicine especially in treating skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
5. Dead Skin Removal
Glycerin breaks down the proteins present in dead skin cells and removes them from our skin. This helps in the generation of new skin cells thus giving you a healthy glowing skin.
6. Anti-ageing Properties
Glycerin can slow down the ageing process of your skin. It keeps the skin firm and wrinkle-free for a long time.
7. Acne Treatment
Anybody who has faced acne knows what a nightmare it is! Regular over-the-counter applications hardly work on it. So if you are someone looking for a permanent acne solution, add glycerin to your beauty regime and see the wonders.
How To Apply Glycerin On Your Face
Below are the tips to apply glycerin on your face:
1. As a cleanser
Glycerin is known to remove dirt from your face and gives you a clean and moisturized look. It works as an excellent makeup remover as well. First, wash your face with water. Then take a little amount of glycerin on a cotton ball and dab it on your face. Make sure to avoid contact with eyes and mouth. Allow it to get absorbed into the skin. Wash it off after some time and experience a clean, glowing look.
2. As a face toner
Glycerin is known for tightening the pores of our skin and hence it can work as an excellent toner.
However, make sure not to use too much of it. Make a solution of a few drops of glycerin and half a cup of rose water, and then with a cotton or soft cloth, gently dab it onto your skin before applying moisturizer.
3. As a moisturizer
When diluted with water and other ingredients, glycerin works as an excellent moisturizer for your skin. Use a mild cleanser and wash your face thoroughly. Then apply your glycerin-based moisturizer gently on your skin. Make sure that it does not come in contact with your eyes and mouth.
You can also make a DIY glycerin moisturizer by mixing glycerin with two drops of any essential oil and almond oil.
4. As a lip balm
You can also use Glycerin for moisturizing your lips. Glycerin is gentler on your lips than any other chemical-based lip balm. Mix glycerin with shea butter or coconut oil. Apply it on your lips after cleansing it and leave it overnight. It makes your lips softer than any other chemical-based cosmetic lip balm.
5. Blackhead Removal
Sometimes, no amount of proper skincare treatment can remove ugly blackheads from our skin. However, glycerin-based homemade blackhead removal treatment has shown proven results.
Take a tablespoon of Multani Mitti or Fuller’s earth; add four tablespoons of coarsely ground almond powder, and then two teaspoons of glycerin. Mix it togther and apply a thin layer of it on the blackhead affected area. Let it dry. Wash it off after some time and see the magic removal of blackheads from your skin.
Can Glycerin irritate my skin?
GlycerinGlycerin being a humectant draws water from the nearest levels of your skin. In dry weather conditions, the nearest source of water is the lower levels of your skin. This can dehydrate your skin, giving rise to blisters and rashes.
It is always a good idea to dilute glycerin before using it. Diluting glycerin with rose water is a good option because rose water hydrates the skin and refines pores. According to a 2011 study, rosewater had positive antioxidant effects on the skin.
Glycerin is a mild ingredient that is present in almost all cosmetics and baby products. It is known to cure many skin problems. The hydrating property of glycerin helps you to get soft, glowing, and healthy-looking skin.
However, one should never use raw glycerin directly on the skin. It should be always diluted, preferably with rose water before using it on our skin. It is always advisable to take a patch test, to check how your skin will react to glycerin, before applying it directly on your face.
Also Read: Rose Water in Your Makeup Routine
