Glycerin

📋 Quick facts

Description: Glycerin — hydration.

All Functions: hydration

Quick Facts:

• Category: humectant
• Also Known As: glicerina, glycérine, glycerin, glycerol
• Comedogenic Rating: 0/5

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it helps skin retain moisture
• It’s been safety-assessed and deemed safe for cosmetic use at the concentrations typically found in products
• Glycerin has multiple roles in skincare formulations: conditioning, moisturizing, and protecting skin
• Research shows glycerin’s moisture-retention ability increases at higher concentrations
• It’s used in many types of products, from topical skincare to oral care

⚗️ Chemical Overview

Glycerine appears as a colorless to brown colored liquid. Combustible but may require some effort to ignite. Glycerol is a triol with a structure of propane substituted at positions 1, 2 and 3 by hydroxy groups. It has a role as a geroprotector, an osmolyte, a detergent, a solvent, a mouse metabolite, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite, an Escherichia coli metabolite, a human metabolite and an algal metabolite. It is an alditol and a triol. A trihydroxy sugar alcohol that is an intermediate in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.

Source(s): CAMEO Chemicals, DrugBank, ChEBI, via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

0/5

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

Derived from this ingredient’s irritancy potential and comedogenicity rating against the needs of each skin type — e.g. oily and acne-prone skin are marked down for pore-clogging ingredients, sensitive skin for irritants. A starting heuristic, not a dermatological verdict.

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Glycerin is a versatile ingredient that serves multiple functions in skincare. #1: Its primary benefit is as a humectant—a substance that draws water into the skin and helps it stay there. According to research in Scientific Reports (2022), glycerin’s moisture-retention capacity increases as its concentration rises, with particularly strong water-holding ability at concentrations between 60–70% by weight. The same study used multiple measurement methods (gravimetric analysis, transepidermal water loss analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry) to confirm that glycerin reduces water evaporation from skin by creating different types of hydrated water structures. #2: Glycerin is recognized as safe for cosmetic use.

The International Journal of Toxicology (2019) documents a comprehensive safety review by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel, which concluded that glycerin is safe as a cosmetic ingredient at the concentrations and uses described in that assessment. Beyond moisturizing, glycerin functions as a skin conditioning agent, skin protectant, and can even act as a fragrance ingredient or viscosity-decreasing agent in formulations. #3: While one study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2022) examined a compound called OG (oxidized glycerin) for potential effects on age spots, that research is distinct from standard glycerin and showed results specific to OG formulations at particular concentrations, so those benefits cannot be attributed to regular glycerin.

The sources provided do not contain data supporting claims that unmodified glycerin lightens dark spots. In summary, the strongest evidence supports glycerin’s role as a moisture-retention ingredient, with its safety well-established for typical cosmetic use.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Becker LC et al. (2019). Safety Assessment of Glycerin as Used in Cosmetics. Int J Toxicol.
• McCluskey SV (2008). Sterilization of glycerin. Am J Health Syst Pharm.
• Kumar V et al. (2023). Glycerin-Assisted Vitreoretinal Surgery in Edematous Cornea. Retina.
• Hanada K et al. (2022). Ozonized glycerin (OG)-based cosmetic products lighten age spots on human facial skin. J Cosmet Dermatol.
• Chen HJ et al. (2022). Moisture retention of glycerin solutions with various concentrations: a comparative study. Sci Rep.

🧴 Products Containing Glycerin

• Schaebens Totes Meer Wasch-Gel
• aldo Vandini SENSUAL Aroma Handbalsam Hand Cream Tamarinde & Ingwer
• Eucerin UreaRepair PLUS 10%
• Eucerin Lotion Sun Protection kids SPF 50+
• Beierdorf, Nivea Naturally good crema giorno idratante
• Eucerin pH5
• Eucerin Eucerin Lip Activ Soin Actif Levres Stick 4.8G (lip Care)
• Nivea Loción Tónico Facial Matificante
• Nivea Gel de Limpeza Facial Nivea Controle do Brilho
• Nivea Men NIVEA Men Active Energy Hydraterende Dagcrème
• Nivea Lait crème nourrissant
• Nivea Body lotion
• atrix
• Nivea, Nivea Sun Spray transparent protection invisible 30 haute
• Nivea Nivea Intensive Moisture Body Milk 5-in-1 Complete Care (or Nivea Nourishing Body Milk)
• Nivea Nivea q10 plus anti rides
• Nivea Baby SHAMPOOING & BAIN HAPPY BATH
• Blend a med Zahncreme Pro Zahnschmelz
• BRYNILD GRUPPEN AS NIVEA Creme Soft Douchecrème
• Nivea Sun Pflegende Sonnenmilch – LSF 50+ Sehr Hoch
• Nivea Intimate Gel de toilette intime Apaisant Extrait de camomille, Panthenol & Acide lactique
• Nivea Intimate gel de toilette intime Douceur Huile de jojoba bio, Extrait de camomille & Acide lactique
• Eucerin Sun Allergy Protect
• Nivea Men Sensitive Shower Gel Soothing + Bamboo Extract
• Nivea NIVEA Verfrissende Reinigingsgel
• Beiersdorf, Nivea Nivea for men doccia gel energy
• Nivea Lait corps sous la douche nourissant
• nivea nivea cream
• Nivea Soft
• Nivea Tônico Facial Nivea Controle do Brilho
• Nivea Body Beruhigende After Shave Creme for women, Mit Panthenol
• Nivea, Nivea Men NIVEA Men Hyaluron Anti-age Gezichtscrème
• Beiesdorf, Nivea, Nivea Sun Protect & Hydrate 30 haute
• Nivéa Nivea soft
• Nivea, Nivea Men Cavani 9 – Gel douche hydratant originale édition limitée
• Nivea, Nivea Men NIVEA MEN sensitive peau sensible
• Nivea Q10 Plus Soin de jour FPS 15
• Nivea, Nivea Men Power Shampoo Anti-pelliculaire
• Nivea Perles de Q10 sérum concentré
• Schaebens Feuchtigkeits Maske