Glycerin is a clear, non-toxic liquid chemical compound derived from oil that is commonly found in soaps, pharmaceutical products and cosmetics. Though you’ve most likely encountered glycerin as an ingredient in some of your favorite beauty products, you’ll be surprised to hear of incredible benefits and uses of glycerin in skin care.
Glycerin as a Moisturizer
Glycerin is a humectant. This means that it has the ability to retain water. It is also known to have hygroscopic characteristics, which serve to promote the absorption of water by the skin. Glycerin can be used on its own, or in combination with other skin nourishing ingredients to produce the ideal moisturizer for winter weather. Because glycerin is non-irritating, these moisturizers are safe for use all over the body (including the face) and on sensitive skin.
- Apply glycerin directly to your skin.
- Mix 3 tablespoons of glycerin with six tablespoons of rose-water. Feel free to play around with the ratios until you get the desired texture or effect. If you plan on storing this concoction, make sure to mix the contents before each use and glycerin tends to settle to the bottom.
- Perhaps the most common way in which glycerin is applied to the skin is in combination with an equal amount of Vitamin E oil.
- You could even just mix some glycerin with your normal daily lotion to enhance its moisturizing power.
Anti-Aging and Under-eye Puffiness
Glycerin possesses miraculous anti-aging properties. It makes the skin smooth and supple by drawing moisture to the skin and forming a protective barrier to the loss of moisture from the skin surface, thereby enhancing the skin’s elasticity and smoothing creases. Since glycerin is already present naturally within the skin,it has the ability to seep into the skin’s intracellular matrix, filling the spaces between tissues and making the skin plumper.
It is also known to promote the regeneration of skin cells. These effects are especially pronounced in the under-eye area, as the skin in that area is particularly thin (it becomes thinner with age) and so wrinkles form more easily than on the skin in other parts of the body. The fact that glycerin is extremely gentle makes it even more suited to use for the delicate skin around the eyes.
There is no special way in which to take advantage of glycerin’s anti-aging properties. Any of the methods listed elsewhere in the article would suffice.
Acne Treatment with Glycerin
Because of its viscosity, glycerin possesses anti-microbial properties. This is the reason for its widespread use in soaps and its efficacy as an acne treatment.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of glycerin with half a tablespoon of borax powder and camphor. Add one cup of water, apply, and leave this mixture on your face for about 5 minutes. Wash your face with warm water and then rinse with cold water (to close pores).
Facial Cleanser and Toner
Glycerin has the ability to remove dust, dirt and blackheads and to even the skin tone.
- You can wash your face with a mixture of glycerin and rose water. Adding citrus juice to the mix will give it the added benefit of tightening your pores. You can also use a mixture of glycerin and raw milk. Both these cleansers work especially well when left on the face overnight.
- For use as a toner, you can either use a mixture of glycerin and rose-water (just like the moisturizer and cleanser), or a mixture of glycerin and apple cider vinegar in equal quantities.
As glycerin is sticky, make sure to wash off any excess before going outside, so that it doesn’t collect dust and pollutants.
