Ingredients & Craft · 6 comments ·

Vegetable Glycerin in Skincare: The Humectant Explained

The SelesTeres Journal · Ingredients & Craft
By Nina, founder of SelesTeres · Originally published February 4, 2023 · Full-length edition

Editorial graphic about vegetable glycerin in skincare

The quick answer

Vegetable glycerin is a humectant: it attracts and holds water in a cosmetic formula, helping products feel hydrating. That is a useful skincare role, but claims that it restores gut microbes or cures skin disease do not belong in a cosmetic ingredient guide.

Editorial graphic about vegetable glycerin in skincare
5 Minute Read
Vegetable glycerin – or glycerine – is an amazing product that also goes by the name glycerol. It’s syrupy in viscosity and can be made from a variety of vegetables including coconuts and soybeans. What you might not know is that, despite being used in a variety of skincare products, it’s also an incredibly powerful restorer of gut microbes!
I’m sure you’re ready to learn all about this organic wonder product, so let’s dive in. 

What is Vegetable Glycerin?

Now, it’s important not to confuse regular glycerin with vegetable glycerin because there is a difference between the two. Regular glycerin is often a by-product of petroleum or animal matter. Vegetable glycerin is made completely from plants. 
Essentially, raw glycerin is extracted from vegetable fats during a specific heating process, leaving only the pure, sweet, syrupy, and odorless goo that is oh-so-good for us. 
Editorial graphic about vegetable glycerin in skincare

The Uses of Vegetable Glycerin

You can find vegetable glycerin in just about anything – from food to soaps, lotions, cosmetics, and even certain medicines. It’s an excellent additive to vegan ice cream as it will stop the mixture from crystalizing in the freezer. 
But you didn’t come here to hear about food! So, let’s get into the beauty benefits. 
In soaps and lotions, vegetable glycerin helps to bind the oilier substances with the watery substances in order to help moisturize your skin and create a protective barrier against dust and other harmful elements. 
Editorial graphic about vegetable glycerin in skincare

The Many Benefits of Vegetable Glycerin

Other than being a fantastic skin moisturizer that can improve the smoothness of your skin, it will also hydrate your skin. This will give you that youthful, dewy glow. In fact, it’s even more beneficial than the hyaluronic acid found in many expensive face creams. 
Using it in soap will allow it to infuse with your bath water and this will have a powerful hydrating effect on your skin. To top it all off, you’ll find that your skin is far less irritated and more likely to heal faster from cuts and scrapes. 
This is the perfect product for winter as it will prevent the wind chill from drying and cracking your skin. This is also why it’s found in so many lip balms. For supple lips, be sure to check out my range of lip balms that won’t feel claggy or heavy. Plus, body butter that contains glycerin will help reduce the inflammation associated with just about any skin condition. 
Aside from the skin benefits, vegetable glycerin can act as a mild laxative and hydration absorption enhancer. What an incredible organic product!

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Frequently asked questions

Is vegetable glycerin the same as glycerol?

Yes; the source differs, but the substance is glycerol.

Does it hydrate skin?

It functions as a humectant in finished formulas.

Does it restore digestive bacteria?

That is not a supported cosmetic skincare claim.

Is glycerin always plant-derived?

No. Verify the manufacturer’s declared source if that matters to you.

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Curated complements to this article—8 products across cleansing, skincare and home where relevant. Swipe to discover more; these are cosmetic and lifestyle products, not treatments for medical conditions.

Further reading & sources

For general education and inspiration only. SelesTeres products are cosmetics and lifestyle items, not medical treatments. Individual responses and sensitivities vary by person and formulation. If you have a health concern, seek advice from an appropriate healthcare professional.

6 comments

  • Diyan

    Vegetable glycerin soap and lotion combination is better experience for me. I love to these products Thank you!

  • Mayra

    It’s wonderful as a moisturizer, it can help improve the texture and hydration of skin and hair. Additionally, it can be used as a sweetener, emulsifier, and preservative in many food and beverage products.

  • Nikki

    I didn’t even know there was a difference in glycerins! I know hyaluronic acid feels like it tightens my skin, but it’s not exactly natural, so this is great to know as an option.

  • geusham

    This article was really informative and well-researched. I appreciate how the author explained the chemical properties of vegetable glycerin and how they relate to its various uses. It’s clear that a lot of care went into writing this piece, and I feel like I learned a lot about a substance that I previously knew very little about.

  • Joy

    For vegans and vegetarians, it’s great that this is plant based! I feel like the body butter helps my excema a bit, because there are no chemicals and by products, just natural ingredients.

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