Most people have heard of glycerin, as it’s got so many different uses, but did you know that it’s also really good for your skin? Glycerin is what’s known as an ‘humectant’, which means that it attracts water, making it an ideal ingredient in moisturiser. It’s also an emollient, says Dr. Alexandrides, a Harley Street surgeon.
He says “This means that it is able to form a protective layer over where it is applied and thus retains the moisture that has been drawn into the skin, resulting in softer, smoother skin. This prevention of moisture loss will also strengthen the skin’s barrier function, keeping toxins and bacteria from getting into the skin, meaning that the chances of inflammatory problems such as Eczema and Psoriasis are reduced.”
Here are some of Dermalogica’s best glycerine-containing products:
Dermalogica Nightly Lip Treatment
Lips are one of the most common places for the signs of ageing to show because it’s an area of high movement. Glycerin is used alongside apple fruit extract, shea butter and sesame seed extract in this lip treatment to smooth the appearance of feather lines, while reconstituting the thin epidermal barrier and improving lip hydration. It works overnight to drastically reduce the signs of ageing and restores skin volume on and around the lips.
Dermalogica UltraCalming Calm Water-Gel
This water-based gel from Dermalogica is a highly moisturising treatment for very dry skin which harnesses the softening and hydrating power of glycerine, as well as hyaluronic acid and apple fruit extract. It locks in moisture and defends skin against dryness, and can be used twice daily for continuous hydration.
Using make-up when you have severely dehydrated skin can often be a problem as many formulations just won’t sit nicely on your complexion. This tint from Dermalogica is a wash of colour which contains humectants like glycerin, serine, lactic acid, urea, allantoin and sorbitol to lock moisture into your skin, giving you a product which is part foundation and part moisturiser.
This multi-tasking primer is good for all skin types, even dry or sensitive skin and transforms skin into an even surface with a dramatic blurring effect. It contains wu-zhu-yu fruit extract and mushroom extract, as well as glycerin and sodium PCA which is naturally found in the skin help bind water into tissue, maintaining proper hydration levels that help minimise fine lines from dehydration.