When you’re fighting dry skin, you want the best moisturizers around; we’re talking the juiciest ingredients you can get your parched, cracked hands on. That’s why you’ll want to look for glycerin in all your skin-care products.
“Moisturizers typically contain three types of ingredients,” Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai in New York City, tells Allure. There’s occlusive moisturizers, which help to form a protective barrier over the skin to lock in moisture. Then there’s the emollients, which smooth any rough edges on the cellular level. “Most emollient materials are oils that repel water,” Perry Romanowski, a cosmetic chemist, tells Allure. “They can improve the way skin feels but don’t actually moisturize.”
And you can’t forget about humectants, like glycerin. “Glycerin is a colorless and odorless liquid that comes from plant sources,” explains Romanowski. “It is a humectant, which means it has the property of attracting water to itself.”
Yeah, that’s right. It’s a moisturizer that actually attracts more moisture. “Glycerin is essentially like a sponge that pulls in water to the outer skin layer,” Dr. Zeichner explains. “It can attract water from the deeper skin layers or even the air in humid environments.” It also helps slow the evaporation of water from your skin to help oil dryness, adds Erin Gilbert, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. In short, it’s a skin secret weapon.
What glycerin means for your skin-care products
Because glycerin attracts water to itself, using products with the super hydrator leaves your skin with an “overall moisturizing and smoothing effect,” says Dr. Gilbert. It can be a powerhouse moisturizer mixed with other emollients or even on its own. “One of the tricks I do is mix Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream and add some extra vegetable glycerin” — which you can find online — “to it and put it on my hands and feet before I go to bed,” Dr. Gilbert says.
It’s especially effective on your most stubborn rough spots, like callouses. “The glycerin can actually signal your superficial skin cells to mature more rapidly,” she says. Translation: a speedier route to soft skin.
Glycerin is also an incredibly effective moisturizer when used in a cleanser. “When cleansing the skin, it is important to remove dirt and oil, but maintain the health of the outer skin layer,” explains Dr. Zeichner. “Ingredients like glycerin can help maintain hydration and prevent skin irritation during the cleansing process.”
What to add to your skin-care routine
Chances are glycerin has already made its way into your skin-care routine — it’s everywhere. For simple products that pack a major moisture punch, Zeichner recommends Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Lotion. You can look for products containing glycerin in every step of your skin-care routine such as in your serum, adds Gilbert. But remember: Before adding any ingredient or product into your skin-care routine, it’s best to consult your board-certified dermatologist first for tailored advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Glycerin is a colorless, odorless humectant derived from plant sources. It attracts water to the skin’s outer layer from both the air and deeper skin tissue, making it one of the most effective moisturizing ingredients in formulation.
Humectants like glycerin attract and bind water to the skin. Emollients — typically oils — smooth rough cellular edges but don’t directly add moisture. Occlusives form a protective barrier over the skin to prevent water loss. Most moisturizers combine all three types.
Yes. Glycerin has been shown to signal superficial skin cells to mature more rapidly, which can accelerate the softening of rough, calloused areas. Dermatologists recommend applying glycerin-rich creams to hands and feet before bed for targeted results.
Glycerin is well-suited for cleansers. It helps maintain hydration in the skin’s outer layer during the cleansing process and reduces the risk of irritation — particularly important when removing dirt and oil without disrupting the skin barrier.
Glycerin appears in a wide range of formulations — serums, moisturizers, and cleansers. For targeted hydration, a dermatologist-recommended approach is blending a glycerin-rich cream with pure vegetable glycerin and applying it to dry areas overnight. Consult your dermatologist before making changes to your routine.
