The Many Uses of Glycerin for Skin CareWhen you’re fighting against winter skin that is dry, you want to get your hands on the best moisturizers that you can find. Glycerin is one of those magical ingredients that you will want to apply on your cracked and parched hands and skin. Most moisturizers tend to contain three types of ingredients in them. These moisturizers are classed as occlusive moisturizers that help to form protective barriers over the skin and lock in moisture.Then there are emollients, which tend to smoothen out rough edges on the cellular level and consists of emollient materials that end up repelling water.These moisturizers help to smoothen out and improve the way skin feels, but don’t help to moisturize the skin.Then there are humectant moisturizers like glycerin, an odorless and colorless liquid that is derived from plants. A humectant moisturizer has the quality of attracting water to itself, which is why it is considered among the best moisturizers for skincare.
What Glycerin Means for Your Skin-Care Products
Glycerin attracts water to itself, which means that products containing this super hydrator will end up leaving your skin with a smoothing and moisturizing effect. It is an extremely powerful moisturizer when it’s mixed with emollients and is strong by itself as well.One of the best ways of using glycerin is with other moisturizing creams. Mix them and then apply it to your hands and feet before you go to bed. That will ensure that your most stubborn rough spots like callouses are well-looked after. The glycerin will signal to superficial skin cells and get them to mature quickly. This way you will manage to get smoother and softer skin quickly.Glycerin is also extremely effective as a moisturizer, especially when it is used in a cleanser. When the cleansing skin effect takes place, it is imperative that you remove all oil and dirt from it. This is done to ensure that the health of the skin’s outer layer is maintained. Glycerin also helps to prevent skin irritation and maintain hydration during the cleansing process of the skin.It doesn’t matter what kind of skin problem you have, whether it is skin infections, dry patches, fine lines, or wrinkles. The solution to combat them lies within glycerin. It has become a familiar product in the beauty industry, especially because of its outstanding ability to heal, and you will notice it in every skin care product that you will find out there. The best thing about glycerin is that it suits every skin type, and even those with oily skin swear that it works effectively for their skin condition.
Can Glycerin Be Used for Oily Skin?
Yes, glycerin can be highly effective for oily skin. Most people assume that because it is a humectant, you should only use it for dry skin. However, it is also effective for oily skin. Glycerin was discovered through an accident by a Swedish chemist in 1779, who used this plant-based oil when heating a mixture of olive oil. It is an all-natural product and is extremely gentle on sensitive skins, while it helps soothe skin problems like redness and inflammation as well. The great thing about glycerin is that it works on all skin types, it is non-greasy, and has numerous skin benefits.
Benefits of Glycerin for Oily Skin
When you use glycerin in skin care products or lotions, it combats dry skin and prevents its formation. Those of you that have dry facial skin, can research about vegetable or organic glycerin, which can be applied topically to cure dryness. Most people mix glycerin with natural rosewater to create a glycerin toner spray that they can apply to refresh dry skin.Glycerin offers a plethora of other benefits especially when used in skin care products, and we have highlighted some of them down below. So, here are the many benefits of glycerin for oily skin:
· Glycerin Enhances Skin Permeability
Dehydrated skin tends to lose its permeability because of dry weather or because of lack of moisture in the skin. Using glycerin on the skin can reverse this process, as glycerin helps maintain skin absorption levels, and improves skin permeability even more.
· Glycerin Is Anti-Irritant
Glycerin is extremely gentle on the skin and is a plant-based substance that is widely used for treating itches, rashes, and skin irritation. Numerous studies that have been conducted on hairless mice found that if you use glycerin, you can cure the skin irritation caused by Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and repair the barrier of the skin because of its anti-inflammatory property. Glycerin was also found to soothe irritation that has been caused by other skin problems like eczema and psoriasis.
· Glycerin Has an Anti-Aging Effect
Glycerin also has anti-aging effects on the skin, which will get everyone excited about trying it. Glycerin plays an active role in anti-aging products, because of its unique properties of moisturizing. The protease activity in the skin is affected by lack of moisture, which results in accelerated skin aging and skin peeling. Glycerin tends to attract moisture from the environment, and then enhances the moisture content in the skin, thereby slowing down the aging process.
· Glycerin Helps in Infection Control and Wound Healing
All solutions that have around 85% glycerin content tend to have antiviral and bactericidal effects that help in accelerating wound healing. Research found that when you apply glycerin on wounds, it manages to reduce inflammation effectively, and most glycerin-based products were also antimicrobial as well.
· Glycerin Can Be Used as a Cleanser
People with oily skin are prone to breakouts and acne, but because glycerin has a neutral effect on the skin, such people can use glycerin-based products to remove traces of impurities and keep the skin clean. Glycerin manages to do that without making the skin stretchy and excessively dry.
· Glycerin Is an Exceptional Toner for Oily Skin
You can also use glycerin as an exceptional toner for oily skin, because it is non-greasy. Therefore, it will keep the skin hydrated and toned without triggering or causing enhanced serum production.
· Glycerin Enhances Skin Elasticity
Glycerin is also known to improve skin elasticity. Excessive exposure to UV rays can deplete the collagen levels in the skin, which may lead to significant skin damage. A study done in 2014 found that glycerin, and its other compounds can keep skin youthful and help maintain the elasticity levels of the skin at the same time.
· Glycerin Promotes Cell Maturation
Research has proven that glycerin has properties that help rejuvenate the skin through the promotion of cell maturation of the skin. The skin tends to shed its many cells and generates newer cells at the same time to replace them.The uppermost layer of the skin has all the mature cells which produce lipids and help form a protective barrier on and around the skin. Glycerin tends to help mature young cells and moves them up to the surface before they start shedding. If this process is stopped, it will make the skin appear dry and dull.
· Glycerin Enables Smoother Skin
Applying glycerin will also make your skin look smooth without the oily or greasy appearance. That is mainly because glycerin is a humectant that pulls moisture from the surroundings to keep the skin smoother and hydrated.
· Glycerin Stops Photoaging
Glycerin is one of the most common ingredients found in commercial sunscreens, because it stops extensive skin damage caused by UV rays. Applying sunscreen on a regular basis can save you from an uneven skin tone that is caused by sun exposure.Those were some of the many benefits of using glycerin for skin care. Even though there are other beauty products available in the market, none are better than glycerin. It has been used extensively in DIY remedies and as a separate ingredient. If you want to stop using other chemicals on your skin, then your best bet is using glycerin, and we are going to tell you how you can do that below.
How to Use Glycerin for Oily Skin
There are many ways you can use glycerin for oily skin, and we are going to share some of them so that you can safely use glycerin for your oily skin:
· For Rashes and Inflammation
All you need to do is take 1 teaspoon of beeswax, and then add half a cup of shea butter, along with a quarter cup of coconut oil and mix them all well. If you want to, you can also melt them to create the mixture, and then add 2 tablespoons of glycerin into the mixture and mix them all completely. You must beat the mixture in a blender to ensure it turns creamy, and then store it in a glass jar to apply on the rash later.
· For Minor Burns
You can also use glycerin for minor burns, and all you must do is apply glycerin directly to the area and let it stay on that area for about 20 minutes. You can then wash off the glycerin with cold water and repeat the process if necessary.
· To Reduce Blemishes
You can also use glycerin to reduce blemishes, as all you need to do is mix 1 tablespoon of glycerin and milk and then apply it on your skin. Let it dry. Then, wipe it with a wet cloth and you’re all set.
· As Moisturizer
You can also use glycerin as a moisturizer. Take 1 tablespoon of glycerin, vitamin E oil, and Vaseline, and mix them all together. Store them in a glass container and massage the mixture into the skin before going to bed. Leave the mixture overnight and wash in the morning.
· As an Anti-Aging Face Pack
Glycerin also works extremely well as an anti-aging face pack. All you must do is take 1 egg white and break it in a bowl, then beat it until it turns frothy. Now add 1 teaspoon of honey and glycerin to the egg mixture and then apply it on your face using your fingers. Leave the mixture to dry and wash it with warm water.
· As a Toner
You can use glycerin as a toner by taking ¼ cup of glycerin and mixing it with half a cup of rose water. Now store the mixture in a spray bottle, and then wash your face thoroughly and use the solution.
· As an After-Wash
Glycerin works extremely well as an after-wash. All you need to do is wash your face with water and dry it with a towel. Ensure that your face is a bit wet and then add a couple of drops of glycerin on the cotton ball and apply on your face. Avoid using it around the mouth and eye areas, and then let it stay that way for about 20 to 30 minutes before washing it off.
Precautions to Take Before Using Glycerin
Even though glycerin is an amazing product for skin care you should always take precautions when using glycerin. That means doing a patch test, because you shouldn’t ever use any product on your skin without first testing its suitability with your skin. You should also mix glycerin with other ingredients before you apply it, because if you’re only using glycerin it is best if you dilute it with distilled water or rose water.You shouldn’t use it more than is necessary, because glycerin tends to make the skin a bit sensitive to the sun. Therefore, when you apply glycerin to your skin, you should apply a little sunscreen on it before you go out into the sun.You should also avoid mixing it with other creams and sticky lotions as it will make it heavier on the skin.These were all the many uses of glycerin for skin care along with the benefits of using this magical skin care product. As you can see, there are various ways you can use glycerin for skin care. As always, you should consult with a skincare expert before using glycerin on your skin.
