Written by the QV science community.
Glycerin is an organic compound that plays a pivotal role in supporting the skin’s barrier maintenance and repair, and has long been regarded as a hero in skin hydration.
Ranked third behind water and fragrance1, glycerin is a trusted beauty ingredient found in almost all skincare products, including cleansers, moisturisers, and serums.
Due to its unique properties, glycerin is suitable for all skin types, including oily, dry, sensitive, and acne-prone skin.
Glycerin is a colourless, odourless sugar alcohol (polyol) with a syrup-like consistency found in both animal and plant fats. In skincare, however, cosmetic glycerin is increasingly produced from plant sources such as soy, palm, or coconut oil2.
It has over 1,500 known end uses and is often described as “one of nature's wonders”, with its safety confirmed by multiple global health authorities, including the US Food and Drug Administration3.
The role of glycerin in maintaining skin hydration has been clearly established in numerous scientific studies4.
It is a humectant, which means it attracts water into the skin, helping to keep the skin barrier – known as the stratum corneum - better protected against moisture loss.
When glycerin is applied to the skin in skincare products such as QV Skin Lotion, it helps to draw moisture from the air and from the deeper layers of the skin5.
The dual action increases the skin's water-holding capacity6 and helps protect the skin barrier from harmful substances, such as common irritants and microbes, from entering the body7.
Other key benefits of glycerin in skincare include:
Glycerin is beneficial for all skin types. As it enhances the skin's ability to absorb moisture from the surrounding environment, as seen with our QV Bath Oil, it helps dry, dehydrated skin by locking in moisture12.
It also aids in softening, smoothing, and soothing the skin, which is especially beneficial for conditions like eczema, rosacea and psoriasis10.
In addition, as it is non-comedogenic, which means it does not clog pores, it is a staple for acne-prone complexions and oily skin.
The risk of allergic reactions is also reduced because it occurs naturally in the body, making it ideal for people with sensitive skin.
Glycerin is not only an effective humectant, but it also enhances the efficacy of other skincare ingredients, working together to help keep skin hydrated and support long-term skin health.
Humectants, occlusives, and emollients work in different ways for optimal hydration. Humectants can sometimes draw moisture away from the skin in extremely dry environments. This is why they work well with emollients, such as squalane, which help make the skin feel smooth without altering the overall water content.
Adding occlusives can also create a protective barrier on the skin, slowing the loss of water from its surface. These can be found together in our highly concentrated QV moisturising cream for dry skin.
This triple moisturising system offers the perfect combination to complete the skincare puzzle and deliver comprehensive care that hydrates and nourishes the skin throughout the day.
