Profile
Say you've been cleansing, exfoliating, and even dabbling with face masks, but your skin just isn't looking as you'd hoped it would.
One of the most common issues is that you can't keep your skin from drying out. Even if your skin is clear, sub-optimal hydration can leave it looking thin, tired, and aged.
If your regular moisturizer isn't up to the task, then it might be the time to start looking at more intensive options, like liquid glycerin. Let's learn more about that now.
What Is Glycerin & Why Is It a Must-Have for Hydration?
Glycerin, also known as glycerol, is a colorless, odorless syrupy liquid with a sweet scent. It's a naturally occurring compound found in plant and animal fats.
Glycerin's value as a skin treatment comes from the way it interacts with water. It is a humectant, meaning that it acts almost like a sponge by attracting moisture to it. So, when used as a topical skin treatment, it draws moisture to the outer layer of skin where it was applied and seals it there.
Glycerin's sponge-like qualities make it useful for treating skin irritations, but those same properties make it ideal for general skin care as well.
The American Academy of Dermatology recognizes its potent moisturizing properties. It softens and moisturizes the skin, making it appear smoother and more supple, as well as soothing that itchy, scaly feeling that comes with dry skin.
That alone makes it a valuable addition to almost any skincare regimen. However, glycerin comes with plenty of other benefits as well. Some of its perks include:
1. It Fights Acne
As much as we like to think we left them behind in high school, we're all susceptible to the odd breakout.
Whether you've been under extra stress at work or been spending a few extra nights at the bar, there are plenty of things that can cause acne to flare up.
Glycerin can help reduce acne. Plus, it's oil-free and much gentler on your skin than harsh, anti-acne cleansers.
2. It Protects Your Skin
We can try our best to take care of our skin, but there are some things that are out of our control. Namely, the havoc that dry, harsh weather can wreak on our skin.
The winter can be especially rough on people with naturally dry skin, as the arid air sucks the moisture right out of your face. Unless you want to spend the winter months with dry, flaky, cracked skin, you'll need a buffer between yourself and the frigid air.
So in the dry months, a moisturizer is essential. And several studies have found that glycerine is not only effective but often more so than equivalent treatments that do not contain glycerin. This study from 2013, for instance, compared the efficacy of glycerin to other popular treatments, and reliably gave the advantage to glycerine.
It is believed that this is because, in addition to moisturizing, glycerin creates a seal over your skin to help keep moisture from evaporating away. It's especially useful after every shower when your natural skin oils have been washed away and your skin is at its most vulnerable.
Another early study found that bathing in water infused with glycerin could help prevent dry skin in the first place, allowing you to preemptively moisturize and seal your skin.
3. It Helps to Repair Damage
When your skin does eventually get dried out or damaged, it can leave you feeling unseemly at best, and itchy and irritated at worst.
Rather than letting cracked, inflamed skin just run its course, though, glycerin can help soothe the irritation and repair the damage done. This also makes it a great choice for people with psoriasis or other chronic conditions.
Add Glycerin into Your Skin Care Routine
Dry, irritated skin is a common problem, but fortunately, there are solutions. Glycerin is a safe, natural product that can keep your skin looking fresh, young, and healthy. It can easily be integrated into a standard skincare routine by choosing the right products. All our products at the Wolf Project contain glycerin as it is an essential skincare ingredient.
And if you really want to treat your skin to a total rejuvenation, read up on what a hydrating sheet mask can do for you.
