Skip to content

Glycerin — Skincare Ingredient

Humectant

Glycerin

Draws moisture from air into upper skin layers

Humectant
Neutral
Functional ingredient, safe and well-tolerated.
✓ Pregnancy Safe ✓ Vegan ✓ Cruelty-Free ✓ Reef-Safe
01

What is Glycerin?

Three-carbon alcohol — the most-used humectant in skincare. Naturally present in skin sebum.

02

What Glycerin Does

  • Draws moisture from air into upper skin layers
  • Builds up hydration with daily use
  • Improves spreadability and feel of formulas
03

Skin Type Compatibility

How well Glycerin works for each skin type:

Dry Skin
Excellent (5/5)
Oily Skin
Very Good (4/5)
Combination
Excellent (5/5)
Sensitive
Excellent (5/5)
Acne-Prone
Excellent (5/5)
Mature
Excellent (5/5)
04

How to Use Glycerin

Effective at 1-30%. Extremely safe — pregnancy-friendly, baby-safe.
07

Glycerin in Our Catalog

Found in
4 707
products containing Glycerin — mostly in serum, moisturizer.
Top brands using it
  • La Roche-Posay103
  • Neutrogena81
  • COSRX61
  • innisfree57
  • CeraVe55
08

Browse Products with Glycerin

09

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Glycerin?

Three-carbon alcohol — the most-used humectant in skincare. Naturally present in skin sebum.

What does Glycerin do for skin?

Draws moisture from air into upper skin layers Builds up hydration with daily use Improves spreadability and feel of formulas

Is Glycerin safe during pregnancy?

Yes — Glycerin is generally considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As always, consult your doctor about your specific routine.

What skin types is Glycerin good for?

Glycerin works well for All skin types, Dry skin.

How do I use Glycerin?

Effective at 1-30%. Extremely safe — pregnancy-friendly, baby-safe.

What is the comedogenic rating of Glycerin?

Glycerin has a comedogenic rating of 0/5 — non-comedogenic, safe for acne-prone skin.

What is the irritation potential of Glycerin?

Glycerin has an irritation risk score of 0/5 — very low, safe for sensitive skin.

10

Related Ingredients

Often used together with or similar to Glycerin:

Last updated: 2026-05-25 Reviewed by: Skincarisma Editorial Team
← Back to Analyzer