You might need Glycerin if you . . .

• Have dry skin

• Have skin irritation that is healing slowly

• Want to make an herbal preparation last longer

Benefits of Glycerin

• Pulls water into the outer layers of the skin from the air and inner layers (humectant)

• Improves skin barrier functions

• Provides a protecting layer for skin

• Speeds up wound healing

• Extracts and naturally preserves herbal formulas

Common ways to use Glycerin

• Skincare products

• Soap

• Herbal formulas

How is glycerin made?

Glycerin is a natural compound derived from animal fats and vegetable oils. It is a clear, odorless, and colorless compound.

Vegetable glycerin is made from heating up triglycerides-rich vegetable fats. These could include palm, soy, and coconut oils. Heating will cause the glycerin to pull away from the fatty acids and mixes with water. This mix becomes an odorless syrup-like texture.

Animal-based glycerin is made from tallow. Tallow is beef fat that has been rendered down several times, and the water and impurities get removed between each render. Once the tallow is made, it is then combined with water and heated to a thick consistency over medium to low heat. This removes even more impurities. It is then hardened in the refrigerator.

Typically, if you read glycerin on a label, they will mean vegetable glycerin, because it is the most affordable. At Earthley we use vegetable based glycerins only -- generally from sunflower, flaxseed, or palm (palm has gotten harder to source which is why we added the other two sources).

Glycerin soaps do have lye added to them in the soap/soap base making process.

Safety Concerns

There are no known concerns with properly diluted glycerin. However, be aware of allergies, including to the source of the glycerin. For example, if you have a soy allergy, it is best to avoid glycerin derived from soy.

Drug Interaction: If you have any health concerns or are taking any prescription medication, please consult with your health care provider before adding new foods or herbs to your diet.

Breastfeeding and Pregnancy: There are no known contraindications for breastfeeding and pregnancy.

Select Study About Glycerin

Moisture retention of glycerin solutions with various concentrations: a comparative study - PubMed (nih.gov)

Glycerin moisture retention helps to keep the top layer of the skin hydrated. This is why it is used and studied by cosmetics companies.