Common myths and truths about glycerin are two things that are closely related to each other. Due to the abundance of information on the Internet, it is sometimes difficult to understand what is true and what is fiction. Let’s try to dispel the famous myths about glycerin and understand what is true.

Myth № 1 — glycerin is bad for the skin and our body

Most of the myths about the dangers of a particular substance are based on the action of a 100% concentration of an ingredient, but in cosmetics, no component is used with such a content. The same applies to glycerin, the content of which in creams and other products is usually 10-15%. Plus, when combined with other ingredients, glycerin can remain harmless even at high concentrations.

The harm of glycerin to the body is also a myth, because the product is contained and produced in our body naturally, participating in metabolism.

Myth № 2 — Glycerin in moisturizers dries out the skin

Such an effect can only be found in cosmetics in which the substance is in one of the first places in the composition. But these products are not moisturizers. However, there really are creams in which glycerin is not more than 15%, but at the same time they dry the skin. One of the possible reasons is the use of low-quality raw materials (with a low degree of purification). When using such a composition, you want to apply it to the skin over and over again (that is, the moisturizing effect is not achieved). Therefore, in order not to look for truth and lies in the use of glycerin for the production of cosmetics, we recommend buying raw materials from reliable suppliers.

Myth № 3 — glycerin is a cheap moisturizer, which means that creams with it are not of high quality

The quality of a substance depends on the degree of its purification. Glycerin, which is obtained from good plant raw materials and purified in the process of multi-stage processing, does not contain harmful impurities and is completely harmless to the skin, can be added to both budget and expensive cosmetics.

Myth № 4 — glycerin absorbs moisture from the skin at low air humidity

This is a common myth about glycerin. In fact, penetrating into the layers of the skin, the substance retains water molecules, preventing them from evaporating. Dry air can dry out several of the outer layers of the epidermis, but the cells in the deeper layers retain moisture (the skin remains hydrated).

Myth № 5 — vegetable glycerin in cosmetics is more useful than synthetic

Manufacturers can emphasize that the glycerin in their products is natural, therefore it is harmless. Vegetable glycerin is made from oils, while synthetic glycerin is synthesized in the laboratory. However, the chemical formula of both products is the same, so their properties are also identical. Thus, artificial glycerin is no more harmful than natural, and with the proper degree of purification, it can also be used in cosmetology.

Finding the truth and lies in the use of glycerin is not so easy when it comes to specific cosmetics. You can assess the harm of a particular product only by knowing its exact composition and determining how high-quality raw materials were used for its production. Therefore, we recommend buying cosmetics from companies that have proven themselves in the market and have positive reviews about their products.