Yes, you have heard it right- Glycerin on face! This wonder ingredient is being used since ages by women all over the world and certainly, it is capable of doing miracles. If you have any birthmarks, spots, acne scarring, then glycerin can rescue you. Moreover, it is equally suitable for dry skin and oily skin.
Using it consistently can eliminate the premature signs of aging and also the harsh impact of pollution can be redressed by it. There are also many sayings like being oily, glycerin is not at all suitable for oily skin, it can cause acne- all are indeed misconceptions!
You can use glycerin no matter what type of skin you have and due to its numerous benefits, you should incorporate this magical element into your daily routine and to get the maximum out of it, obviously, you have to know how to use glycerin on face.
What it Exactly is?
Glycerin is transparent, unscented, benign alcoholic liquid which is generally found in animal fats, vegetable or plant-based oils. This, being natural humectant deeply nourishes, conditions skin and keeps skin hydrated.
Using glycerin makes skin smooth, soft and supple, besides it defends skin against any kind of environmental pollution and sun damage.
However, if you want to boost the overall health and texture of your skin, nothing can be a more befitting option than glycerin as it on the one hand heals wound and on the other hand, it can cure several skin ailments.
Benefits of Using Glycerin for Skin
Using glycerin has countless benefits, some of which are:
1. A Wonderful Moisturizer
Glycerin works as a wonderful moisturizer. If your skin is extremely dry and parched and you cannot quench the thirst of your skin even after applying gallons of moisturizers, integrate glycerin in your daily routine, your issue will be solved and you will be gifted with well-moisturized and hydrated skin, I can bet you on that!
Being a natural humectant, it pulls water from the deeper level of your skin and air which as a result keeps your skin moisturized and hydrated for a prolonged period of time.
Hence for this property glycerin is used in tens of thousands of skincare products, moisturizers where it is used with occlusive, another moisturizing agent to trap moisture within the skin to keep it hydrated, moisturized.
2. Has Anti-ageing Properties
Tell me something girl, is your skin looking extremely dull? Is it exposing premature signs of ageing such as fine lines, inflexibility etc.? If your answer is yes, it would be wise if you pay heed to this problem from the very beginning and in such a situation to take proper care of your skin and to nourish it intensely, the most efficient ingredient is glycerin.
Glycerin or glycerol is one of the most used ingredients in anti-aging products, thanks to its immense moisturizing and hydrating properties.
If your skin does not contain enough moisture, the protease activity gets slowed down and what you get is super dry, dull skin with escalated ageing signs. Glycerin seals the moisture within skin and with time your skin becomes radiant and rejuvenated.
3. Soothes Inflammation and Irritation
Glycerin is anti-irritant and extremely mild. Being a plant-based substance, it has been generally used to soothe and calm inflammation, redness and irritation. It is proven that glycerol can soothe the rashes and itchiness caused by skin irritants such as SLS/SLES.
4. Smoothens Skin
Another amazing advantage of using glycerin is that it smoothens skin by providing it adequate nutrition and nourishment.
5. Increases Skin’s Power of Absorption
Dry and parched skin cannot absorb any product be it a lightweight serum or lightweight moisturizer. Glycerin makes skin hydrated and prepares skin for any further skin care procedures.
6. Heals Wound
Being anti-inflammatory in nature glycerin, on the one hand, can heal wounds and on the other hand, it soothes redness and inflammation of skin. Solutions with 85% glycerin have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties which in turn guard skin against any kind of bacterial eruptions.
7. Promotes Skin Cell Maturation
Glycerin augments the maturation of skin cells. It makes young skin cells mature and as it also has exfoliation properties; it sheds off old skin cells from the surface of skin which consequently makes skin brighter and softer.
8. Makes Skin Flexible
Glycerin minimizes the damaging impact of the sun. Simultaneously it augments the production of collagen and improves skin elasticity.
9. Resists Photoaging
Do you know that excessive exposure to the sun can lead to photoaging? The UVA/UVB rays affect skin severely and cause premature ageing of skin. The continuous exposure to the sun alters the normal structure of skin and skin becomes dull and ageing.
Glycerin can help in reversing this photoaging and for this it is used in different sunscreens as an ingredient.
10. Tones Skin
Glycerin not only moisturizes skin but it also maintains the natural pH balance of skin. Additionally, it also improves skin’s barrier and tones skin.
How To Use Glycerin on Face & Skin?
As you are already acquainted with the benefits of glycerin, let’s see how to use glycerin on face:
a) As cleanser
Glycerin can eliminate all the accumulated dirt and grime from your skin, as a result, you can use this as an efficacious cleanser.
To cleanse your face with glycerin, at first rinse your face with normal water and then take a cotton pad, dab it into some glycerin and wipe your whole face with that cotton pad.
When it is done once again wash your face with normal water. This, on the one hand, will abolish all the excess oil and dirt from your skin and on the other hand, it will moisturize your skin and like other face wash or soap, it will not make your skin stretchy or dry.
Check Also: Top 10 Best Face Washes for Oily Skin and Blackheads in India
Again if you have heavy makeup on your face, just fall back on glycerin which works wonder as a makeup remover. In that case, you have to double cleanse your face by using glycerin.
Tip:
To cleanse your skin more effectively, you can add some milk with glycerin. Take 2-3 teaspoon of milk and 1-2 teaspoon of glycerin, mix them well, apply that to your face, keep it for 20-25 minutes and hose down your whole face with normal water and you will feel that dirt-free glow!
b) Exfoliate Your Skin with Glycerin
Having exfoliation properties, glycerin abolishes dead skin cells and can reduce blackheads and whiteheads.
Take one tablespoon of brown sugar, 1-2 teaspoons of glycerin and ½ tablespoon of raw honey. Stir them well and then apply it to your face with your fingertips, rub your face gently with a circular motion and then wash your face with lukewarm water.
Repeat this twice or thrice a week. It will not only remove excessive oil, dirt, dust but it will also even out any discoloration which consequently will expose the hidden radiance and glow of your skin.
Tip:
Instead of sugar you can use corn flour which not only will remove the stubborn blackheads and whiteheads but it will also breathe new life to your skin.
c) As a Toner
Do you avoid a toner each and every time after washing your face? Avoiding a toner can leave a severe impact on your skin. But instead of using a drugstore toner, you can use glycerin as a toner which will perform multitudes of benefits for your skin such as it will nourish your skin, make your skin refreshed, maintain the pH balance and tone your pores.
Must Check: Top 10 Best Face Toners in India for All Skin Type
To make your toner, garner 1 teaspoon of glycerin and 1 cup of rose water and mix them well. Now put that mixture into a spray bottle and spray it all over your face and neck area just after washing your face.
Tip:
To get an extra benefit, just add some aloe vera gel with the mixture that will on the one hand nourish your skin and on the other hand will keep your skin refreshed and resuscitated.
d) As a Moisturizer
Winter has come and your skin has become so dry and flaky that you are applying moisturizer now and then, right? In this circumstance, girl invest your time in applying some glycerin on your face, and ta-da! All your dryness, flakiness will be vanished in no time!
But you don’t know how to use glycerin on face in winter, isn’t it? Don’t worry; it’s extremely easy and hassle-free.
Just take ½ cup water and add 5-6 drops of glycerin in that water, mix them well. Now take a cotton pad and dab it into the mixture and apply that to your face except the eye and mouth area. Leave it for the whole night, in the morning you will see no dry patches and flakiness instead you will be able to feel your soft and supple skin.
Tip:
You can also add a few drops of Vitamin E capsules oil to get that extra nourishment and nutrition. Vitamin E capsules oil is incredible in treating dry skin; it will moisturize skin intensely and will bring back your lost luminosity.
e) As an Extraordinary Lip Balm
Are your lips flaky and chapped and no lip balm is working well on your lips? Girl, what you need for your lips is some glycerin which will attract moisture from the air and trap it within your lips.
Take ½ teaspoon of coconut oil and ½ teaspoon of glycerin, blend them well and apply it directly to your lips. Leave it undisturbed for the whole night and in the morning your lips will be transformed into softer and pinker ones.
Tip:
To make the mixture more effective, add ½ teaspoon of Shea butter which not only will furnish adequate nourishment but it will also soothe the irritation of chapped lips.
f) As an Under Eye Cream
The skin around your eye is delicate and you need something extra caring and nourishing for your under-eye areas. And glycerin can help you in that as it is a natural fatty acid substance, it can fight against wrinkles, thinning and loss of elasticity.
To nourish your under-eye area properly you have to collect 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel and 1 teaspoon of glycerin, stir them well and apply it around your eye. Follow this twice a day to get the optimum benefit.
Tip:
If you have severe dark circles, use orange juice instead of aloe vera gel and apply the mixture around your eye area and leave it overnight. To reap the best out of it, do not skip it even for a single day.
g) Skin Lightening Face Pack
I know with the progress of time your skin is looking dull and it has lost its luminosity. Now you are desperately searching for something that can eliminate the lifelessness of your skin, right? Don’t be disheartened because in a situation like this none but glycerin can help.
Glycerin having moisturizing and exfoliating properties, hydrates skin well and also pulls out the latent glow of your skin. To get back that luminosity you have to know the effective ways of how to use glycerin for skin lightening.
For that you will need ½ teaspoon of glycerin, ½ teaspoon of raw lemon juice and ½ tablespoon of aloe vera gel (check best aloe vera gel list here). Stir the ingredients well, apply that to your face, keep it for 20 minutes and wash it off using normal water. To experience rapid improvement follow this procedure twice a week.
Tip:
For speedy improvement you can also add some orange peel extracts with that mixture which will fade dark spots, and evens out the overall texture of skin.
h) De-pigmentation Pack
Glycerin is an amazing ingredient that can effectively reduce pigmentation and dark spots.
For that, you will need ½ teaspoon of glycerin, 1 tablespoon of rose water and ½ teaspoon of lemon juice. While glycerin will keep skin moisturized, rose water will soothe skin and lemon juice will minimize pigmentation, acne spots and any other discolorations of skin.
This method of glycerin and rose water for skin whitening has been very popular since ages and it can definitely reward you that de-pigmented glowing and radiant skin.
Tip:
You can also add some oatmeal which on the one hand will remove piled up dirt and on the other hand will restore the radiance of your skin.
Some Precautions
Though glycerin is absolutely non-toxic and gentle on skin, you have to keep in mind certain precautions which are:
- Before applying glycerin directly to your skin just go through a patch test. Take some glycerin, mix it with water and then apply it on your neck or behind the ear area and leave it for some time. If you do not feel any itchiness or irritation or any rash eruptions, it is safe to use on your face.
- Do not use glycerin directly on your face, always dilute it in rose water or normal water.
- As glycerin increases the sun sensitivity of skin, it is always suggested that you always wear sunscreen at the daytime.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To clear all misconceptions and misunderstandings, just take a look at the following question-answer session:
How should I use glycerin on face?
Take 1 teaspoon of glycerin and ½ cup of water, mix them well and apply that to your face with a cotton pad leaving the eye and mouth area.
Does glycerin darken skin?
No, not at all! In fact if it is used properly it can reduce dark spots and pigmentation.
When should I apply glycerin on my face?
As glycerin can increase the sun sensitivity of skin, it is always better if you use glycerin at night.
Can I use glycerin every day?
Yes, you can apply glycerin every day at night.
How can I use glycerin for glowing skin?
To make your skin radiant, you will need 1 teaspoon of glycerin, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of rose water, mix them well and apply that to your face.
Can I apply glycerin on face overnight?
No, you should not leave glycerin overnight. For its viscosity property, it will attract dust and dirt. The best will be if you apply it before going to bed for 20-25 minutes.
Can glycerin cause acne?
No, as glycerin is oil-free and non-comedogenic, it will not clog your pores and as a result, you will not face any acne breakouts.
Conclusion
So, glycerin indeed is that wonder ingredient that almost single-handedly can fix thousands of skin issues. From acne to age spots, from dryness to eczema- it can cure all like a magic wand but you have to only know the correct ways of how to use glycerin on face.
And once you get there, glycerin will vouchsafe you that problem-free glowing skin. Now don’t squander your time, bring a bottle of glycerin and use it according to your necessity and preference, I will guarantee you that you will not be disappointed!
Table of Contents
