Ingredient · humectant

Glycerin

Glycerin is a humectant: it draws water into the top layer of skin and holds it there. Draws water into the skin; one of the best-studied moisturisers. Pori's ingredient rules rate it a good fit for every skin type.

Glycerin at a glance

FunctionHumectant
Comedogenic rating0/5
Irritation potentialLow
Also listed asGlycerine, Glycerol
How commonOn 10,455 of 21,918 product labels in Pori's copy of Open Beauty Facts

What does Glycerin help with?

In Pori's database it's linked to dehydration. How much it helps depends on how high it sits on the label: ingredients are listed from most to least, and anything past roughly the tenth spot is usually present at 1% or less.

Is Glycerin good for my skin type?

These ratings come from the same fixed rules Pori's ingredient scanner uses, applied to a typical profile for each skin type. Your own result in the app also weighs your scan results and concerns.

Skin typeRatingWhy
NormalGood fitDraws water into the skin; one of the best-studied moisturisers.
DryGood fitDraws water into the skin; one of the best-studied moisturisers.
OilyGood fitDraws water into the skin; one of the best-studied moisturisers.
CombinationGood fitDraws water into the skin; one of the best-studied moisturisers.
SensitiveGood fitDraws water into the skin; one of the best-studied moisturisers.

Is Glycerin comedogenic?

It has a comedogenic rating of 0 out of 5 in Pori's ingredient database, so it's unlikely to clog pores. Ratings like this come from older tests on single ingredients, and a finished product with it isn't necessarily pore-clogging. A 2006 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that finished products made with comedogenic ingredients were not necessarily comedogenic, so treat the number as a hint, not a verdict.

Which products contain Glycerin?

Products in Pori's curated catalogue that list it as a key ingredient:

  • CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser (cleanser)
  • Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (cleanser)
  • La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser (cleanser)
  • Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser (cleanser)
  • Acure Brightening Cleansing Gel (cleanser)
  • Acure Seriously Soothing Cleansing Cream (cleanser)
  • Acure Ultra Hydrating Green Juice Cleanser (cleanser)
  • Alpha Skin Care Refreshing Face Wash (cleanser)

How do I check a product with Glycerin?

Scan the barcode or photograph the ingredient list with Pori's ingredient scanner (a Pro feature). It rates every ingredient for your skin type, flags fragrance, pore-clogging and irritating ingredients, and gives the product an overall match score. It's a guide to ingredients, not a diagnosis, so see a dermatologist about any reaction.

Keep reading

Ingredient data from Pori's ingredient database; product counts from Open Beauty Facts (ODbL). General information, not medical advice.