May glycerine secretly be the following huge skincare ingredient of 2026?
That’s the query the System Botanica crew and I requested ourselves after attending an professional panel on trending beauty components at an business commerce present final yr.
Throughout this panel, one of many beauty chemists acknowledged that glycerine can be the following huge ingredient in skincare.
At first, we have been confused – glycerine, actually?! In any case, glycerine isn’t precisely what springs to thoughts whenever you consider thrilling, cutting-edge components – particularly whenever you examine it to all of the wonderful actives out there.
However the extra we considered it, the extra we realised… he may be proper. Glycerine is affordable, extensively out there, extremely versatile, and backed by many years of science. And it’s virtually in each skincare product on the market.
On this put up, we’ll break down what glycerine actually is, why the sweetness business depends on it so closely, and the way you need to use it to create your personal high-performance skincare and haircare merchandise and botanical extracts!
What’s glycerine?
First issues first – what really is glycerine?
Glycerine is a transparent, odourless, barely syrupy and sticky liquid that’s been used for many years within the meals and beauty industries. The truth is, you’ve most likely seen it listed on many product labels earlier than, with out even realising what it was!
In cosmetics, it’s primarily used as a humectant – a particular sort of ingredient that helps appeal to moisture to the pores and skin and assist retain it, serving to your pores and skin keep mushy, easy, and hydrated.
If you wish to be taught extra about humectants, take a look at this put up:
Glycerine can be utilized in meals as a sweetener, thickener, and preservative.
It’s extensively out there and inexpensive, which is a part of why the sweetness and meals business depend on it so closely!
Glycerine vs. glycerol: what’s the distinction?
Glycerine is typically used interchangeably with glycerol in on a regular basis language, however there’s a slight distinction in relation to use.
Glycerol is the pure chemical identify for the compound, whereas glycerine is the time period extra generally utilized in business, beauty, and meals contexts.
In follow, each often check with the identical substance, which is often high-purity glycerol.
Historically, glycerol was a pure byproduct of soapmaking, with soapmakers usually extracting glycerine to promote individually. At this time, most glycerol comes from vegetable oils, primarily palm oil and, to a lesser extent, coconut and soy.
These oils are composed of triglycerides, that are then cut up into glycerol and fatty acids.
The glycerol produced is chemically similar to the glycerine utilized in cosmetics. Nevertheless, glycerol can be derived from animal fat or produced by sugar fermentation, though these are much less widespread.
Behind the scenes: What glycerine is definitely used for
Glycerine is arguably one of the extensively used components within the beauty business.
You’ll discover it in virtually each water-based product on the market – from gels and serums to moisturisers, lotions, and toners. The truth is, you may be shocked to be taught that glycerine is commonly present in excessive portions in high-end, premium serums and lotions!
However what precisely is it used for?
At its core, glycerine is principally used as a humectant. It’s also used as a wetting agent in beauty merchandise. In different phrases, it helps disperse gums, actives, and powders that will in any other case clump if added on to water.
For instance, xanthan gum sometimes must be dispersed in glycerine first earlier than being integrated right into a formulation (aka a beauty product), in any other case it could clump and never dissolve correctly.
Primarily, glycerine is what’s referred to as a useful ingredient – it performs a selected function within the formulation. Its foremost function is as a humectant, and it additionally performs a secondary function as a wetting agent, serving to components combine correctly and protecting the ultimate beauty product steady and lump-free.
If you wish to be taught extra concerning the totally different ingredient classes in formulations, take a look at this put up:
Pure formulation 101: Newbie’s information to skincare components
The shocking advantages of glycerine
Glycerine may not appear to be the flashiest ingredient on the market, however there’s a cause it’s present in most beauty merchandise, past its useful advantages.
Firstly, it’s acquired a well-documented and confirmed file as a hydrating ingredient.
The truth is, at System Botanica, we’d go so far as saying that glycerine might rival – and even surpass – a lot of at the moment’s stylish and well-established actives in relation to hydration. And we’re not the one ones to say it.
Glycerine is commonly used because the benchmark in moisturisation research – managed experiments designed to measure how nicely an ingredient or product will increase pores and skin hydration over time.
In a few of these research, glycerine matches and typically even outperforms essentially the most glamorous actives reminiscent of hyaluronic acid!
In different phrases, the very ingredient that prices a fraction of the value of hyaluronic acid is the one the business makes use of to show all the things else works.
Which makes you marvel – if the business has recognized this for many years, why has it spent so lengthy promoting us one thing dearer as an alternative?
In case you’re curious to be taught extra about this (and it’s an enchanting subject!), pay attention to those podcast episodes:
Podcast 301: I spoke to an energetic ingredient scientist… and it modified how I see skincare
Podcast 302: In case your serum isn’t working, that is most likely why
Amongst its different pores and skin advantages, glycerine can be non-irritating for the pores and skin. The listing goes on and on, and we cowl all of the the explanation why we expect glycerine is so nice within the put up beneath:
Why we love glycerine at System Botanica
Glycerine may not appear to be a star ingredient at first look, however at System Botanica, we imagine it deserves a spot on the high of the following huge skincare ingredient listing for 2026.
Why? Glycerine is a real multitasker and extremely versatile.
As talked about above, glycerine works as a humectant, solvent, and dispersant, whereas additionally offering seen pores and skin advantages, making it one of the useful – and underrated – components in trendy skincare. It’s additionally low-cost, extensively out there, and beginner-friendly.
Not solely that, however in recent times, there’s been a rising deal with supporting the pores and skin barrier, sustaining a wholesome microbiome, and creating gentler merchandise for delicate pores and skin.
Glycerine ticks all of those bins, which is why some manufacturers are actually highlighting it as a star ingredient of their formulations.
And the most effective half? This isn’t simply theoretical. You should utilize glycerine to make your personal skincare and haircare merchandise from scratch, whether or not you’re an entire newbie, a seasoned DIYer or an skilled formulator.
However earlier than we get into that, I wished to share some tales from our System Botanica crew about their expertise with glycerine.
What our crew needed to say
As a part of this put up, I requested our wonderful crew at System Botanica what they actually take into consideration glycerine.
Apparently, many didn’t like it at first. The sticky, viscous texture put them off, and so they simply noticed it as a purely useful ingredient. However that rapidly modified as soon as they began formulating. Now, most can’t think about making a product with out it.
That was the case with our Formulation Tutor, Laureline: “I wasn’t a fan at first. I believed it was sticky and a obligatory evil. Now I like it. A few of my favorite manufacturers use +10% glycerine with out stickiness complaints, which actually modified my thoughts”, she stated.
Our Deputy Head of Schooling, Eliziane, was shocked by a distinct facet fully – its sensory properties: “Everybody says glycerine is nice – I needed to style it out of curiosity! It feels heat when poured into water, which is surprisingly nice. I used to carry the beakers simply to really feel the heat.”
Now this doesn’t imply you must eat or drink glycerine! Whereas technically edible, we actually don’t advise you to attempt it at house.
Our Formulation Tutor Barbora highlighted how glycerine bridges each operate and efficiency: “It plumps the pores and skin and protects emulsions from drying out. I make natural glycerites that work for each skincare and as alcohol-free tinctures.” However extra on find out how to make your personal botanical extracts beneath!
For others, the enchantment of glycerine is its unbelievable versatility. Beauty Scientist Natalie and Formulation Tutors Anneke and Viktoriia emphasised simply how indispensable it’s as a beauty ingredient.
Natalie affirmed, “Glycerine is all over the place in formulations. It’s low-cost, extensively out there, non-irritating, and versatile. Traditionally, it was a by-product of soapmaking, so it has been within the beauty business for a lot of many years. You may even use it solo as glycerites. The listing goes on and on!”
Anneke acknowledged: “It’s simple to make use of, beginner-friendly, and hydrates higher than many stylish actives. I exploit it in toners, serums, moisturisers, and cleansers. It’s additionally wonderful for pre-dispersing gums or powders”, whereas Viktoriia praised its useful advantages: “Glycerine is crucial for correct gum dispersion. My emulsions turned way more steady after utilizing glycerine. I at all times embrace it in my formulations now, although I not often go over 2% for leave-on merchandise. It’s additionally nice to create oleogels!
Our ultimate verdict
Throughout the crew, one clear theme saved arising: glycerine delivers distinctive worth and efficiency. Our Formulation Tutor Monika acknowledged: “It has the most effective cost-benefit ratios – low-cost, efficient, and is sort of at all times current in high-end merchandise.”
General, glycerine is affordable, extensively out there, and extremely versatile. It helps disperse powders and actives in formulations and delivers highly effective moisturising advantages. And we will’t get sufficient of it at System Botanica!
Your flip!
Why not give glycerine a attempt for your self and see what you assume? Purchase some glycerine (you possibly can simply discover some on-line and even in some bodily retailers) and add a drop of glycerine to the again of your hand and rub it into your pores and skin.
Observe the way it makes the pores and skin really feel instantly and after a couple of minutes. Discover how the glycerine glides on the pores and skin when rubbing it in, and likewise the slight stickiness, which is because of the humectant properties.
What are your preliminary ideas?
Now that extra concerning the wonderful advantages of glycerine, you’re most likely wanting to attempt it out for your self!
The excellent news? You don’t should be a chemist to create your personal glycerine-based serums and botanical extracts at house. All you want is a few clear, clear counter house and a few fundamental components – identical to for cooking!
Now we have loads of beginner-friendly and free glycerine-based formulations on our weblog, together with these three easy serums you can begin with immediately:
The way to make a hyaluronic acid gel
I actually hope you give them a go!
You might additionally create your personal alcohol-free botanical extracts utilizing glycerine by infusing dried or contemporary herbs, flowers, fruits, roots, or leaves in glycerine, after which utilizing them on their very own or including them to your DIY skincare or haircare merchandise.
These are referred to as glycerites, and seize the color, scent, and useful compounds of your chosen plant, whereas additionally delivering glycerine’s hydrating, humectant properties.
You may be taught all the things about making and utilizing glycerites on this useful information beneath:
The formulator’s final information to glycerites (What they’re & find out how to use them)
Is glycerine the following huge skincare ingredient of 2026?
To recap, glycerine is extremely versatile and a lot greater than only a useful ingredient. There’s a cause why it’s so extensively used within the magnificence business, and why it’s making an enormous wave proper now as a hero ingredient in beauty merchandise.
Briefly, it’s lastly getting the popularity it deserves.
So, is glycerine the following huge ingredient of 2026? Very presumably. However at System Botanica, we see it as greater than only a development. We see glycerine as a timeless staple – an ingredient formulators will proceed to depend on, repeatedly.
In case you’re feeling impressed to attempt it for your self, take a look at a few of our older weblog posts, as we have now loads of free glycerine-based formulations so that you can try to get you began making your personal skincare at house!
Glycerine is only one instance of what occurs whenever you actually perceive your components — not simply what they do, however why they work, and what the cosmetics business isn’t telling you about them.
That’s precisely what we train in our free coaching. Be part of us and uncover what else you’ve been lacking!
FAQ
Glycerine is a transparent, odourless, barely syrupy liquid ingredient that has been utilized in cosmetics and meals for many years. It’s a humectant, which is an ingredient sort that pulls and locks in water within the pores and skin, serving to to maintain it hydrated.
- What’s glycerine used for in skincare?
Glycerine is most frequently used as a humectant in cosmetics and likewise to disperse powders, gums, and actives in beauty merchandise. It’s utilized in all types of water-based merchandise, from toners, serums, moisturisers, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, and masks.
It can be used by itself to make glycerites, that are glycerine-based botanical extracts, which make nice additions to your selfmade skincare and haircare merchandise.
- What sort of glycerine ought to I exploit?
You should utilize any cosmetic-grade glycerine, which often is available in strengths of 99% or 85%. It’s most frequently vegetable-derived, making it appropriate for vegan merchandise, however double-check along with your provider to make sure.
- How a lot glycerine ought to I exploit in formulations?
As a result of glycerine can really feel sticky, we advocate utilizing between 2-5% for leave-on merchandise. You should utilize larger quantities in rinse-off merchandise if wanted, for instance, in cleansers, scrubs, or oleogels.
Experiment with totally different ratios to see what you want, and the general impact and pores and skin really feel.
Glycerites are alcohol-free botanical extracts made by infusing dried or contemporary herbs, flowers, fruits, roots, or leaves into glycerine.
You should utilize them on their very own or add them to your formulations. What’s so nice about them is that they infuse the useful properties, scent and color of vegetation.
- How are you going to make glycerites?
To make glycerites, cowl the plant materials with glycerine, depart to infuse for 1-2 weeks, pressure, and retailer in a cool, darkish place. You may discover a full information on find out how to make glycerites right here.
- The place can I be taught to make my very own skincare?
Take a look at our free coaching to discover ways to create high-performance skincare from scratch utilizing components like glycerine!
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Ariane is System Botanica’s Content material Creator and an energetic member of the scholar group. She has labored as knowledgeable journalist, blogger, copywriter and editor earlier than becoming a member of System Botanica full-time in 2024.
