If you take a closer look at your favorite body lotion, face wash and moisturizer, you may be surprised to find they all have one ingredient in common: glycerin. Though glycerin doesn’t often get the same fanfare as actives like vitamin C and retinol, it’s a versatile, effective ingredient that helps a variety of SkinCeuticals formulas do their jobs. Ready to learn more? Let’s jump in and answer some key questions, such as:

• What is glycerin?

• What are the skin benefits of glycerin?

• How to use glycerin for skin care

• Using glycerin to achieve a healthy skin barrier

What is glycerin?

Glycerin (also called glycerine or glycerol) is an organic compound called a sugar alcohol. It’s found naturally in honey and can be derived from animal or plant oils, or produced synthetically in a lab. On its own, glycerin is a clear, sweet syrupy liquid, and it’s often used in food and drinks as well as topical skin care.

What are the skin benefits of glycerin?

First and foremost, glycerin is a humectant, meaning it helps hydrate your skin by drawing in moisture. “Glycerin is a smaller molecule, so it’s easily absorbed and can penetrate deep into the skin to draw moisture into its lower layers,” says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger. “Compared with hyaluronic acid, which is a larger molecule with a more immediate effect, glycerin provides hydration that tends to be longer-lasting.”

Glycerin can also help you achieve a healthy skin barrier. Studies have shown that glycerin plays a role in skin barrier repair and preventing moisture loss. “Another advantage of glycerin is that it’s generally well-tolerated by skin, and doesn’t clog pores or cause irritation for most people,” Dr. Schlessinger says.

How to use glycerin for skin care

Glycerin is one of the most widely used skin care ingredients, so it’s easy to incorporate it into your existing routine. You’ll find glycerin in face washes to help offset the potentially drying nature of cleansing agents, and it’s also often used in moisturizers, sunscreens, eye creams, facial serums and mists as well as body lotions.

Though you can find it bottled at the store, 100% pure glycerin is too strong of a concentration to apply to your face for skin care purposes. Instead, look for skin care products that contains glycerin and is listed as one of the first few ingredients. “Typically, glycerin will be used in concentrations of 2% to 15% in skin care products, and it’s combined with other ingredients to maximize the benefits,” Dr. Schlessinger says.

How to use glycerin to achieve a healthy skin barrier

Ready to learn how to use glycerin to maintain a healthy skin barrier? Here are a few of our favorite SkinCeuticals products that rely on glycerin for its hydrating and nourishing properties.

For a gentle cleanse:

SkinCeuticals Replenishing Cleanser Cream

A face wash with glycerin is a great way to start off your morning and evening skin care routine. SkinCeuticals calls this cleansing cream a dual-action cleanser because it uses a ceramide complex containing glycerin and panthenol to remove dirt and impurities from your skin while locking in much-needed hydration. It helps support a healthy moisture barrier by cleansing skin without stripping away its natural oils.

For post-procedure skin:

SkinCeuticals Epidermal Repair Soothing Cream

Reach for this skin care treatment to help soothe red, irritated skin after in-office treatments such as chemical peels, laser resurfacing or microdermabrasion. It contains glycerin to help strengthen your skin’s moisture barrier and beta glucan to soothe inflamed skin. It also contains dimethicone to help prevent scarring as well as moisture loss.

For a midday refresher:

SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Essence Mist

This hydrating facial spray brings together the humectant powers of both glycerin and hyaluronic acid to support a healthy skin barrier and retain moisture in your skin. A blend of botanicals—including thyme, rosemary, cucumber and olive leaf extracts—work together to soothe visible redness as well. You can use it as a toner in your morning or evening skin care regimen, or tuck it in your bag to use as a midday refresher over makeup.

For targeting dark spots and fine lines:

SkinCeuticals Metacell Renewal B3 Lotion

If early signs of photoaging—we’re talking fine lines, dark spots and uneven skin tone—are a concern for you, this silky face cream deserves a spot in your daily skin care routine. In addition to 15% glycerin to help repair moisture barrier damage, it also contains 5% niacinamide to help fade the appearance of dark spots and diminish fine lines and wrinkles.

For rescuing dry, mature skin:

SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 Anti-Aging Cream

To help restore your skin barrier and correct signs of aging in one nourishing step, look no further than this cult-favorite moisturizing cream from SkinCeuticals. The numbers in its name refer to a patented ratio of 2% ceramides, 4% natural cholesterol and 2% fatty acids, which work together with glycerin to achieve a healthy skin barrier and leave dry skin looking softer and smoother. It also contains vitamin E to help support natural cell repair in your skin.

For daily sun protection:

SkinCeuticals Daily Brightening UV Defense

A daily sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection is a must for all skin types and tones, from fair to dark. This sunscreen not only protects against UVA and UVB rays with SPF 30, but it also contains 7% glycerin to hydrate and support a healthy skin barrier. A blend of 2% niacinamide, 0.3% phenylethyl resorcinol and 1% tranexamic acid work in concert to diminish discoloration, leaving skin looking brighter and more even with regular use.

Bonus: Heal chapped skin

Looking for a portable option to help heal irritated skin and support a healthy moisture barrier? FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Body Balm developed by Dr. Schlessinger and his son Dr. Daniel Schlessinger contains 1% hydrocortisone along with cocoa and shea butters to help heal dry, chapped skin.

Now that you know how to use glycerin for your skin care routine, you can read up on another fantastic hydrating ingredient, hyaluronic acid in our blog post: “What is the best way to use hyaluronic acid?”