Move over, hyaluronic acid — there’s another hydrator in town.
Parched, dry skin is basically a given during the colder months, but this concern can pop up at any time of the year. So when your face, hands, and other spots feel a bit tight or chapped, it’s time to break out the hydrating big guns: the best glycerin skin-care products.
Wait…not hyaluronic acid? Though that skin-care heavyweight is often touted as the skin-care equivalent of a glass of water for your pores, glycerin is another highly effective hydrator that’s not one to miss. Like its trendy counterpart, glycerin is also a humectant that hydrates skin by attracting water to itself like a skin-care magnet.
Because glycerin attracts water to itself, using products infused with this additive can leave your skin with an “overall moisturized and smoothed effect,” according to Erin Gilbert, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. In short, it’s one of the most hydrating skin-care ingredients out there.
Glycerin is especially effective on rough spots and calluses. “Glycerin can actually signal your superficial skin cells to mature more rapidly,” Dr. Gilbert says. This speeds up cellular turnover, allowing your skin to shed dead and damaged surface cells at a faster rate. Translation: It’s a fast track to soft skin.
Now that you’ve gotten the lowdown on glycerin’s water-replenishing properties, it’s time to put your knowledge to use. Below are just a few of the many skin-care products that feature this hydrating hero — check them out, and be prepared for your dewiest, smoothest skin yet.
Ready to feel more confident when reading your beauty products’ ingredient labels? Enter, the Allure Ingredient Index. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about the most in-demand (and under-the-radar) ingredients in your favorite skin-care products.
Caliray Surfproof Setting
What’s so wonderful about Caliray’s new Surfproof Setting Spray is that it locks in makeup for a full day while treating your skin with some of the best additives around. As it sets its glycerin-infused formula boosts skin hydration while moisturizing ingredients like prickly pear and agave extracts leave skin feeling plumper and dewier than ever.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Serum Crystal Elixir
If your skin looks and feels a bit parched, the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Serum Crystal Elixir will surely help. According to Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and a clinical instructor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City, says this serum “contains glycerin, lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, and polyglutamic acid — all humectants that help create an immediate plumping effect that makes the skin look younger and smoother.” She notes that it also contains shea oil, which helps to lock in moisture without feeling oily, and niacinamide and vitamin C, which are great for tone and texture.
Dove Body Love Intense Care Body Lotion
For sensitive skin types, Dr. King suggests the Dove Body Love Intense Care Body Lotion. She says this rich body lotion contains a blend of humectants, emollients, and occlusives to replenish and seal in moisture for a full 48 hours. Expect your skin to be soothed and softened with its intensive blend of glycerin, sunflower seed oil, ceramides, and triglycerides. “This is a great choice for sensitive skin because it hydrates, supports the skin barrier, locks in moisture, and doesn’t contain any ingredients that are likely to be irritating or drying,” she says.
Paula’s Choice Water-Infusing Electrolyte Moisturizer
Once you’re ready to finish off your daily skin-care routine, slather on Paula’s Choice Water-Infusing Electrolyte Moisturizer. This lightweight cream bathes your skin in glycerin and moisture-sealing ceramides while a blend of antioxidant-rich botanicals — like kiwi, coffee, apple, and wild cherry extracts — brighten dullness and target hyperpigmentation.
Vaseline Intensive Care Sensitive Skin Relief
According to Dr. King, the Vaseline Intensive Care Sensitive Skin Relief is another irritant-free pick that’ll hydrate and soothe skin. “It contains humectants like glycerin to hydrate the skin, emollients like shea butter and sunflower seed oil to support the skin barrier, and occlusives like petrolatum to lock in moisture,” she says. Dr. King also points out that this formula is infused with colloidal oatmeal for additional soothing properties.
Neutrogena The Transparent Facial Bar
For sensitive skin types that need a milder face wash, Joshua Zeichner, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, suggests The Transparent Facial Bar by Neutrogena. This mild, fragrance-free bar soap gently cleanses skin while glycerin works its hydrating wonders.
La Roche-Posay Redermic R Retinol Eye Cream
Of course, let’s not forget about the delicate skin under your eyes. Your undereye area needs extra care to prevent concerns like dark circles and sagging, so treat it with this intensive drugstore eye cream. The La Roche-Posay Redermic R Retinol Eye Cream is laced with an especially powerful cocktail of retinol, a fine line-reducing superhero ingredient, along with brightening caffeine to reduce the look of dark circles. But don’t expect any irritation or sensitivity, because this gentle moisturizer soothes and hydrates your skin with glycerin.
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream
Rather stick to a tried-and-true moisturizer? Dr. Gilbert suggests using her favorite, the Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream. This rich cocktail of humectants, emollients, and occlusives features hydrating glycerin and panthenol, plus anti-inflammatory niacinamide.
Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Brightening Skin Corrector
Here’s another Dr. Gilbert recommendation, the Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Brightening Skin Corrector, which supplies more than hydration benefits. This serum tag-teams glycerin with hyaluronic acid and brightening vitamin C to manifest your dewiest, most radiant complexion yet.
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream
Skin that’s begging for a hefty dose of moisture should indulge in the iconic Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream. This lightweight, fragrance-free moisturizer is popular for its intensely hydrating effects, thanks to a mix of glycerin and squalane.
Exuviance Targeted Lip Filler
If your lips are dry, chapped, and in need of some TLC, reach for Exuviance’s Targeted Lip Filler. This glycerin-infused treatment delivers a dose of hydration for a softer, smoother look and feel. It also contains peptides, which are known for supporting collagen production and firming skin.
Aveeno Calm + Restore Triple Oat Serum
Sensitive skin types, beeline to the Aveeno Calm + Restore Triple Oat Serum to soothe any irritation and redness flare-ups, stat. The under-$20 price tag is already exciting enough, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts — namely, glycerin and calming colloidal oatmeal.
Aquaphor Healing Ointment
Dermatologists aren’t the only fans of glycerin-infused skin care: It’s also an Allure-favorite ingredient that can be found in countless Best of Beauty Award-winning products. One soothing skin-care product that seems to get our editors’ seal of approval time and time again is the Aquaphor Healing Ointment. In combination with glycerin, this wonder-worker for dry skin contains 41 percent petrolatum, also known as petroleum jelly, which calms redness and softens skin.
Fenty Skin Hydra’Reset Intensive Recovery Hand Mask
Need another reason to hop on the glycerin bandwagon? Here’s one: It’s officially Rihanna-approved. The main ingredient of Fenty Skin’s Hydra’Reset Intensive Recovery Hand Mask is (you guessed it) glycerin. This overnight hand mask also calls in help from panthenol for its conditioning and soothing properties, plus sorrel and Kalahari melon oils for added moisture.
Hanni Shave Pillow
If it’s a shave day, don’t forget to grab Hanni’s Shave Pillow shaving cream to keep nicks, cuts, and skin dryness at bay. This glycerin-rich shave cream creates a plush, foamy barrier to protect your delicate skin, while creating a smooth, effortless glide for your razor. Its formula also contains anti-inflammatory adaptogenic mushrooms and moisturizing cactus water for smooth, razor burn-free skin.