Glycerin is also known as glycerol and plays an important role in taking care of your skin. It is colorless and has no smell of any kind. It has a sweet taste and forms an ingredient in cough syrups, tinctures and elixirs. Most of the creams, lotions, ointments, soaps and body scrubs contain glycerin in them. It works well for all types of skin, including oily skin. You can treat many problems of oily skin like acne, wrinkles, fine lines and skin infections with the help of glycerin. Applying glycerin on the skin keeps your skin well moisturized and cleansed. It also has no side effects.
Benefits of Glycerin for Oily Skin:
As a humectant:
Humectants present in glycerin retain the water in the skin and keep your skin well moisturized. The hygroscopic nature of glycerin provides it the ability to absorb water from the air in to the skin. This helps in reducing the loss of water in oily skin and keeps your skin well hydrated and nourished.
As a toner:
Glycerin works as good toner for oily skin. Mix ¼ cup of glycerin with 1 ½ cup of rosewater and use it as a toner. Using this regularly makes your skin look dewy and gives a healthy glow to your skin.
Cell maturation:
Glycerin plays an important role in the maturation of cells. You can avoid various problems of the skin by applying glycerin topically on your skin. So, it is very effective for getting rid of pimples, acne, blackheads and other problems associated with oily skin.
Gentle on the skin:
Glycerin forms an important ingredient in many of the soaps, lotions and creams that you use for taking care of your skin. It is 100% safe and is very gentle on your skin. As a result, you can use it without any fear of harming your skin. It has no side effects and is excellent for treating various skin problems including eczema and psoriasis.
Non-toxic in nature:
The non-toxic property of glycerin makes it safe for using in skin care products. It is safe and suitable even for the skin or a child and infant. Products that are meant for sensitive and oily skin also contain glycerin, as it is safe for such types of skin. Glycerin does not lose its chemical stability soon. So, it prolongs the shelf life when it is mixed with other products. Glycerin is not harsh and it does not cause any irritation or any form of allergies on oily skin.
Moisturization:
You can apply glycerin directly on oily skin as a moisturizer. You may also add it to your bath water when you take bath. This will keep your skin well moisturized. By adding glycerin to creams, cleansers and lotions, you can get better results and keep your skin moisturized and cleansed. This way you will have a healthy and oil-free skin.
Smoothing:
Oily skin makes you look dull and lifeless. It is also prone to acne, irritation, redness and other skin problems. You can get rid of all these problems by using glycerin on a regular basis. It is also good for filling the microscopic pores of your skin and thus provides you a smoother skin.
To add smoothness to your skin, take 30% glycerin, 70 % water and one or two drops of peppermint oil. Mix them well and spray this water on your face and neck before you go to sleep at night. Leave it on your face overnight. Next morning you will see that your skin has become very soft.
Skin structure:
Applying glycerin on the skin helps in protecting and improving the oily skin as it fills up the intercellular matrix. As a result, an even skin structure is built. The humectant and hygroscopic properties of glycerin makes it very beneficial for taking care of oily skin. Glycerin can lock-in the right amount of moisture in oily skin, without making it look greasy or oily. It forms a sort of barrier on the skin and prevents loss of moisture and also protects the skin from various external factors that can harm your skin.
Treats skin problems:
Glycerin is excellent for oily skin. You can treat acne, pimples and other skin problems by applying glycerin on the skin regularly. It is also good for reducing skin infections caused by bacteria.
Use it in your face pack:
When you prepare face pack for oily skin, you can add glycerin to it to get better results. Add glycerin to fuller’s earth and mix them well with a little of water to get a smooth paste. Apply this paste evenly on your face as well as your neck. Wait for 15 minutes and then you can wash off with cold water. Using this face pack regularly helps in providing you a well hydrated and beautiful skin that looks fresh and rejuvenated.
You can also make face pack with glycerin and egg white and honey. This helps in getting rid of dead skin cells and improves the skin tone.
How to Use Glycerin on Skin and Face: Do’s and Don’ts
- When you use glycerin directly on your skin, remember to dilute it with a little water.
- Adding rose water to glycerin makes it more effective on oily skin.
- Make sure that you do not apply glycerin in large quantities.
- It is also important that you do not leave it on your face for too long.
- Do not use glycerin in lotions because lotions are already sticky and adding glycerin can make it stickier.
- After applying glycerin, wash your face thoroughly to remove all traces of glycerin because the sticky nature of it can attract dust and pollution.