Glycerin has long been used by our mothers and grandmothers and was an essential part of their beauty repertoire. This is because of the many glycerin skin benefits that held them in good stead long before all the fancy creams and lotions flooded our markets. Glycerin has been as popular as it has a beauty essential over the years because it has a range of amazing benefits that beauty junkies all over the world are rediscovering. We compiled this exhaistive dossier on all the wonderful glycerin skin benefits; the many glycerin uses for face; and easy tips and tricks about how to use glycerin on face.
What is glycerin?
Glycerin, also called glycerol, happens to be a colourless, odourless, sweet-tasting liquid that has a very thick, viscous consistency. A by-product of the soap-making process, this sugar and alcohol organic compound, is derived from both plant and animal sources and is used extensively in the beauty and pharmaceutical industry for its many benefits for health and beauty.
Ways to use glycerin on face
Step 1. Wash your face with water and pat it dry with a towel to soak up the excess water from your face.
Step 2. Do ensure that after you dry your face it should still feel a tad damp.
Step 3. Take a little bit of glycerin on a cotton ball and dab it onto your skin.
Step 4. Avoid the mouth area and eyes at all cost.
Step 5. Don’t wash it off right away but leave it on for a little while to let it get absorbed into the skin.
2. Glycerin is a great cleanser and it can take the place of the expensive chemical-based cleansing milks and solvents that you generally tend to use.
Step 1. For best results, you can mix three teaspoons of milk with a teaspoon of glycerin.
Step 2. Apply it on your face at night and wash it off in the morning.
3. Glycerin gently removes dirt, oils and make-up from your skin.
You could also make a homemade facial cleanser by mixing half a cup of water with one and a half tablespoons each of glycerin and cornflour in an ovenproof glass jar. Bring the mixture to a boil till the mixture looks clear. After the mixture has cooled, apply a little on moist skin and wash out with warm water.
4. Glycerin can be used as a toner.
Step 1. Dab on a little glycerin diluted with water for toning after you wash your face as it helps tighten your pores.
Step 2. Make a toning solution by mixing about one-fourths of a cup of glycerin with one and a half cups of rose water.
Precautions for using glycerin on face
You have seen how the use of glycerin is very beneficial for the face. However, there are some precautions that you need to take when applying glycerin on face. While glycerin is very mild and rarely causes hives or rashes, in some women, glycerin does cause an allergic reaction.
1. This water-soluble, non-toxic compound is also remarkably gentle on the skin although, like with all skin products, you’d be advised to take a skin test on the inside of your arm before you apply it to your face. You must always do a patch test before using some and do contact a doctor if you do develop an allergic symptoms like blisters or swellings or hives .
2. Always make sure that you dilute glycerin with water or rose water before you apply it. Use a small quantity and don’t leave it on your face for longer than necessary. Wash off the glycerin after a little while as the viscosity of glycerin tends to draw dust and pollution.
3. Glycerin could also cause a little sun sensitivity so do wear a sunscreen after applying some to your face.
4. If you are uncomfortable with using glycerine from an animal source for your beauty needs, you could use vegetable glycerine that is derived from vegetable oils.
