Ingredient

Glycerin

Discover the laws of attraction with glycerin, a humectant and a carrier that locks in moisture and effective ingredients, such as essential oils, for dewy, hydrated skin.

What does glycerin do for the skin and our products?

• Acts as a humectant
• Hydrates the skin and hair
• Carries other ingredients to the skin
• Adds a sweet taste to oral care products
• Reduces the need for synthetic preservatives
• Can give a warm sensation on the skin

What are the benefits of a humectant?

Our skin naturally contains water, which we can easily lose due to heat, air conditioning, age, alcohol and many other factors. When the skin is dehydrated, it looks thirsty and dull. Drinking more water can be a good solution, but it is often not sufficient. This is where humectants can be excellent allies for our skin. Humectants are a range of ingredients that attract moisture from their environment, hold it on the skin and draw it into the deeper layers. Well-hydrated, the skin appears dewy, fresh, fuller and plumper.

An intensely marketed humectant, hyaluronic acid seems to be everywhere in cosmetic products today. However, at Lush, we think glycerin is a better option because it penetrates the skin more efficiently, thanks to its lower molecular weight.

Another benefit of humectants is that by absorbing water into their structure, they create an inhospitable environment for microbes, reducing the risk of product spoilage and the need for synthetic preservatives. With its clear, liquid consistency and solvent properties, glycerin can also replace water in product formulations, helping to further preserve them.

What is glycerin, and how is it made?

Before the rise of new industrial techniques in 1948, all the glycerin (sometimes spelt glycerine) available was obtained through soap manufacturing. Nowadays, most vegan glycerin is a byproduct of the biofuel industry. Vegetable oils undergo a chemical process to separate methyl esters (biodiesel) from crude glycerol (glycerin). Glycerin is then sold to various industries, as it is a versatile compound with many applications, including in cosmetics.

Where do we get glycerin?

The glycerin purchased from our English and Croatian manufacturing sites* can come from different European suppliers, depending on availability. It is plant-based (mainly from rapeseed oil but sometimes other vegetable oils such as sunflower), GMO-free, palm-free and of excellent quality.

*With several manufacturing sites across the globe, this information may vary depending on where your Lush products were made.

Isn't that sweet?

Glycerin’s name is derived from glykys, the Ancient Greek word for ‘sweet’. It makes a good sweetener, and unlike sugar, it is not used as a food source by the bacteria in the mouth, meaning it does not contribute to tooth decay or plaque.