Is Glycerin
good for Your Skin?
What is
Glycerin?
Glycerin, sometimes called Glycerol, is a natural ingredient often used in skincare products. It's a clear, colourless liquid made from plant oils or animal fats, and it has a smooth, syrupy texture.
Glycerin works as a humectant, which means it helps attract and hold moisture in your skin, preventing it from drying out². By drawing water from the air and from deeper layers of the skin, it helps your skin stay hydrated, which is why it's so commonly found in skincare.
Is Glycerin
Good for Skin?
Thanks to its non-comedogenic properties (meaning it won't clog pores), Glycerin is suitable for all skin types:
- Dry skin:
Glycerin is especially beneficial for dry skin, as it helps draw moisture into the skin and lock it in, keeping your skin soft, smooth, and protected.
- Oily skin:
Even oily skin needs hydration. Skipping moisturiser in your routine can cause your skin to produce more oil to compensate. Glycerin provides lightweight hydration without clogging pores, making it a great choice for oily skin types.
- Combination skin:
Glycerin's ability to hydrate without being heavy means it works well for combination skin, helping to balance both oily and dry areas.
- Sensitive skin:
Gentle and soothing, Glycerin not only hydrates but may help calm your skin. By supporting the skin's natural moisture barrier, it can also help defend against external irritants.
7 Glycerin
SKIN BENEFITS
Glycerin helps soothe your skin and so can be beneficial for those with dryness or sensitivity.
Caution: Even if a product includes Glycerin in its formula, it doesn't imply that the product exhibits all the benefits listed above – these will depend on various factors such as the formulation and the concentration of Glycerin. Please always see the packaging instructions to understand the effects of the specific product that you use.
Is Glycerin
Good for Your Skin?
Sources of Glycerin: Glycerin is a widely used skincare ingredient that can come from both natural and synthetic sources, including plant and animal fats.
Glycerin and Skin Types: Glycerin benefits all skin types – dry, oily, sensitive, and combination – by supporting the skin's natural barrier.
Glycerin in Skincare: Glycerin is commonly found in skincare products, including face creams, body lotions, and sunscreens.
Glycerin Benefits: Glycerin can help improve skin texture, reduce dryness, and support the skin against external irritants.
As we age, our skin naturally becomes drier and loses elasticity, making fine lines and wrinkles more visible, especially around delicate areas like the eyes. Glycerin's ability to attract and retain moisture helps keep skin hydrated and plump, which softens the appearance of wrinkles and supports a smoother, more youthful-looking complexion.
The NIVEA Q10 range is specially designed to nourish mature skin with skin-compatible ingredients like Glycerin, Coenzyme Q10 and Bioxifill Peptides. Key products such as the NIVEA Q10 Targeted Wrinkle Filler Serum* and NIVEA Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Firming Day Cream work together to help reduce fine lines, stimulate Collagen production, and improve skin firmness. Using the full range helps support your skin's natural renewal process while delivering deep hydration and visible wrinkle care.
*Skin compatibility is dermatologically approved.
How to use
Glycerin for Skin
NIVEA offers a range of gentle cleansers formulated with caring ingredients like Glycerin to support the skin's moisture balance while effectively removing impurities. Whether you prefer a micellar water, gel or cream cleanser, there's a NIVEA option to suit your skin type and needs.
Hydration is the next essential step after cleansing, helping to replenish moisture and keep your skin feeling soft, smooth and balanced throughout the day.
Hydrating the Face:
For deep hydration, apply NIVEA SUN UV Specialist Derma Skin Clear Daily UV Fluid SPF 50 to your face and neck. This ultra-light, non-greasy formula combines Glycerin, Niacinamide and Carnitine to hydrate, control oil and protect against sun-induced sensitivity, all in one step.
Hydrating the Body:
For dry or very dry skin, NIVEA Repair & Care Body Lotion delivers 72 hours of hydration with a 10% complex of Glycerin, Provitamin B5 and Niacinamide. It helps soothe irritation, strengthen the skin barrier and improve overall skin comfort, making it ideal for when your skin needs extra care.
Whether you're looking for face creams or body lotions, NIVEA offers a wide range of hydrating formulas to suit every skin type and routine.
It's important to care for your lips too as they are often one of the first areas to show signs of dryness. The NIVEA Hyaluron Moisture Plus Lip Balm delivers deep hydration and visibly smoother lips for up to 24 hours*. This ultra-light formula helps reduce the appearance of lip lines while keeping lips feeling soft, plump, and nourished. Simply apply throughout the day whenever your lips need a moisture boost.
*100% of volunteers showed a moisture increase – instrumental increase in 43 volunteers used 2x daily for 5 days.
As the final step in your skincare routine, daily sun protection is essential for maintaining healthy skin. For effective protection that also hydrates, try NIVEA Protect & Moisture SPF 50+. Enriched with Glycerin and Vitamin E, this fast-absorbing, water-resistant formula delivers reliable UVA/UVB defence while nourishing your skin. Whether you're at home or on holiday, the full NIVEA Protect & Moisture range has a sunscreen that's just right for you.
