The Power of Glycerin
You'll be hard-pressed to find a hand sanitizer out there today that doesn't contain either isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol. While these ingredients have antiviral and antimicrobial properties and are a great weapon against germs, they can be extremely drying to your hands. When used repeatedly, they can be aggressive to your skin's barrier functions. Thus, whether you are shopping at the mall or heading to a BBQ, you’ll want to keep your hands clean but also protected!
It's not uncommon for people who frequently use alcohol-based sanitizing skincare products to report cracking of the skin and dry hands and this could be a possible source of microbe introduction. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers remove essential components of the natural moisturizing factor from your skin's epidermis and strip skin oils and lipids.
To combat alcohol's drying effects, one particular ingredient used in some hand sanitizer formulations is glycerin. Glycerin is used in hand sanitizer and any other skincare products to provide lubrication and smoothness.
About Glycerin
Glycerin, also referred to as glycerine or glycerol, can come from animal sources or vegetable sources. It's a natural compound that is clear and odorless. Because industries are becoming more conscious of animal abuse and mistreatment, vegetable sourced glycerin is used more commonly in skincare products.
Healing Elements of Glycerin in Hand Sanitizer
According to a Cosmetic Ingredient Review in 2014, behind fragrance and water, glycerin is the third most commonly used ingredient in cosmetics.
Glycerin is acknowledged and recognized as a major ingredient in lotions and moisturizers. Purchasing and using glycerin is growing in popularity and the derma tropic effects of the compound are becoming more and more well known.
- Improves your skin’s protective properties and skin barrier
- Hydrate your stratum corneum (outer layer of your skin)
- Accelerate wound-healing processes
- Offer protection against skin irritants
1. Glycerin is a Humectant
It's a moisturizing agent that pulls water from deeper skin levels as well as the air into the outer layer of your skin. In skincare products, it's often used with occlusives (other types of moisturizing agents) to help retain moisture in your skin.
Glycerin is a more effective humectant than a number of other types of humectants, including:
- Hyaluronic acid
- Alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic acid, lactic acid)
- Urea
- Sorbitol
- Butylene glycol and propylene glycol
2. Glycerin is Gentle
Gentle moisturizers and cleansers are essential to keep your skin healthy and comfortable and this includes hand sanitizers. Glycerin provides a gentle way to moisturize and clean your skin without causing irritation. If you're looking to sanitize your hands, you'll also want to ensure you're using a hand sanitizer that's gentle on the outer layer of your skin. Gentle hand sanitizers with glycerin are ideal for people with dry skin too. No matter the occasion, Glycerin helps soothe those tired hands.
- Glycerin Promotes a Healthy Skin Barrier
Since alcohol is the main active ingredient in hand sanitizers, the likely outcome is clean, but dry hands. When glycerin is added, you'll still experience the clean and sanitizing effects of 60% alcohol concentration, without the downsides of alcohol exposure Glycerin helps create a protective barrier between your skin and the world around you.
4. Glycerin Preserves Other Ingredients
Glycerin works as a preservative along with its other health benefits. It has incredible antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties, which is why it works so well in hand sanitizer. It's both a preservative and solvent in skin care products.
Common Myths About Glycerin in Skincare Products
More and more manufacturers are using glycerin in their skincare formulations. However, there is still some debate with individuals about glycerin. Some say glycerin is not only beneficial but safe. Others say it's dangerous. Which is true? Here are a couple of common myths and the actual facts you'll need to know to make an informed decision for yourself.
Myth #1
Glycerin clogs pores.
Fact: Glycerin doesn't clog pores because it's non-comedogenic. This allows your pores to stay open as the healing properties of Muse Health hand sanitizer wash away all that excess dirt and bacteria. In other sanitizers without Glycerin, the dirt you’re trying to wash away can become trapped in pores being clogged by external elements present in the sanitizer. Thanks to Muse Health, your skin will be clean and refreshed after one easy use.
Myth #2
Glycerin is a soap.
Fact: Glycerin is used in various soap formulations, however, it qualifies as a humectant.
While there doesn't seem to be a lot of reported side effects of glycerin, it is a natural ingredient. It's very simple to add glycerin to your daily skincare regimen. In fact, you might already use it without knowing it since it's in many different products. To ensure you experience the benefits of glycerin, check the ingredients of your favorite skincare products. And, don't forget about your hand sanitizer.
Muse Health Keeping Your Hands Safe
If you're going to use a hand sanitizer, you might as well use one that contains glycerin to protect, smooth, and lubricate your hands and keep them from drying out. To shop for glycerin-based hand sanitizer, visit Muse Health.
Muse Health not only creates hand sanitizers that are FDA-approved, but their hand sanitizers also contain other beneficial ingredients like Vitamin E and lime oil to nourish your skin. While you have all types of hand sanitizer brands to choose from, each ingredient in Muse Health hand sanitizers plays a special role, including glycerin. Each one of Muse Health's hand sanitizers is cruelty-free and vegan. They're created without harsh ingredients like petrochemicals, parabens, dyes, and synthetics. So, the next time you wish to clean and sanitize your hands, you can trust that you can do so safely and with extra benefits.