What is glycerin in skincare?
Glycerin, also called glycerol, is a clear, odourless humectant found naturally in skin lipids and produced commercially from plant oils or by synthesis. It is one of the most widely used ingredients in cosmetics, and one of the best studied.
It draws water into the stratum corneum and holds it there, and it also helps regulate how skin cells mature and shed. Research on glycerol and the skin shows it does considerably more than simply attract moisture.
What skin concerns does glycerin treat?
It relieves dryness, tightness and flaking in every skin type, and it improves barrier function measurably – a controlled study of 20% glycerin cream found gains in both hydration and barrier properties.
It is gentle enough for eczema-prone, sensitive and post-procedure skin, and light enough for oily and acne-prone skin. It also softens the feel of fine lines by plumping dehydrated cells.
What ingredients are best paired with glycerin?
It works best in the classic humectant-emollient-occlusive sequence: glycerin and hyaluronic acid to draw water in, ceramides and squalane to hold the barrier together, and a richer occlusive on top if skin is very dry.
Glycerin also makes exfoliating acids and retinoids far more tolerable. Unlike hyaluronic acid it performs reliably even in low humidity, which is why it remains the workhorse humectant in most formulations. Take our Skin Quiz.
What are age spots?
Age spots – known clinically as solar lentigines, and sometimes as liver spots – are flat, well-defined brown or tan patches that appear on skin with the most cumulative sun exposure: the face, backs of the hands, forearms, shoulders and upper chest.
Despite the name, they are not caused by age itself. They are a record of ultraviolet exposure, which is why they are common from the forties onward and why they cluster on areas that rarely get sunscreen.
What causes age spots?
Long-term UV exposure drives melanocytes to over-produce melanin in concentrated spots, and the surrounding keratinocytes stop clearing that pigment efficiently as skin ages.
Fair skin, a history of sunburns, tanning beds and outdoor work all raise the risk. Any new spot that changes shape, colour or size, bleeds or has an irregular border should be checked by a doctor rather than treated cosmetically.
What ingredients are best for age spots?
Topical treatment works but needs patience – expect three to six months. Retinoids speed turnover so pigmented cells shed faster, vitamin C and niacinamide brighten and protect, and alpha arbutin, kojic acid, azelaic acid and liquorice root inhibit new pigment.
Glycolic or lactic acid helps lift existing pigment from the surface. Daily broad-spectrum SPF, including on hands and chest, is what prevents new spots forming. Take our Skin Quiz.
