Glycerin is widely used in the medical, cosmetology and food industries as an important component. Glycerin is used to create creams, masks, lotions and other cosmetics that you can prepare yourself at home. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to learn the methods of use, properties, positive and negative features of the useful substance.
general characteristics
Glycerin is an organic compound in the form of a colorless, odorless liquid, has a sweetish taste, and is harmless.
Glycerin is added to bakery products, confectionery products, pasta, and soft drinks. The beneficial properties of the component are known to everyone, however, people suffering from kidney and heart diseases are not recommended to abuse glycerin.
To increase antiseptic effects, trihydric alcohol is used to produce detergents and medications.
Effect on the human body
Small amounts of vegetable glycerin used in foods are unlikely to cause side effects. However, it is classified as a sugar alcohol and in turn can have a laxative effect when consumed in large quantities. Thus, it can lead to diarrhea, excessive urination and dehydration if consumed in excess. Because of this effect, glycerin suppositories are used to relieve constipation. Less serious side effects that may occur from consuming large amounts of vegetable glycerin include nausea, vomiting, and headache. Some less common side effects that require immediate medical attention include confusion and abnormal heart rhythm. But they are extremely unlikely to occur in the small amounts typically used in foods, as they are very rarely observed even in medicinal doses.
Benefits of glycerin
Thanks to glycerol and additional components, you can effectively care for your facial skin. The substance forms a protective film on the skin that prevents dehydration. The beneficial properties of glycerin in cosmetology are obvious:
- moisturizes and whitens facial skin;
- cleanses the skin of harmful substances, removes dead cells;
- helps speed up metabolism;
- creates a protective barrier against ultraviolet rays;
- helps eliminate cracked heels and elbows;
- relieves swelling, itching, redness;
- removes fine wrinkles, fights pigmentation.
Glycerin in cosmetics: why is it needed?
The cosmetics industry has not been left behind. And manufacturers of creams, lipsticks and other personal care products also include this substance in their products. But how can such a component benefit our skin?
Glycerin in cosmetics is used for:
- Skin moisturizing. As noted above, glycerin takes moisture from the environment and gives it to the skin. It is able to penetrate very deeply into the epidermis, saturating all its layers with moisture. There is only one warning: if the air is dry, glycerin will begin to draw water FROM the skin. And this already threatens you with dryness and other unpleasant sensations. To avoid such an undesirable effect, drink enough water and maintain constant air humidity of at least 65%. A humidifier, which can be purchased at any electronics and household appliances store, will help you with this.
- Protection. Glycerin creates a thin film on the face that locks in the moisture and beneficial substances contained in the cream, preventing them from evaporating.
- Mitigation. This liquid perfectly softens the skin, making it softer and velvety to the touch. If you have sensitive, irritated and dry skin, then regular soap should be replaced with glycerin soap. It will help relieve dryness, eliminate irritation and itching.
- Replenishing the lack of glycerol in cells. Our body also produces glycerol. It helps water circulate in cell membranes, helping to transport water into cells through special channels - aquaporins. Therefore, care products with glycerin must be used to ensure the correct course of this process.
- Care for dry hair and eliminate dandruff and itchy scalp. Thanks to their ability to retain moisture, shampoos, balms and masks with glycerin moisturize the hair and scalp well.
Rules of application
The benefits of glycerin in cosmetology lie in the harmlessness and effectiveness of the substance. If you choose the right active and additional components for facial skin care, you can achieve good results.
What you should know:
- glycerin can be used diluted;
- It is not recommended to add a lot of essential oils, since the substance will not dissolve in them;
- strictly follow the recipe;
- It is better to apply the mask in the evening.
Cosmetics prepared at home are less effective than products purchased at the pharmacy.
Let's sum it up
It is obvious that the benefits of glycerin and cosmetics containing it outweigh the potential harm. Especially considering that you can only harm your skin if you neglect to follow the recommendations and rules for using this substance.
Carefully read the composition of cosmetics, strictly follow the proportions of home recipes if you prefer to make them yourself. And then the skin will receive full hydration without unpleasant consequences such as dryness and flaking.
I hope you learned something new and useful from this article. If you have any questions, I will try to answer them in the comments.
Facial skin care products
The beneficial qualities of trihydric alcohol can be seen in homemade creams and masks. Additional ingredients used include a chicken egg, lemon juice, honey, olive oil, milk, cream, potatoes, and cosmetic clay.
To prevent cosmetic preparations from causing harm, you should follow simple rules:
- Apply the mask immediately after preparation, apply to clean skin;
- leftovers cannot be stored;
- The mask is good to use in the cold season;
- all components of the drug must be of natural origin;
- homemade ingredients should be added to the composition last;
- if facial skin is prone to irritation and allergic reactions, use should be discarded.
Mask-scrub for cleansing
The use of scrubbing will help get rid of dead epidermal cells, improve complexion, and prepare the skin for further procedures.
Components:
- 1 part glycerin;
- 8 parts sugar;
- 7 parts lemon juice.
Mix the ingredients thoroughly and apply to the face with massage movements immediately after preparation, before the sugar has time to dissolve.
Moisturizing mask
To get rid of facial wrinkles, make your facial skin elastic and moisturized, you can use a homemade mask:
- thoroughly mix one part of aloe juice with two parts of glycerin;
- Apply a thick layer to the skin of the face and leave for 15-20 minutes;
- wash off the mask with warm water.
To achieve the desired effect, the procedure should be carried out systematically.
Lotion with glycerin
The drug may be intended for different purposes. Lotion with glycerin with the addition of mint soothes the skin, lemon whitens, green tea tones, chamomile reduces redness and itching.
To prepare herbal lotion you need:
- pour two tablespoons of herbs with 250 ml of boiling water;
- let cool, strain;
- add one teaspoon of glycerin;
- stir thoroughly.
Wipe your face for one week.
Many or few?
Even if you have little contact with air conditioners, rarely fly on airplanes and rarely encounter thirty-degree heat, this does not mean that you can use the first glycerin cream you come across.
Remember, not only the climatic conditions around you are important, but also the concentration of the triatomic alcohol itself in cosmetics. Its optimal content is 5-7%. This amount is enough to soften and moisturize. If the indicator is exceeded, glycerin will begin to dry the skin. It is not difficult to understand exactly how much of this substance is in the cream you like: just read the label carefully.
Just don’t look for specific numbers on it (not a single manufacturer will give out their secret recipes), just read the list of ingredients. If glycerin trails somewhere at the end of it or occupies a position in the middle, you can safely buy the cream. And put products in which trihydric alcohol is at the head of a long row of components back on the shelf. The closer to the beginning of the list a substance is, the higher its content in cosmetics.
Benefits of the drug for hair
Today, glycerin can be found in almost every composition of shampoo, conditioner, and hair mask, since its benefits have long been proven. After using the complex of products, the hair becomes strong, shiny and well-groomed.
Features of the drug:
- hair follicles are activated;
- keratin scales are smoothed;
- volume increases;
- dandruff and brittleness disappear.
In order not to harm your hair, it is not recommended to abuse the products, as glycerin can be addictive, which will subsequently cause harm.
What is vitamin A
Vitamins are regulators of biological processes, without which the biochemistry of the body and the functioning of organs are disrupted. Most of them come from food, and some are synthesized by the body or intestinal flora. Vitamins are divided into water-soluble and fat-soluble. The former do not stay in the body for a long time and are excreted with metabolic products, while the latter accumulate in the liver. We wrote about vitamin D - the only one that affects the body's immune defense. But C turned out to be not as useful as dietary supplement manufacturers write about it.
Vitamin A is fat soluble. A person receives it from food in the form of precursors - retinoids and carotenoids. They are contained in the fatty depot of the liver, and when needed they are converted into retinol and sent to the tissues. Vitamin A regulates embryogenesis, the functioning of reproductive organs, skin glands, inflammation, the creation of new cells and their death. A retinol derivative is one of the components of rhodopsin. This is an eye pigment responsible for color perception.
External retinoids are used in dermatology: they treat acne and are prescribed to prevent age-related skin changes. It has been proven that isotretionine prevents the enzymatic degradation of collagen, the main structural component of the skin. Vitamin A derivatives are added to sunscreens for antioxidant protection.
“Vitamin A is used externally for many dermatoses, especially those associated with impaired keratinization, sebum secretion and healing,” says Nina Sergeeva, a dermatologist at the Fantasy children’s clinic. “It accelerates the restoration of skin integrity, reduces sebum production and regulates keratinization.”
Systemic retinoids are treatments for severe acne, psoriasis, rosacea, precancerous lesions, and nonmelanoma skin cancer. They normalize the formation of cells in the upper layer of the epidermis, reduce sebum secretion and inflammation, providing long-term remission. They are prescribed in cases where external therapy is ineffective or gives temporary results.
Properties
The use of glycerin for cosmetic purposes is associated with some of its physical and chemical properties:
- hygroscopicity, that is, the ability to retain water well (hyaluronic acid, propylene glycol, glycolic acid, sodium hyaluronate, sorbitol, which are also often included in cosmetics, have a similar property);
- absence of a protein component, therefore non-allergenic;
- chemical resistance, which in practice means the impossibility of damaging the cell membranes of the epidermis and mucous membranes;
- good solubility, making it possible to use it in most cosmetic products;
- emulsifying ability, increasing the cleaning activity of surfactants.
Contrary to popular belief, glycerol does not dry out the dermis even at low ambient humidity, provided its safe concentration is maintained. Saturating the deep layers of the epidermis with moisture helps smooth out wrinkles, improve metabolism, and restore a healthy complexion.
Its use simultaneously with emollients makes the dermis elastic. Propanetriol enhances the penetration of active cosmetic components into the deep layers of the skin, protects the surface of the epidermis from the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms, the appearance of microtraumas and drying out under the influence of hot air.
Why is glycerin used in cosmetics?
It is included in a variety of products as a solvent to reduce the viscosity of the main ingredients, a component of perfume additives, and a substance with a caring effect. Glycerin, which is included in hair cosmetics, has a good conditioning effect, but does not dry out the hair follicles.
Propanetriol is present in cell membranes, so it is a natural substance for skin tissue.
Natural cosmetic glycerin
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