Written by OSEA Staff | Published September 30, 2024
When it comes to skincare, there are a few tried-and-true ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, squalane, niacinamide and bio retinol (just to name a few), that tend to get most of the spotlight. But there are others that fly under the radar, supporting your skin’s hydration from behind the scenes. One such ingredient is glycerin, also known as glycerine and glycerol. Glycerin is the unsung hero of the skincare and hair care world. While you may not always see it on the front of your bottle, you might find it on the ingredients list of many of your favorite skincare products. But what is glycerin, and why is no one talking about it? Let’s dive in.
What Is Glycerin?
Glycerin is a plant-based ingredient that belongs to a class of ingredients known as humectants. You may already be familiar with similar powerhouse ingredients in our products, including hyaluronic acid and seaweed. A humectant is an ingredient that draws moisture to the skin. When you apply a humectant topically, it pulls moisture from the atmosphere, like a sponge, and helps bind that moisture to the top layers of the skin. Humectants function differently than two other types of ingredients commonly found in moisturizers: emollients (like jojoba, squalane, and avocado oil) soften and nourish the skin, while occlusives (like shea butter) create a physical barrier to seal in moisture. Unlike humectants, neither emollients nor occlusives add moisture; they simply help the skin retain it. That’s where glycerin comes in.
The Benefits of Glycerin for Skin
As a humectant, glycerin attracts moisture from the air and draws it into the skin. However, it works best when combined with emollients that lock in the moisture it attracts, rather than using it in its pure, potent form. Paired with emollients, it becomes a powerful player in deeply hydrating parched skin. Glycerin helps leave the skin feeling soft, nourished, and supple. Plus, the added moisture gives the skin a plump, healthy appearance
The Best Products Formulated With Glycerin
Since glycerin is a humectant, we recommend reaching for products that also include emollient or occlusive ingredients to lock hydration in for a dewy, glowing look. Ready to take the plunge with glycerin? Here are seven of our favorite glycerin-infused skincare products for face and body.
Undaria Algae™ Body Wash
Our pH-balanced, daily Undaria Algae™ Body Wash checks all the boxes. First, a plant-based surfactant blend lightly foams to gently and effectively cleanse without stripping or drying out the skin. Next, it combines hardworking humectants, including glycerin, aloe, and Undaria seaweed, with the perfect amount of nourishing emollients like jojoba and avocado oils to hydrate skin while it cleanses. The intoxicating scent of grapefruit, lime, cypress, and sweet mango mandarin transports you to a tropical paradise, making every shower feel like a mini-vacation. Switching to a clean body wash can make such a difference in your skin. In a third-party consumer study, 100% loved the feel of this silky body wash on their skin.*
*Based on an independent third-party consumer study of 32 women.
Undaria Cleansing Body Polish
Our 3-in-1 body polish exfoliates, cleanses, and moisturizes in one easy step. This multi-tasking powerhouse delivers the benefits of both physical and chemical exfoliation, polishing away roughness, smoothing bumpy texture, and revealing soft, glowing skin. We crafted our microbiome-friendly scrub with Kiwi AHA-infused rice microparticles, a dual-action physical and chemical exfoliant that promotes cell turnover for healthy-looking skin. A potent blend of mineral-rich Undaria seaweed and ultrafine natural pumice sweeps away impurities, while nourishing glycerin and sunflower seed oil moisturize, making it gentle for all skin types. The unique whipped-oil texture transforms into a milky lather as it is worked into the skin. And it smells so good, thanks to a natural blend of grapefruit, lime, and cypress, evoking the same uplifting, citrusy scent as our beloved Undaria Algae™ Body Oil and Undaria Algae™ Body Wash.
Undaria Algae™ Body Lotion
Our fast-absorbing Undaria Algae™ Body Lotion delivers nourished, hydrated skin without any heaviness. This lightweight, milky concoction, loaded with hyaluronic acid, Undaria seaweed, and peptides, sinks effortlessly into the skin, locking in hydration and drying down instantly, leaving nothing behind but velvety softness. The best part? It’s clinically tested to immediately increase hydration and visibly firm skin in just four hours.* We love how it leaves our skin feeling smooth and luminous.
*Based on a third-party clinical study after 1 use.
Ocean Cleanser
Start your facial routine with our Ocean Cleanser to sweep away dirt, oil, and makeup, and prep the skin for the treatments to come. This refreshing gel cleanser is loaded with mineral-rich seaweed and leaves skin feeling smooth and incredibly soft. Our pH-balanced formula uses lactic acid to gently exfoliate and unclog pores without stripping the skin, while hydrating glycerin and nourishing emollients like jojoba and sesame oils moisturize, for a radiant complexion you can sea––and feel. But don’t just take our word for it: In a third-party consumer study, 97% agreed it cleansed pores and their skin did not feel stripped, while 97% agreed their skin looked more radiant.* And the uplifting scent of lime, juniper, and jasmine smells absolutely sublime.
*Based on a third-party consumer study conducted over 1 week on 33 women ages 30 to 59.
Hyaluronic Sea Serum
Our bestselling Hyaluronic Sea Serum combines two molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, seaweed, glycerin (all incredible humectants), and snow mushroom to optimize moisture levels, keeping skin hydrated, plump, and dewy any time of day. It’s clinically tested to instantly increase hydration and smooth the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet while drawing water-based moisture to the skin like a magnet. Our skin just drinks it up, and we can really see the difference in how plump and bouncy it looks and feels afterward. The results speak for themselves:
Clinically Tested To:
- Minimize the look of lines & wrinkles in 2 weeks*
- Visibly improve skin firmness & elasticity in 2 weeks*
- 97% agreed skin felt more supple & elastic*
- 93% agreed skin felt firmer & bouncy*
*Based on a third-party clinical study conducted on 30 women ages 43-64 after 2 weeks (including; expert skin grading, instrumental measurements & consumer-perception study).
Ocean Eyes® Age-Defying Serum
You know how a shot of espresso perks you right up? Our Ocean Eyes® Age-Defying Serum does that for tired eyes. Seconds after you roll it on, this powerful eye treatment wakes up your entire face. It deposits all of its visibly brightening, firming, depuffing, wrinkle-smoothing and hydrating ingredients (including seaweed, a biomimetic peptide, clinically tested quinoa extract and hyaluronic acid and glycerin) through a rollerball that cools skin upon contact and makes you look instantly bright-eyed. We love that it’s completely scent and fragrance free, so you can roll it on with abandon. Apply it to your undereye area morning and night and prepare to be blown away by the fresh-faced transformation. In a third-party consumer study, 97% agreed skin around the eyes looked healthier and more awake.* Try it for two weeks and sea the difference for yourself.
*Based on a third-party consumer study of 32 women ages 37-65 after 2 weeks.
Dream Night Cream
Life comes in waves. Give your skin a rest with our Dream Night Cream. This isn’t your ordinary moisturizer; it’s the first night cream clinically tested to reduce the visible effects of stress on the skin during its nightly repair phase. We created this bedtime essential to revive dry, stressed, and aging skin while you sleep, making the most of your skin's natural repair cycle. Our formula features five vital hydrators, including glycerin to moisturize, smooth, and hydrate, and shea butter to revive dry skin, leaving it soft, smooth, and deeply moisturized. The star of the show is bio retinol, derived from blue-green microalgae, to visibly improve lines and wrinkles without irritation. The results blew us away:
- 97% agreed skin instantly felt softer & smoother*
- 94% agreed skin felt instantly hydrated, moisturized & soothed*
- 90% agreed skin looked more radiant & firm*
- 94% agreed skin looked brighter*
*Based on a clinical & consumer study conducted over 4 weeks on 30 women ages 33-60, using before bed.
