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Is glycerin really the best humectant, or the most economical?
I’ve used tons of moisturizers of the years. I have “dehydrated” skin no matter how much liquid I consume. I don’t say “dry” because it doesn’t flake off. Anyhow, pretty much every moisturizer I’ve used has glycerin in it. I don’t know if it’s in small amounts, even if listed as the second or third ingredient. But almost none of them really worked great.However, after introducing a 5-10% urea toner I made, my facial skin not only looks smoother and healthier, but is starting to appear that way even when not applied. -
3 Replies
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-1- There is a difference between a humectant and something that “moisturizes” your skin. The subject matter can become very complex when you start talking about lipids and whether they “moisturize,” and lipids are obviously not humectants. In other words, whether the product takes care of your (personal) dehydrated skin may not have anything to do with its glycerin or urea content.
-2- Lots of threads on here about related topics. Glycerin is time-tested, safe to use on even very sensitive skin types, works, and is inexpensive. But there are other humectants, like sodium PCA, that ostensibly attract more water. -
@suswang8 - I agree. The humectant in a moisturizer is not the primary ingredient that improves skin moisturization. That is mostly the occlusive agent. If you did a TEWL on glycerin vs petrolatum, petrolatum wins in the long run.
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DaveStone said:I’ve used tons of moisturizers of the years. I have “dehydrated” skin no matter how much liquid I consume. I don’t say “dry” because it doesn’t flake off. Anyhow, pretty much every moisturizer I’ve used has glycerin in it. I don’t know if it’s in small amounts, even if listed as the second or third ingredient. But almost none of them really worked great.However, after introducing a 5-10% urea toner I made, my facial skin not only looks smoother and healthier, but is starting to appear that way even when not applied.You sound like someone who could help me evaluate a face cream. I am developing a multi-humectant cream…including urea.
I live in always above 90% humidity Hawaii…so some areas are hard for me to evaluate!
If interested….send me your mailing address… PM.
Aloha.
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