Parched, dry skin is basically a given during the colder months, but this concern can pop up at any time of the year. So when your face, hands, and other spots feel a bit tight or chapped, it’s time to break out the hydrating big guns: the best glycerin skin-care products.
Wait…not hyaluronic acid? Though that skin-care heavyweight is often touted as the skin-care equivalent of a glass of water for your pores, glycerin is another highly effective hydrator that’s not one to miss. Like its trendy counterpart, glycerin is also a humectant that hydrates skin by attracting water to itself like a skin-care magnet.
Because glycerin attracts water to itself, using products infused with this additive can leave your skin with an “overall moisturized and smoothed effect,” according to Erin Gilbert, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. In short, it’s one of the most hydrating skin-care ingredients out there.
Glycerin is especially effective on rough spots and calluses. “Glycerin can actually signal your superficial skin cells to mature more rapidly,” Dr. Gilbert says. This speeds up cellular turnover, allowing your skin to shed dead and damaged surface cells at a faster rate. Translation: It’s a fast track to soft skin.
Now that you’ve gotten the lowdown on glycerin’s water-replenishing properties, it’s time to put your knowledge to use. Below are just a few of the many skin-care products that feature this hydrating hero — check them out, and be prepared for your dewiest, smoothest skin yet.
Ready to feel more confident when reading your beauty products’ ingredient labels? Enter, the Allure Ingredient Index. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about the most in-demand (and under-the-radar) ingredients in your favorite skin-care products.
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