{"id":19962,"date":"2026-06-04T10:57:24","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T09:57:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/?post_type=encyclopedia&p=19962"},"modified":"2026-06-04T10:57:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T09:57:24","slug":"which-glycerin-for-cosmetics","status":"publish","type":"encyclopedia","link":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/","title":{"rendered":"Which Glycerin for Cosmetics?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Glycerin is found everywhere in our daily lives. It is present in antifreeze and shoe care products, appears in medications and dyes, and is even said to help keep our Christmas trees fresh longer. It is also part of our skin\u2019s own moisture-retention system, as it is released during the hydrolysis of the skin\u2019s own lipids. From there, it reaches the stratum corneum.<\/p>\n

This trihydric alcohol actually bears the official chemical name propan-1,2,3-triol and is a colorless, slightly viscous, and sweet-tasting liquid. Thanks to its special properties, it also plays an important role in cosmetics manufacturing, though one question always arises: Which glycerin is best suited for cosmetics?<\/p>\n

To answer this question, we need to take a closer look at the topic.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Which glycerin can be used in cosmetics?<\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s first examine the effects of glycerin. On the one hand, the substance has the ability to retain moisture in products such as toothpaste and shower gel, preventing them from drying out.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, it protects the skin from the surfactants contained in skincare products, which tend to dry out the skin.Furthermore, glycerin can bind moisture within our skin, which helps reduce the skin\u2019s natural water loss. So the active ingredient does indeed have many benefits, but which glycerin is actually best suited for cosmetics?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Which glycerin for cosmetics: the various extraction methods<\/h2>\n

Glycerin can be extracted in different ways. For example, it is often derived from petroleum. In this case, it is synthetically produced and conventional glycerin.<\/p>\n

Good to know: It may not be used in certified natural cosmetics, as mineral oil-based ingredients are prohibited in these products.<\/p>\n

However, the substance is often of animal origin as well, which makes the question of which glycerin can be used in cosmetics even more interesting. In this case, it is extracted from animal fats and is a byproduct of soap production. Beef tallow, for example, is frequently used in this process.<\/p>\n

Naturally, such products cannot receive a vegan label.<\/p>\n

Finally, the currently best extraction method, which actually provides a clear answer to the question of which glycerin should be used in cosmetics: plant-based sources.<\/p>\n

But even in this case, there are drawbacks. Here, glycerin is produced as a byproduct of palm oil or biodiesel production. That sounds good at first and is also considered very skin-friendly, but it\u2019s less positive for our climate. For example, it is well known that vast areas of rainforest are cleared for palm oil plantations.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What Consumers Should Look Out For<\/h2>\n

Due to the various extraction methods, consumers should always question the origin of the glycerin in their skincare products. Products whose glycerin is based on animal fats, petroleum, or palm oil should be avoided whenever possible. Corn and soy are also not good solutions, as they cannot be reconciled with an eco-conscious lifestyle due to monoculture farming.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Which glycerin is best for cosmetics?<\/h2>\n

But how can we answer the question of which glycerin is best for cosmetics?<\/p>\n

There is an alternative that is exceptionally natural, though also somewhat more expensive. We\u2019re talking about glycerin derived from olive oil production. It is vegan, ecologically sound, and contains no chemical additives. Formulas with olive oil-based glycerin are ideal for high-quality, premium cosmetic products such as creams and lotions.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Please feel free to contact us<\/a> if you would like to use palm-free glycerin in your cosmetics.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When you need it fast:<\/p>\n

\u2728 Our partner, Tojo Cosmetics<\/a>, offers innovative, active-ingredient-rich private label products\u2014quickly available, high-quality, and perfect for brands that want to win over customers with passion and quality.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Glycerin is found everywhere in our daily lives. It is present in antifreeze and shoe care products, appears in medications and dyes, and is even said to help keep our Christmas trees fresh longer. It is also part of our skin\u2019s own moisture-retention system, as it is released during the hydrolysis of the skin\u2019s own…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":19963,"template":"","class_list":["post-19962","encyclopedia","type-encyclopedia","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nWhich Glycerin for Cosmetics? A Practical Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Which glycerin for cosmetics is best? Learn about different glycerin sources and why plant-based glycerin is preferred for high-quality skincare products.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Which Glycerin for Cosmetics? A Practical Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Which glycerin for cosmetics is best? Learn about different glycerin sources and why plant-based glycerin is preferred for high-quality skincare products.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Cosmacon\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Glycerin-1404x936.jpg.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1404\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"936\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/\",\"name\":\"Which Glycerin for Cosmetics? A Practical Guide\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Glycerin-1404x936.jpg.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-04T09:57:24+00:00\",\"description\":\"Which glycerin for cosmetics is best? Learn about different glycerin sources and why plant-based glycerin is preferred for high-quality skincare products.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Glycerin-1404x936.jpg.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Glycerin-1404x936.jpg.webp\",\"width\":1404,\"height\":936},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"glossary\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/glossary\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Which Glycerin for Cosmetics?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/\",\"name\":\"Cosmacon\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Which Glycerin for Cosmetics? A Practical Guide","description":"Which glycerin for cosmetics is best? Learn about different glycerin sources and why plant-based glycerin is preferred for high-quality skincare products.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Which Glycerin for Cosmetics? A Practical Guide","og_description":"Which glycerin for cosmetics is best? Learn about different glycerin sources and why plant-based glycerin is preferred for high-quality skincare products.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/","og_site_name":"Cosmacon","og_image":[{"width":1404,"height":936,"url":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Glycerin-1404x936.jpg.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/","url":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/","name":"Which Glycerin for Cosmetics? A Practical Guide","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Glycerin-1404x936.jpg.webp","datePublished":"2026-06-04T09:57:24+00:00","description":"Which glycerin for cosmetics is best? Learn about different glycerin sources and why plant-based glycerin is preferred for high-quality skincare products.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Glycerin-1404x936.jpg.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Glycerin-1404x936.jpg.webp","width":1404,"height":936},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/glossary\/which-glycerin-for-cosmetics\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"glossary","item":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/glossary\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Which Glycerin for Cosmetics?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/","name":"Cosmacon","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia\/19962","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/encyclopedia"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19963"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cosmacon.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}