Vegetable Glycerin
Vegetable Glycerin
Vegetable glycerin, or glycerol, is a clear, odorless liquid produced from plant oils, typically palm oil, soy, or coconut oil. Palm and coconut oils are natural triglyceride mixtures; each triglyceride is composed of three fatty acids esterified with glycerin. Vegetable glycerin has a number of valuable applications that include cosmetic products, foods, and as a replacement for alcohol in herbal and botanical tinctures.
How is Vegetable Glycerin Made?
Vegetable glycerin is produced using an extraction process called hydrolysis. During hydrolysis, oils are placed under the combined force of pressure, temperature, and water. The ester bond breaks and causes the glycerin to split from fatty acids and be absorbed by water; at which point the resultant is further isolated by distillation to increase purity. Purified vegetable glycerin has a texture similar to an oil or syrup due to its organic molecular makeup, specifically, three hydroxyl groups.
The Benefits of Vegetable Glycerin?
Vegetable glycerin used in food applications is USP grade or over 99% pure and has a sweet taste. Vegetable glycerin metabolizes differently than sugar and is used in low carbohydrate foods for sweetness and moisture. Unlike sugar, glycerin does not contribute to tooth decay.
Many household products, including lotions, shampoo, and toothpaste, contain vegetable glycerin. Glycerin is added to these products because it is a humectant; a substance that attracts moisture to the skin. In the cosmetic world, this has two practical applications. First, glycerin leaves your skin hydrated. Glycerin soap, for example, is popular for that very reason. Second, for cosmetic products that deliver an active ingredient, a humectant can increase the solubility of the active ingredient, making it more easily absorbed by the skin.
Vegetable glycerin may be used as a solvent and substitute for alcohol when producing botanical and herbal extracts. This is advantageous for people who wish to avoid alcohol exposure.
Other Uses for Vegetable Glycerin
The safety of vegetable glycerin coupled with its functional properties has made it invaluable for various medical applications. The hydrating effect of glycerin makes it ideal as a topical remedy for burns. Glycerin is also used in the production of suppositories. A good source to look for is a USP grade, non-GMO, allergen free, kosher certified vegetable glycerin.
†Results may vary. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. Global Healing Center does not dispense medical advice, prescribe, or diagnose illness. The views and nutritional advice expressed by Global Healing Center are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician.
Reference: GlobalHealthCentre.com
Articles-Latest
- How to Tighten Your Loose Skin After Weight Loss
- Everything You Need To Know Before Getting A Septum Piercing
- What you should know about treating rosacea in darker skin tones
- Shampoos and Conditioners Designed to Soothe Dry, Itchy Scalps
- 3 things an expert wants you to know before getting filler
- Dissolving filler: everything you need to know
- How thread lifts differ to facelifts – and filler injections
- People are using face tape to minimise wrinkles, but does it work? After asking a plastic surgeon, I tried it for myself
- Reality of Black beauty influencing - making foundation with eyeshadow and unequal pay
- All you need to know about treating eczema on Black skin
- How to treat spider veins on your face and legs, tried and tested Story by Ellie Davis • 6d
- Hyperpigmentation: The best treatments
- Skincare Acids Decoded: What AHAs, BHAs & PHAs Actually Do For Your Skin
- Toxic Beauty: Protected by Labelling? The Truth about 'Hypoallergenic' and Dermatologist Tested.
- Makeup technique to 'master' to make mature eyelids look 'totally different' in seconds
- Here’s how to use hair oils if you have fine or thin hair
- Wondered what those little white bumps on your skin are? Here's how to treat milia under your eyes
- Gender neutral skincare isn’t woke – it makes perfect sense
- Anti-ageing gene injections could rewind your heart age by 10 years
- Anti-ageing banana peel hack 'naturally reduces wrinkles and exfoliates skin' fan claim
Cosmetic ingredients
LOGIN
Who's On Line
We have 11 guests and no members online
Articles-Most Read
- Home
- Leucidal
- White Bees Wax
- Cosmetic Preservatives A-Z
- Caprylyl Glycol
- Cosmetics Unmasked - How Safe Are Colorants?
- Cosmetics Unmasked - Choosing Ingredients
- Cosmetics Unmasked - Colorants And Fragrances
- EcoSilk
- Toxic Beauty - Who's Looking At Cosmetics?
- Cosmetics Unmasked - Fragrances
- Chemicals Lingering In The Environment
- Microbes and Safety Standards
- Microbes and Cosmetics
- Toxic Beauty - Hazardous To Your Health
- Yellow Bees Wax
- Potassium Sorbate
- Synthetics In Cosmetics - The Industry Fights Back
- Fresh Goat's Milk Soap
- Active Ingredients
- What's Happening in the USA - Cosmetic Regulations - Toxic Beauty
- Cosmetics Unmasked - Listing Cosmetics
- Natural Waxes A-Z
- Toxic Beauty - Cocktails and Low Doses
- Natural Butters A-Z