undefined 1
undefined 2
undefined 3
undefined 4
undefined 5
undefined 6
undefined 7
Glycerol
AKA “glycerin, 56-81-5, Glycerine, 1, 2, 3-Propanetriol, Glycyl alcohol, Trihydroxypropane, Glyceritol, Osmoglyn, 3-trihydroxypropane”
Ingredient
Make this about you

Tap what applies — every card instantly flags it for you. Stays on your device.

Ingredient Facts
Glycerol
AKA: Glycerin, 56-81-5, Glycerine, 1, 2, 3-Propanetriol, Glycyl alcohol, Trihydroxypropane, Glyceritol, Osmoglyn, 3-trihydroxypropane
Ingredient · Antimicrobial
Synthetic
Preservative
Plant Oil
Not Clean
1,3-Dioxolane-4-methanol
Solubility greater than or equal to 100 mg/mL at 64 °F (NTP, 1992)
Formula
C3H8O3
Mol. Weight
92.09
CAS #
4740-78-7
Form
Liquid
State
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Antimicrobial
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Draws water to skin
Traditional Use
Known since ancient times; isolated as a glycerin byproduct in soap-making. Became a cornerstone ingredient in modern cosmetics in the 19th century due to its powerful humectant and skin-conditioning properties.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Dehydration
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
—
CIR
Safe
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
79.2%
45.0%
0%100%
Industry Max
Reg. Limit
FDA OTC limit (Skin Protectant): 45%. 21 CFR 347.10
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU⚠ restricted
JAPAN⚠ restricted
CANADA⚠ restricted
Regulatory Agencies
3 Piece Classic Suncare Travel Set
COOLA
 →
advanced retinol gel 0.5%
Cocokind
 →
Age Confidence™ NAD+ & TriPeptide Renewal Serum
Pai Skincare
 →
Age-Defying Fundamentals
Odacité
 →
the anti aging day and night ritual
Agent Nateur
 →
AHA Exfoliating Solution
Indie Lee
 →
AI Peptide Serum Duo
Acure
 →
AI Peptide Serum
Acure
 →
All In: The Farm Collection
Acure
 →
AM + PM Hydrating Booster Set
Goldfaden MD
 →
Anti-aging Dream Duo • SPF 50 + Retinol
Odacité
 →
Anti Aging Eye & Sun Defense Duo
Odacité
 →
Anti-Aging Hand Cream
COOLA
 →
Balance + Support Duo
Marie Veronique
 →
The New Tendency Complete Set
Nécessaire
 →
Bathroom Sink Ritual Set
Acure
 →
beginner retinol gel 0.1%
Cocokind
 →
Bioactive Renew Supreme Cream • Edelweiss Extrême® • Peptides + Carnosine
Odacité
 →
Black Tulip Eye Treatment
Bloom Effects
 →
Black Tulip Facial Treatment
Bloom Effects
 →
Black Tulip Regenerative Brightening Serum
Bloom Effects
 →
body cleansing bar
Cocokind
 →
Gentle Genius™ Barrier Care Soothing Body Cream
Pai Skincare
 →
Body Lotion
Acure
 →
Body Surge Travel
Goldfaden MD
 →
Botanical D Moisture Mist
One Love Organics
 →
Botanical D Moisture Mist - 3 Pack
One Love Organics
 →
Botanical E Neck & Décolleté Firming Cream
One Love Organics
 →
Brand New Day Microderma Scrub + Masque
One Love Organics
 →
Mini Brand New Day Microderma Scrub + Masque
One Love Organics
 →
Brightening Cream
Indie Lee
 →
Brightening Elixir
Goldfaden MD
 →
C Complex Serum
Josh Rosebrook
 →
Hydra-Firm Full Body Duo • C-Glow & C-Smooth • Vitamin C+ Kakadu Plum
Odacité
 →
calm & clarify duo
Cocokind
 →
calming magnesium mist
Cocokind
 →
Middlemist Seven™ Cream Cleanser Mini
Pai Skincare
 →
ceramide hydration duo
Cocokind
 →
ceramide lip blur balm
Cocokind
 →
Hydrating Sunscreen Lotion - Piña Colada
COOLA
 →
Hydrating Sunscreen Lotion - Tropical Coconut
COOLA
 →
Hydrating Sunscreen Lotion - Fragrance Free
COOLA
 →
Hydrating Sunscreen Lotion - Guava Mango
COOLA
 →
Hydrating Sunscreen Lotion - Peach Blossom
COOLA
 →
Face Sunscreen Lotion - Cucumber
COOLA
 →
Face Sunscreen Lotion - Fragrance Free
COOLA
 →
Face Sunscreen Lotion - White Tea
COOLA
 →
Face Sunscreen Mist
COOLA
 →
Clean & Comfort Duo
Indie Lee
 →
Clean-ical Formulations AM + PM Serum Duo
Odacité
 →
Ethylhexylglycerin: a low-risk, but highly relevant, sensitizer in 'hypo-allergenic' cosmetics.
Aerts O, Verhulst L, Goossens A
Contact dermatitis, 2016
→
Safety Assessment of Glycerin Ethoxylates as Used in Cosmetics.
Akinsulie A, Raj PS, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
→
Safety Assessment of Glycerin Ethoxylates as Used in Cosmetics.
Akinsulie A, Raj PS, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
→
Safety Assessment of Glycerin Ethoxylates as Used in Cosmetics.
Akinsulie A, Raj PS, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
→
Safety Assessment of Glycerin Ethoxylates as Used in Cosmetics.
Akinsulie A, Raj PS, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
→
Safety Assessment of Glycerin Ethoxylates as Used in Cosmetics.
Akinsulie A, Raj PS, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
→
Safety Assessment of Glycerin Ethoxylates as Used in Cosmetics.
Akinsulie A, Raj PS, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
→
Safety Assessment of Glycerin Ethoxylates as Used in Cosmetics.
Akinsulie A, Raj PS, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
→
Safety Assessment of Glycerin Ethoxylates as Used in Cosmetics.
Akinsulie A, Raj PS, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
→
Safety Assessment of Glycerin Ethoxylates as Used in Cosmetics.
Akinsulie A, Raj PS, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2025
→
Safety Assessment of Glycerin as Used in Cosmetics.
Lillian C Becker, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen, Daniel C Liebler + 6 more
International journal of toxicology, 2019
→
Safety Assessment of Glycerin as Used in Cosmetics.
Lillian C Becker, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen, Daniel C Liebler + 6 more
International journal of toxicology, 2019
→
Safety Assessment of Glycerin as Used in Cosmetics.
Lillian C Becker, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen, Daniel C Liebler + 6 more
International journal of toxicology, 2019
→
Safety Assessment of Glycerin as Used in Cosmetics.
Becker LC, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2019
→
Alkylglycerol Derivatives, a New Class of Skin Penetration Modulators.
Bernal-Chávez SA, Pérez-Carreto LY, Nava-Arzaluz MG, Ganem-Rondero A
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2017
→
Final Report: Safety Assessment of Diglycerin and Polyglycerin-3, -6, and -10 as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Safety Assessment of Glycerin as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Safety Assessment of Glycerin Ethoxylates as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Caprylyl Glycol/Glycerin/Polyacrylic Acid Copolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Ethylhexylglycerin
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Glycerin
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Lauryl Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Lysophosphatidylglycerol
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Phosphatidylglycerol
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyglycerin-10
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
polyglycerin-3
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyglycerin-6
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid/Glycerin Crosspolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Capryloyl Glycerin
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Diglycerin
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Ethylhexylglycerin
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Glycerin
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Lauryl Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Phosphatidylglycerol
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
polyglycerin-3
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid/Glycerin Crosspolymer
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Phase Behavior of Polyglycerol Ester-Based Nanoemulsions.
Gan L, Cui D, Ali N, Zhang Q, Zhang D et al.
Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology, 2021
→
Phase Behavior of Polyglycerol Ester-Based Nanoemulsions.
Gan L, Cui D, Ali N, Zhang Q, Zhang D et al.
Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology, 2021
→
Phase Behavior of Polyglycerol Ester-Based Nanoemulsions.
Gan L, Cui D, Ali N, Zhang Q, Zhang D et al.
Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology, 2021
→
Phase Behavior of Polyglycerol Ester-Based Nanoemulsions.
Gan L, Cui D, Ali N, Zhang Q, Zhang D et al.
Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology, 2021
→
Phase Behavior of Polyglycerol Ester-Based Nanoemulsions.
Gan L, Cui D, Ali N, Zhang Q, Zhang D et al.
Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology, 2021
→
Glycerin
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
Nitroglycerin
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
Regioisomerism of triacylglycerols in lard, tallow, yolk, chicken skin, palm oil, palm olein, palm stearin, and a transesterified blend of palm steari
Kallio H, Yli-Jokipii K, Kurvinen JP, Sjövall O, Tahvonen R
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2001
→
Regioisomerism of triacylglycerols in lard, tallow, yolk, chicken skin, palm oil, palm olein, palm stearin, and a transesterified blend of palm steari
Kallio H, Yli-Jokipii K, Kurvinen JP, Sjövall O, Tahvonen R
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2001
→
Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Trimethylpentanediol/Adipic Acid/Glycerin Crosspolymer in a Lip Balm.
Lockmann A, Schill T, Schubert S, Buhl T
Contact dermatitis, 2026
→
Evaluation of additive effects of hydrolyzed jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) esters and glycerol: a preliminary study.
Meyer J, Marshall B, Gacula M Jr, Rheins L
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2008
→
Evaluation of additive effects of hydrolyzed jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) esters and glycerol: a preliminary study.
Meyer J, Marshall B, Gacula M Jr, Rheins L
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2008
→
Physicochemical properties and volatile formation mechanism of medium-chain triacylglycerols during heating.
Park S, Kim MJ, Lee JH
Journal of food science, 2022
→
Effects of 1,3-propanediol associated, or not, with butylene glycol and/or glycerol on skin hydration and skin barrier function.
Pinto JR, Monteiro E Silva SA, Leonardi GR
International journal of cosmetic science, 2024
→
Polyglycerol fatty acid ester surfactant-based microemulsions for targeted delivery of ceramide AP into the stratum corneum: formulation, characterisa
Sahle FF, Metz H, Wohlrab J, Neubert RH
European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics : official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik e.V, 2012
→
Starvation depresses acylglycerol biosynthesis in bovine subcutaneous but not intramuscular adipose tissue homogenates.
Smith SB, Lin KC, Wilson JJ, Lunt DK, Cross HR
Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology, 1998
→
Targeting mitochondrial dysfunction in atopic dermatitis with trilinolein: A triacylglycerol from the medicinal plant Cannabis fructus.
Wang Y, Lu H, Cheng L, Guo W, Hu Y et al.
Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology, 2024
→
Tailoring the Stability of W/O/W Liquid Foundations: A Comparative Study of Polyglycerol-Based W/O Emulsifiers.
Zhu C, Zeng L, Xie Z, Luo G, Chung LH et al.
ACS omega, 2026
→
Tailoring the Stability of W/O/W Liquid Foundations: A Comparative Study of Polyglycerol-Based W/O Emulsifiers.
Zhu C, Zeng L, Xie Z, Luo G, Chung LH et al.
ACS omega, 2026
→
Tailoring the Stability of W/O/W Liquid Foundations: A Comparative Study of Polyglycerol-Based W/O Emulsifiers.
Zhu C, Zeng L, Xie Z, Luo G, Chung LH et al.
ACS omega, 2026
→
Tailoring the Stability of W/O/W Liquid Foundations: A Comparative Study of Polyglycerol-Based W/O Emulsifiers.
Zhu C, Zeng L, Xie Z, Luo G, Chung LH et al.
ACS omega, 2026
→
Tailoring the Stability of W/O/W Liquid Foundations: A Comparative Study of Polyglycerol-Based W/O Emulsifiers.
Zhu C, Zeng L, Xie Z, Luo G, Chung LH et al.
ACS omega, 2026
→
Tailoring the Stability of W/O/W Liquid Foundations: A Comparative Study of Polyglycerol-Based W/O Emulsifiers.
Zhu C, Zeng L, Xie Z, Luo G, Chung LH et al.
ACS omega, 2026
→
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · CIR