Glycerin Vs. Hyaluronic Acid

You might hear a lot about humectants in skin care, namely hyaluronic acid and glycerin. These two ingredients both have the power to absorb and retain moisture to maintain the skin's moisture barrier, as well as address certain concerns like dehydrated skin, fine lines and wrinkles, and dull or uneven skin tone. So, with both working to provide long lasting hydration to the stratum corneum, how do you know what ingredient to use? Are hyaluronic acid and glycerin interchangeable? Should certain skin types choose one over the other?

In this article, we outline what you should know about glycerin and hyaluronic acid and how they stack up against one another.

What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance produced by the body, responsible for the skin’s plumpness and volume. As we age, our cell renewal cycle slows down and the production of hyaluronic acid begins to decline, which is why incorporating it into our skincare routine is essential for maintaining the skin’s moisture balance, while also helping to smooth skin texture and visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid is found in all kinds of skincare products including cleansers, moisturisers and serums.

What is glycerin?

Glycerin is a humectant that penetrates deeper layers of the skin to keep the skin soft and supple. Glycerin can be derived from vegetable, animal or synthetic forms and has the ability to pull moisture both out of the air and the deeper layers of skin for optimal hydration.

By penetrating deeper layers of skin, glycerin supports the skin’s moisture barrier, acting as a natural defence against environmental aggressors. It can also help with the skin’s renewal cycle and won’t clog the pores.

Glycerin or hyaluronic acid?

Both hyaluronic acid and glycerin are humectants and serve the same function of drawing in moisture to hydrate the skin. A key difference is the size of molecules. Glycerin has a lower molecular weight, giving it the ability to penetrate deeply into the skin. Hyaluronic acid molecules are larger, so it has more power in hydrating the surface layers of skin, giving the skin a plump, supple feel.

The other main difference between the two humectants is the texture. Glycerin has a stickier consistency and might not be ideal for oilier skin types. Many formulas will incorporate ingredients like dimethicone to balance out the stickiness of glycerin. Hyaluronic acid is very lightweight and doesn’t leave a sticky texture on the skin, which is why oily skin types prefer it over glycerin.

Can you use glycerin and hyaluronic acid together?

Choosing between the two humectants comes down to personal preference. There’s no reason not to use both in tandem, and oftentimes moisturisers will be formulated with both ingredients. Most skin types will find benefit in incorporating both glycerin and hyaluronic acid, but depending on your skin concern you may want to opt for one over the other.

Sensitive skin or dry skin

Sensitive and easily irritated skin usually has a higher risk of affecting the skin moisture barrier. Glycerin is effective in drawing water from both the deeper layers of skin and the outer environment, making it great for hydrating sensitive skin. You can opt for containing both glycerin and hyaluronic acid to amplify the hydrating effects of both.

Keep the skin hydrated with the Ceramides PM Facial Moisturising Lotion.

Oily or blemish-prone skin

Blemish prone skin should look for non-comedogenic ingredients or products. Because glycerin has a sticky texture, you might opt for the more lightweight hyaluronic acid. If you’re targeting blemishes with ingredients like salicylic acid that dry the skin, it's especially important that you counterbalance these products with hydrating ingredients.

Use the Ceramides Oil-Free Foaming Cleanser to cleanse the skin without stripping away too much of the skin’s moisture barrier.

Mature skin

If you’re looking to address ageing skin concerns like fine lines and wrinkles, look to products containing hyaluronic acid. Our skin’s ability to naturally produce hyaluronic acid declines as we age, which affects the skin’s volume, leading to skin sagging or wrinkling. By adding high concentrations of hyaluronic acid to your skincare you can help to replenish and plump ageing skin, while maintaining the skin’s moisture barrier.

Try the Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum for deep hydration to ageing skin.