Stretch Your Personal Care Budget With Liquid Glycerin

If you’ve ever looked at the ingredient list on moisturizers, hand creams or lip balms, you’ve probably seen glycerin listed near the top.

There’s a good reason for that.

Glycerin is a humectant, which means it attracts moisture and helps your skin retain it. That’s why it’s found in so many personal care products.

Instead of buying several products that all rely on glycerin, you can often purchase a small bottle of liquid glycerin for around $5 (prices vary by retailer) and use it in a variety of ways.

A little goes a long way, making one bottle last for months—or even longer.

Here are some of the most practical ways to use it.

Note: Healthline.com advises against using undiluted, pure glycerin on your skin, as it can irritate it. See other safety precautions at the bottom of the article.

Make Your Favorite Lotion More Moisturizing

If you already have a lotion you like but wish it provided a little more hydration, try adding a drop or two of glycerin to the amount of lotion you dispense into your hand.

This lets you customize the richness without buying a more expensive moisturizer.

Avoid adding glycerin directly to the entire bottle unless you’re sure the product remains stable after mixing.

Help Dry Hands Feel Softer

Frequent handwashing can leave hands dry and rough.

Apply a tiny amount of glycerin to damp hands, or mix a drop with your regular hand cream before rubbing it in.

Because glycerin is concentrated, using too much may leave your hands feeling sticky.

Soothe Dry Elbows, Knees and Heels

Areas with thicker skin often need more moisture than the rest of your body.

After bathing, apply a small amount of glycerin mixed with lotion to rough spots such as:

• Elbows
• Knees
• Heels
• Ankles

Regular use may help keep these areas feeling softer.

Make a Simple Hydrating Body Mist

Many people enjoy using a light moisturizing spray during dry weather.

You can make a simple version by combining:

• Distilled water
• A small amount of liquid glycerin

Shake before each use.

Because homemade products don’t contain preservatives, make only a small amount and store it according to safe preparation practices. Discard it if it changes appearance or develops an odor.

Stretch Your Hand Soap

Some people find that certain liquid soaps leave their skin feeling dry.

Adding a very small amount of glycerin to the soap dispensed into your hand—not necessarily the entire bottle of soap—may help make washing less drying.

Test a small amount first, as results vary depending on the soap formulation.