| What is it? |
Vegetable glycerin is a thick, clear, sticky liquid derived from plants like palm and coconut |
| INCI |
Glycerine |
| Appearance |
Clear liquid that looks like water, but is much more viscous. |
| Usage rate |
Up to 78.5%, though that’s a lot! Typical usage is lower—I usually use it at 3–30% in lotions. |
| Texture |
A thick, sticky liquid. |
| Scent |
A bit sweet (it tastes sweet as well). |
| Absorbency Speed |
Slow |
| pH |
7 |
| Solubility |
Water |
| Why do we use it in formulations? |
As a humectant to help draw moisture to the skin, and to add some gloss (and a slightly sweet taste) to products like lip gloss. |
| Do you need it? |
Yeah! I use it in loads of recipes. |
| Strengths |
A great humectant to add an extra boost to lotions and other emulsifier or water-based products. |
| Weaknesses |
Too much will make products sticky. How much is too much tends to be very personal as I find perceptions of stickiness are highly individual. I’ve made lotions with 30% glycerin and loved them! |
| Alternatives & Substitutions |
You’ll want to replace it with another humectant. Sodium lactate and propanediol 1,3 are good choices. |
| How to Work with It |
Include vegetable glycerin in the water phase of your products; it can be hot or cold processed. You may want to consider incorporating some dimethicone to counter any possible tackiness if used above 10–15%. |
| Storage & Shelf Life |
Stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry, vegetable glycerine (USA / Canada) has an indefinite shelf life. |
| Tips, Tricks, and Quirks |
You can use glycerin to make cool extracts! Most glycerin is vegetable sourced, but if you’re vegan you should confirm the source. |
| Recommended starter amount |
100mL (3.3fl oz) |
| Where to Buy it |
Buy it from an online DIY ingredient supplier or Amazon. |
