Glycerin: Comedogenic Rating & Safety Profile
Also known as: Glycerol · Glycérine
The most studied humectant in skincare. Draws water into the skin, supports barrier function and is suitable for every skin type.
Quick facts about Glycerin
Safe
0 = won't clog pores · 5 = highly pore-clogging
Safe
0 = inert · 5 = often irritating
Humectants
Generally considered safe
Typically yes
Glycerol, Glycérine
Quick verdict
Glycerin is a humectant with a safe comedogenic profile (0/5) and safe irritancy (0/5). The most studied humectant in skincare. Draws water into the skin, supports barrier function and is suitable for every skin type.
What is Glycerin?
Glycerin (also called glycerol) is a small, water-soluble humectant — one of the oldest and most studied moisturising ingredients in skincare. It can be derived from plant oils (vegan), animal fats or synthesised petrochemically. In the skin, glycerin works by drawing water into the upper layers of the epidermis and supporting the skin's natural moisturising factor (NMF). It is found in approximately 99% of moisturisers globally — there is virtually no skin type or skin condition for which glycerin is contraindicated.
Comedogenic Rating: What 0/5 Means for Your Skin
Glycerin is rated 0/5 comedogenic. It is a tiny, water-soluble molecule with no fatty content and no mechanism for blocking pores.
Benefits for skin
- Powerful humectant — works at multiple skin depths
- Supports the skin's natural moisturising factor (NMF)
- Inert, safe and non-allergenic
- Found in 99% of moisturisers
Potential side effects & who should avoid it
Glycerin is one of the safest cosmetic ingredients ever studied. Allergy and irritation are essentially unreported. The only practical consideration is that very high concentrations (>40%) in dry climates can pull moisture from the skin rather than the air — but this isn't relevant to standard 5–20% formulations.
Best for
- All skin types
- Dry
- Oily
- Sensitive
- Eczema
- Babies
Avoid if
No widely reported groups need to avoid this ingredient. Patch-test if you have a history of sensitivities.
How to use Glycerin safely
No special precautions. Use freely at any step of your routine. Particularly helpful as part of a layered hydration approach (humectant serum + occlusive moisturiser).
Commonly found in
Glycerin is in moisturisers, serums, toners, cleansers, masks and almost every hydrating product on the market.
Found Glycerin in your skincare?
Paste the full ingredient list into our INCI Analyser to see how this ingredient interacts with everything else in the formula.
Frequently asked questions
Is glycerin comedogenic?
Is glycerin safe for sensitive or acne-prone skin?
Can I use glycerin every day?
Is glycerin vegan?
Other humectants to know
Hyaluronic Acid
A powerhouse humectant that draws moisture from the air into the skin, holding up to 1,000 times its weight in water.
Panthenol
Converts to Vitamin B5 in the skin. A humectant, soothing agent and barrier-repair active in one molecule.
Allantoin
A gentle keratolytic and soothing agent that calms irritation and softens roughness without exfoliating aggressively.
Sodium Hyaluronate
The salt form of hyaluronic acid. Smaller, more stable and faster to penetrate the upper layers of the skin.
Want the full picture on pore-clogging ingredients? Read our complete guide to comedogenic ingredients for the dermatology research behind the 0–5 scale and the full list of high-risk ingredients to avoid.
Written by ScanSkinAI Cosmetic Science Team · Last updated June 2026
This information is for educational purposes only. Always patch-test new products and consult a dermatologist if you have specific skin concerns.