Vegetable Glycerol 99,5% USP/BP, 5000 ml

Vegetable glycerin 99.5% USP/BP binds water and retains it in the skin and in the product. As a humectant, it is added to creams, serums, tonics, shampoos, shower gels and toothpastes to prevent their content from drying out and to keep skin supple after application. It also serves as a solvent for water-soluble active ingredients and plant extracts.

It is produced from rapeseed and sunflower oil of European origin and purified by neutralisation, refining and distillation to a purity of 99.5%. It meets the requirements of the USP and BP pharmacopoeias, giving it pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food-grade quality, making it suitable for products intended for children and sensitive skin.

Key benefits

• Skin hydration – attracts water from the air and from the deeper layers of the skin to its surface. This is most noticeable in leave-on products, where glycerin remains on the skin.
• Protection of the product from drying out – creams, gels and pastes retain their consistency longer, a skin forms less readily on the surface and the product is easier to spread.
• Solvent and carrier – water-soluble active ingredients, powders and dry extracts can be pre-dissolved or dispersed in glycerin and then added to the water phase.
• Plant origin, no classification – the raw material is not subject to CLP classification, contains no fragrance allergens and is readily biodegradable.
• USP/BP quality – suitable also for oral care products, intimate hygiene and children's cosmetics.

Use in formulation

It belongs to the water phase. It mixes with water, alcohol and glycols, but does not dissolve in oils, so it is not suitable on its own for anhydrous oil-based products. In emulsions, it is added to the water phase before emulsification; in tonics, hydrolat sprays and gel serums, it is simply mixed into the water cold.

The recommended dosage is 1 – 10%. The lower end is sufficient for tonics and light sprays, while the upper end is used in intensely moisturising masks or in products where glycerin also acts as a solvent. It tolerates processing temperatures up to 80 °C, so it can be heated together with the water phase when making hot-process emulsions. It is stable in the range of pH 3 – 10, which covers common cosmetic formulations.

In shampoos and shower gels, glycerin reduces the feeling of tightness after washing; in conditioners, it promotes hair smoothness. In oral care products, it prevents the paste from drying out and gives it a mildly sweet taste. In bath bombs, it is added as a binder that helps compress the mixture, and after dissolving in water, it leaves a moisturising film on the skin. In water-based decorative cosmetics, it keeps the product supple and slows down its drying.

Suitable for products such as

• Face and body creams and emulsions for all skin types including sensitive and children's
• Serums, tonics and moisturising sprays with a water or hydrolat base
• Shampoos, conditioners and scalp products
• Shower gels, intimate wash gels and other rinse-off products
• Toothpastes and mouthwashes
• Bath bombs, salts and masks
• Decorative cosmetics on a water base

Good to know

Glycerin attracts water, it does not create it. In a leave-on product intended to provide long-term hydration to the skin, we therefore recommend combining it with ingredients that retain water in the skin: vegetable oils, butters or other emollients. In a tonic at low dosage it works on its own, but in a dry environment it is not sufficient alone on the skin.

As the dosage increases, its own character begins to show: the product becomes stickier to the touch and absorbs more slowly. In creams and serums intended to be lightweight and quick to work in, it is better to stay at lower concentrations and balance the stickiness with emollients. Higher dosages are well tolerated by masks and rinse-off products.

Frequently asked questions