Vegetable Glycerine

Vegetable Glycerine oil may support, aid, ease, soothe, reduce, calm, relax, promote and/or maintain healthy function:
Acne - gentle cleasning properties, oil-regulating, doesn't clog pores
Burns - has a cooling effect and may soothe minor burns, sunburn, rashes, hives, insect bites, diaper rash, razor burn and so on
Cosmetics
Diaper Rash
Eczema
Herbal remedies: used to extract botanical properties from plant materials without the use of alcohol
Hives
Hydrate - moisturizes by attracting water from the environment into the skin which increases skin hydration
Insect Bites
Moisturizing - 'locks' in moisture without clogging pores
Mouth Ulcers
Psoriasis
Shampoo
Skin: dry skin, emollient properties, moisturizing, rashes, soothing, wrinkles
Soaps
Toothpaste (although glycerine inhibits remineralization)
Wound Care

Properties and Uses
Vegetable Glycerine is a versatile product because it is soluble in both water and alcohol. It is suitable to blend just a bit with your favorite hydrosol or add to the water phase of a cream or lotion. It will not incorporate into a facial oil or salve that contains no water.

Cleansing: Combine with Castille Soap and add some essential oil for a gentle, moisturizing cleanser. It works as an emulsifier and is useful in both water and oil-based products. Add to appropriate hydrolats to make your own facial toners.

Moisturizing: Use to make lotions, creams, lip balms, body butters, bath salts, hair conditioner, on fingernails and chapped dry skin. Add at no more than 10% of the final blend.

Oral Preparations: The naturally sweet taste makes is perfect for use with herbal tinctures and medicinal blends. We would personally not use it in a toothpaste because it prevents remineralizion. Click here for more information regarding glycerine in toothpastes and read the section about Dr. Gerald Judd.

Facial Toner
2oz spray bottle
1 TB Vegetable Glycerine
4 TB Lavender or Rose Hydrolat (may use slightly less than 4TB)
1-2 drops Lavender or Rose essential oil
Add the Vegetable Glycerine to the bottle, then fill with the hydrolat to the 'shoulder' of the bottle. Add the essential oil and gently combine by rolling the bottle.
This is suitable to add to a spray bottle and spray onto hands and pat on face and neck (close your eyes!)
Store in a cool location.
HEO's Comment: Using this simple recipe as a guide, tinker with other hydrolats and essential oils to find the combination that works best for you.

Skin Moisturizer
1/4 cup Vegetable Glycerine
1 cup distilled or filtered water or Lavender or Rose Hydrolat
1-3 drops essential oils with skin-friendly properties
Add the Vegetable Glycerine to the bottle, then fill with the water or hydrolat to the 'shoulder' of the bottle. Add the essential oil and gently combine by rolling the bottle.
This is suitable to add to a spray bottle and spray onto hands and pat on face and neck (close your eyes!)
Store in a cool location.

Research
Glycerin May Help Skin Disease, Study Finds by ScienceDaily
Researchers at the Medical College of Georgia found that glycerine makes skin look, feel and function better by attracting moisture and by helping skin cells mature properly; they also discovered that it helps convert fats or lipids in the external, protective membrane. All cells have this layer and skin cells secrete extra lipids which help provide an additional barrier. "Think about it," Dr. Bollag says. "If there was not some sort of barrier, when you took a bath, all the water would go into you and you would blow up like a balloon."
Medical College Of Georgia (2003, December 3). Glycerin May Help Skin Disease, Study Finds.