You can find glycerin in almost every skincare product, whether it’s a moisturizer or a cleanser. Glycerin is a superhero ingredient that’s also found naturally in our skin. It’s also a safe, affordable, and common component.
Glycerin can provide multiple benefits to your skin, like restoring the skin barrier and locking in hydration. However, it can be tricky to find something without glycerin. Also, plenty of other repairing ingredients can provide similar benefits.
While there are little to no side effects of glycerin, there is a chance you can have an allergic reaction. It’s been said that glycerin may potentially trigger fungal acne as well, but there is not enough evidence at the moment to support this claim.
Also, using too much glycerin at once can have the opposite effect on your skin. So, instead of locking in hydration, your skin may feel drier. Thankfully, a few moisturizers on the market don’t contain glycerin in the formulation.
What are the best glycerin free moisturizers? The best glycerin-free moisturizers will use other nourishing components like panthenol or centella asiatica extract. In addition, most barrier-repairing products contain other emollients or humectants.
If you’re looking for the absolute best glycerin free moisturizers on the market but have no idea where to start, don’t worry! We’ll explain everything, so stick with us.
How To Pick The Best Glycerin Free Moisturizer
Everyone needs a moisturizer in their skincare routine, no matter their skin type. A good moisturizer should offer hydration, work well with your skin, and keep a healthy skin barrier.
However, most skincare products list glycerin as their second most used ingredient. So, if you’re ready to start your hunt for a glycerin-free moisturizer, here are a few things to look out for.
Read The Ingredients List
All your answers regarding a certain skincare product can be found on the ingredients list.
The ingredients list will tell you precisely what components are used in a product, and they are usually listed in the most potent to the least in descending order.
Because glycerin is such a well-loved and common ingredient, it will be rare to find a cosmetic label that says glycerin-free. So, the best way to find out if there is glycerin in your moisturizer is by reading the ingredients list.
Choose Other Barrier-Repairing Components
Glycerin is a significant component in protecting your skin and strengthening its barrier. Thankfully, multiple other ingredients can do the same. For example, panthenol, centella asiatica, and aloe vera are all healthy options.
You can also look for other popular humectants or emollients to protect your skin barrier. For example, a popular humectant is hyaluronic acid.
Address Your Skin Type
Finally, you’ll want to address your skin type. You’ll want to choose a moisturizer that works well for your skin so you can reap the most benefits possible. Thankfully, most moisturizers will work for all skin types. You can also find one tailored for your needs.
Best Glycerin Free Moisturizers
It can be tough to find a skincare product without glycerin. While it is a great ingredient, others work just as well or better than glycerin. Follow along for our glycerin-free moisturizers if you’re unsure where to start looking.
Rank | Product | Key Features |
---|---|---|
1. | Innisfree Aloe Vitalizing Soothing Gel | Aloe gel moisturizer, multipurpose, hydrating |
2. | Eucerin Original Healing Cream | Emollient-rich, barrier-repairing, fragrance-free |
3. | COSRX Advanced Snail Repair Cream | 92% snail mucin, K-beauty, acne-prone skin |
4. | First Aid Beauty Hello FAB Coconut Cream | Water-based, lightweight, electrolytes |
5. | Purito B5 Panthenol Re-Barrier Cream | 10% panthenol, barrier-repairing, hydrating |
6. | Neutralyze Renewal Complex Acne Moisturizer | Acne-fighting, potent, promotes cell turnover |
7. | Biossance 100% Squalane Oil | 100% squalane from sugarcane, versatile |
1. Innisfree Aloe Vitalizing Soothing Gel
Is there a more soothing skin ingredient than aloe? Aloe vera has been used for centuries to heal the skin, and it’s still a popular ingredient used in skincare today.
So if you’re looking for a glycerin-free cream that soothes the skin, look no further! Innisfree has created a multipurpose aloe gel moisturizer that instantly hydrates the skin.
The Vitalizing Soothing Gel will lock in moisture and calm down skin flare-ups. Its gel texture is exceptionally lightweight and effortlessly glides on the face.
Now you can rejuvenate your body from head to toe with one product. Innisfree ensures that this gel moisturizer is safe on your face and body. Also, if you use this product consistently, you’ll notice that the skin’s moisture barrier will improve.
The Vitalizing Soothing Gel looks and feels like aloe, and it offers hydrating properties like a regular moisturizer. This product can also be used on the hair to bring new life to your strands.
Now you can lock in moisture without needing glycerin as the main component.
Innisfree recommends applying this product to dry skin or dry areas that need the most TLC. It’s an easy-to-use, K-beauty product with a gentle formula. You can use it daily or whenever you need to combat severely dry or sensitive skin.
2. Eucerin Original Healing Cream
Eucerin is a well-known drugstore skincare brand that dermatologists highly recommend.
Do you struggle with dehydrated or sensitive skin? Eucerin has created a versatile moisturizer that will strengthen your skin barrier.
The Original Healing Cream will hydrate and protect every part of your body. This cream is also available in a large tube so that you can stock up your skincare cabinet! Eucerin formulated this hydrating and repairing moisturizer without glycerin.
You’ll notice the Original Healing Cream has a thick and rich texture. This is because it’s crafted to lock in moisture thanks to its emollient-rich formula. Eucerin formulated this product without irritating components like fragrances or dyes.
This moisturizer is ideal for compromised skin or if you’re dealing with a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis. The Original Healing Cream will prevent moisture loss by binding water to the skin that lasts for up to 24 hours.
Even though this cream has a thick consistency, it will absorb quickly into the skin without feeling greasy or heavy. It’s also designed not to clog pores. The Original Healing Cream is formulated for the body, but it can also be applied to the face.
Eucerin recommends applying this product once a day to get the most benefits. Also, you can use it whenever you feel dry or sensitive, or even right after a shower.
3. COSRX Advanced Snail Repair Cream
COSRX is a K-Beauty brand that’s expanded Asian beauty in the Western market.
Are you looking for a unique cream that doesn’t contain glycerin? The Advanced Snail 92% All-In-One Repair Cream will repair the skin, offer hydration, and has a one-of-a-kind texture.
COSRX has formulated this cream with 92% snail mucin or snail secretion filtrate. This ingredient works wonders if you’re looking to soothe sensitive skin and stop breakouts in its tracks. This is a gel moisturizer that’s designed for acne-prone skin.
In addition, COSRX states that snail mucin is gathered with environmentally-friendly and cruelty-free methods, so no snails are harmed. This dermatologist-recommended cream is also formulated without sensitizing components like sulfates, parabens, and phthalates.
Another unique feature of the Advanced Snail 92 Cream is its stringy texture. It also looks like melted cheese out of the jar, but it absorbs effortlessly into the skin. It has a thick and rich consistency that protects the skin.
COSRX states this cream will target and reduce the appearance of breakouts, redness, dry skin, and damage. It’s designed to provide long-lasting hydration because it contains 1.000ppm of hyaluronic acid.
A little goes a long way with this cream so that you can apply it in small amounts. COSRX recommends patting the cream into the skin gently until it’s fully absorbed.
4. First Aid Beauty Hello FAB Coconut Water Cream
First Aid Beauty is known for its skin-saving product lines, and this new moisturizer is no different. The Hello FAB Coconut Water Cream is the ideal moisturizer that feels weightless on the skin. It feels like a tall glass of water meant to hydrate the face.
The Hello FAB Coconut Water Cream is oil-free, fragrance-free, and glycerin-free. In addition, it’s designed to give your skin a boost of electrolytes to create a healthy complexion. It’s ideal for all skin types that want to promote plump and youthful skin.
First Aid Beauty formulated this cream with coconut water. This water-based formula won’t clog pores, and it promotes smooth skin. It also contains other repairing properties like white tea.
Because this cream is water-based, it won’t look and feel as heavy as other moisturizers. It will seamlessly absorb into the face and leave you with a natural glow. It will also layer perfectly under sunscreen or makeup.
First Aid Beauty formulates all its products with clean ingredients, without artificial fragrances, and keeps sensitive skin types in mind. This brand is cruelty-free as well. The Hello FAB Coconut Water Cream also has clinically proven results.
You can use this water-based cream during the day or at night. All you need to do is pat a few dots of this cream into the face after cleansing or using any serums.
5. Purito B5 Panthenol Re-Barrier Cream
Glycerin may not be ideal for every skin type or condition. However, you can still get moisturizing and repairing benefits from other ingredients like panthenol.
For example, the Purito B5 panthenol Re-Barrier Cream will instantly soothe and restore your skin.
Purito is also an Asian beauty brand that formulates with gentle and effective ingredients. The Re-Barrier Cream contains vitamin B5 or panthenol to act as a humectant and emollient to protect the skin from harsh external factors.
The B5 panthenol Re-Barrier Cream will instantly provide relief to the skin and reduce the appearance of redness. Therefore, it’s an ideal product for compromised skin. Also, it contains other soothing components like centella asiatica extract.
You’ll notice that this product has a creamy and hydrating texture that glides onto the skin with ease. Purito ensures that the panthenol in this product will create a shield to keep moisture in and repair your skin barrier simultaneously.
The B5 panthenol Re-Barrier Cream packaging is made from upcycled sugarcane so that it can be easily recycled. This cream is excellent to use during the day or at night. It also contains skin-loving components like squalane and niacinamide.
So, if you’re looking for a way to reduce inflammation and strengthen your skin barrier, try this B5 panthenol cream. This lightweight and hydrating formula will work well with most products, whether you like to use retinol or wear makeup.
6. Neutralyze Renewal Complex Acne Moisturizer
Do you struggle with acne or breakouts? Glycerin can sometimes trigger specific flare-ups like fungal acne, which is why Neutralyze came up with a solution. The Renewal Complex Acne Moisturizer will slowly reduce breakouts over time.
This moisturizer is unique because it contains various chemical exfoliants. Neutralyze formulated this product with 2% salicylic acid and 1% mandelic acid. Both chemical exfoliants will promote cell turnover and a smooth complexion.
Salicylic acid works by exfoliating the skin from within, while mandelic acid is much more gentle and exfoliates the surface. Neutralyze claims this cream will also unclog pores and regulate sebum production with consistent use.
The Renewal Complex Acne Moisturizer can also combat various signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. However, it’s a potent formula that is best to use at night because chemical exfoliants can increase your sensitivity to the sun.
This product is a moisturizer and acne treatment in one. You can use this cream nightly or a few times a week as a treatment if you’re on the more sensitive side. It also has a creamy texture that will quickly absorb into the skin.
Overall, this is a superhero product if you want to treat acne, even out your skin tone, and prevent imperfections from appearing in the future. It will also be wise to wear sunscreen in the morning so the acne treatment can work its magic.
7. Biossance 100% Squalane Oil
Facial oil can provide similar hydrating and moisturizing benefits for the skin, just like any cream. The Biossance 100% squalane oil will quickly smooth, hydrate, and soften your skin, all with one ingredient. The primary and only ingredient is squalane.
This glycerin-free oil will keep your skin protected without using unknown components. Biossance’s squalane oil is sourced from sugarcane, so no sharks were harmed for this product. It’s also a sustainably sourced ingredient.
The 100% squalane oil feels weightless on the skin, and it will reduce irritation in a flash. It’s great to use on its own, or it can be paired with other skincare products. However, it’s a deeply nourishing ingredient that protects the skin barrier.
Biossance claims this product is safe to use on the face and the body. The oil is deeply nourishing, so you’ll only need to use a few drops at a time. The 100% squalane oil absorbs seamlessly into the skin without feeling greasy.
Squalane is a great cruelty-free alternative to squalene. For example, squalane is shelf-stable, doesn’t clog pores, and promotes microbiome diversity. It can also improve the skin’s elasticity and calm down any irritation.
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