Coming soon.

February 8, 2026

Oh glycerin, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways…

Just as the Victorian era poet referenced above has influenced our modern vernacular, glycerin has found its way to a multitude of moisturizer formulas, and rightly so. Records show that glycerin has been incorporated into topical formulations since the late 1700’s. It is a proven humectant, with skin benefits supported by decades of skin research. These benefits include improved skin hydration, barrier function and appearance. 

How? We will count those ways in the upcoming scripts.

In healthy skin, the outermost layer of the skin regulates skin moisture upon exposure to extreme environments, such as arid winters, using natural moisturizing factors (NMFs). NMFs are made in the skin and attract water molecules to retain natural skin moisture and to reduce loss of water vapor across the skin. Glycerin is an NMF that is made by the skin to maintain skin moisture homeostasis and promote barrier repair. 

In fact, glycerin likes water so much that water evaporation slows down in solutions with increasing glycerin concentration. This insatiable attraction between glycerin and water was further reinforced with the observation of negative evaporation at glycerin concentrations approaching 70%, where a net gain in moisture was measured. 

Whereas glycerin might be included in the low single digit concentrations for numerous broadly distributed moisturizing products, one study demonstrated the moisturization benefits of a 20% glycerin cream for eczema, a skin condition for which moisture loss across the compromised skin barrier can be double that of healthy skin.

Glycerin is a tried and true skin moisturizing component of staple moisturizers. It has become so commonplace that it has possibly lost its pizzazz.  The question is no longer whether or not glycerin is listed as an ingredient; rather, where does glycerin appear in the ingredient lineup and at what concentration. 

Wishing you a happy upcoming Valentine’s Day! 

February 1, 2026

WINTER SKIN

Your skin changes in winter, rarely for the good. 

The outer barrier layer of the skin, known as the stratum corneum, does not do as good a job of keeping water in and keeping chemicals out. 

This development comes as no surprise as the weather grows colder and the air becomes drier.

Research has shown the negative effects of low relative humidity and temperature on skin barrier function. 

The result is that skin not only dries out, but is also more susceptible to the itching and pain that comes with irritation. If someone has a history of eczema, worsening of that disease may also be more likely to occur. 

One study has also shown that application of moisturizer will improve these changes to skin on the face that are caused by winter. 

Moisturizers work their magic by providing the environment necessary for the skin barrier to repair itself.

Effective moisturizers will have two key components—a humectant component, such as glycerin, to attract and retain moisture; and an occlusive component, such as dimethicone, to seal in moisture and prevent further water loss.

Next time, we will talk more about these two proven ingredients, how they shape formulation development, and ultimately the ingredient listings in the commercial products you see on every shelf.

Make an effective two-component moisturizer the cornerstone of your winter regimen for your skin to be its best!