Glycerin ND ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily a humectant, drawing water into the outer layers of skin and helping formulas feel less drying. It also supports the water phase as a solvent and texture modifier.
What does Glycerin ND do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily a humectant, drawing water into the outer layers of skin and helping formulas feel less drying. It also supports the water phase as a solvent and texture modifier.
Is Glycerin ND clean?
This ingredient is widely accepted in clean-beauty standards, with low irritation potential and no common restricted-list friction. At higher levels it can feel sticky, but that is a sensory issue rather than a safety concern.
Is Glycerin ND sustainable?
This material is commonly sourced from vegetable oil processing or biodiesel streams, with palm, soy, coconut, or rapeseed feedstocks possible, so sourcing certification can matter. It is readily biodegradable and does not raise persistence concerns.
Is Glycerin ND COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic when the feedstock and processing route meet the standard. It aligns well with Green Chemistry when made from renewable plant sources, using simple processing and yielding a biodegradable material.
How does Glycerin ND work chemically?
The molecule is a small, highly water-soluble three-carbon triol with three hydroxyl groups, which explains its strong water-binding behavior. Typical use levels are about 1% to 10% in leave-on skin care, and it is broadly stable across normal cosmetic pH ranges.
Last updated 2026-08-17