Uses and Quality Grades

Glycerin is available in various processing stages and quality grades, with purity and intended use being the main differentiators. The most common grades are crude glycerin (typically 80–85% purity) and pharmaceutical-grade glycerin (99.5% purity). Crude glycerin is often used in technical applications, while pharmaceutical glycerin is intended for use in medicines, cosmetics, and food products.

Pharmaceuticals (Purity 99.7–99.9%)

Glycerin is used as a humectant, solvent, and plasticizer in medicinal products. It can be found in suppositories, ointments, cough syrups, and capsule shells.

Cosmetics (Purity ≥99.5%)

Used as a humectant in creams, lotions, shampoos, toothpaste, and soap.

Food (Purity ≥99.5%)

Used as a humectant, sweetener, and carrier in baked goods. Also found in chewing gum and flavorings.

Technical Applications (Purity 80–95%)

In industry, glycerin is used in the production of plastics, resins, paints, explosives, pyrotechnic products, lubricants, antifreeze, and many other items.

Important Notes

Glycerin is hygroscopic, meaning it attracts moisture. At high concentrations in skincare products, it can lead to skin dryness.

The concentration of glycerin in skincare products should be carefully chosen to avoid dehydrating the skin.

Depending on the intended application, selecting the appropriate glycerin quality is essential for safety and effectiveness.

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