Glycerin is THAT GIRL
Glycerin > Hyaluronic Acid. I said what I said.
Venus of the Mind is a publication at the intersection of beauty, culture, and magic; designed for those who like to look good and think deep.
The Skincare Primer, March 2026
Read Time: 5 mins
Give Glycerin Her Flowers
As a licensed esthetician who specializes in facials (ie: a facialist) I often wonder who was the marketing team that put hyaluronic acid on the map. Only a room of geniuses could take a mid ingredient and make it a mainstream darling that everyone recognizes in everyday skincare speak. How’d they do that?! Can they do the same for the more deserving formulation workhorse that is GLYCERIN?
✨💎GLYCERIN💎✨ — an industry OG and unsung hero. When it comes to long lasting humectation, while everyone is scanning for hyaluronic acid in their moisturizing selections what they should be scanning for is glycerin within the top five featured ingredients. This humectant has a lower molecular weight which means it gets deeper into the skin. Where hyaluronic acid has a moderate efficacy in barrier support, glycerin has a stronger efficacy at fortifying the skins’s the barrier with continued use over time.
She’s an efficacious baddie! Glycerin will protect, soothe, moisturize, enhance, and restore. Homegirl will not evaporate in the blink of an eye — unlike hyaluronic acid which attracts water but cannot lock it in. In other words, hyaluronic acid will ghost you, glycerin will hold you down.
Of course, it’s important to not get caught up in the singular ingredient mindset. When looking for products featuring a particular power-player, it’s helpful to understand the ingredient’s relationship to other factors within a product formulation and how that relationship is relevant or not to your particular skincare needs.
Below, for anyone who has skin, I’ve included entry level reads, audio, and video resources from some of my favorite skincare professionals. All to deepen your understanding of glycerin and allow you to have a more informed shopping experience aligned with your skin’s actual needs instead of going with trendy product recommendations.
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Accessible Resources to Inform Your Skincare Shopping
Watch
Watch Time: 17 Minutes
Featuring Who: Dr. Shereen Idriss, MD — Board-Certified Dermatologist, Medical Director and Founder of Idriss Dermatology in New York City.
Expert Level Needed to Follow: ZERO.
Choice Quote: “Glycerin is an humectant, a water loving whore.”
Read
Glycerin in Skin Care: What It is & is It Safe
Read Time: Less than five minutes.
Written By: Bryan Barron, Director of Global Research and Clinical Development at Paula’s Choice. Reviewed by Dr. Debra Jaliman, MD — Board-Certified Dermatologist. Within the write-up there are additional citations for deeper learning.
Expert Level Needed to Follow: Half a brain out of five brains.
Choice Quote: “Glycerin is a skin-replenishing and skin-restoring ingredient, meaning it is a substance found naturally in skin, helping to establish normal balance and hydration. It’s one of the many substances in skin that helps maintain a healthy look and feel, defending against dryness and working to maintain skin’s moisture level. Essentially, glycerin is a master at hydration, and works best when combined with other replenishing and emollient ingredients.”
Note: I’m not endorsing their products and in fact have never recommended a Paula’s Choice product to any clients. I just happen to find value in their open access ingredient dictionary.
Listen
Esthetician on the Edge: The Middle Child of Ingredients (Apple Podcasts. Spotify.)
This one is my personal fave of the all the shared resources. Such a great listen that elucidates the connection between glycerin and how our skin functions. Fun fact for the beauties in the weeds, Esthetician on the Edge runs a fun meme account, produces fabulous educational content, and she has a delightful southern (from the U.S.) accent. All that, but she’s anonymous in these internet streets! Iconic.
Listen Time: 23 minutes.
Expert Level Needed to Follow: One brain out of five brains plus curiosity. 🧠🤓
Choice Quote: “I heard a quote the other day, and I think it’s applicable to this and life — We are drowning in information while starving for wisdom.”
Spring Equinox is next weekend and with it arrives the monthly missive next Sunday morning at 8am EST! Until then newsletter hotties, thank you so much for being here.💖
I so appreciate this kind of intel, Ivana. And I always gravitate towards whatever feels simplest. 😊