Trying to find a moisturizer formulated without glycerin is certainly a tall order! In some cases, those with fungal acne have found that high concentrations of glycerin can cause increases in breakouts and although rare, there are also those who are allergic to the ingredient itself.
Glycerin is an incredibly common skincare ingredient and almost every product on the market is formulated using it because for the vast majority of skincare users it is a non-irritating and non-comedogenic solvent and humectant that helps bind together skincare formulations. Glycerin is actually naturally found in our skin so it’s a no-brainer that it’s also formulated into most skincare products.
I’ve saved you the painstaking task of tracking down these hard to find products! I’ve scoured the internet for the best glycerin free moisturizer options and where to find the best deal on them as well!
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$5-13 Eucerin Original Healing Cream
This is a simply formulated but intensely hydrating fragrance and glycerin free moisturizing cream from Eucerin. You can find this product at most drugstores which makes it an easy option for most shoppers. Please be aware, this is the only product from this brand that is glycerin free so be sure to pick up the Original Healing Cream variety.
Ingredients: Water, Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, Ceresin, Lanolin Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Piroctone Olamine.
$28 Krave Beauty Oat So Simple Water Cream
A lightweight and refreshing moisturizer with only 10 ingredients! It’s formulated with soothing oatmeal extract and squalane which is a natural antioxidant and emollient.
Ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Behenyl Alcohol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Avena Sativa (Oat) Meal Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
$13-23.35 Living Nature Manuka Honey Gel
This is a super lightweight gel textured moisturizer gel that’s mainly formulated with Manuka honey. It is unfortunately not fragrance free but as it is so difficult to find moisturizers formulated without glycerin I am letting that slide just this once.
From the brand:
This potent blend combines active Manuka honey for skin healing with Manuka oil to help protect, cleanse and soothe the skin. Manuka Honey Gel is suitable for blemish-prone skin and trouble spots including scratches, insect bites, cold sores, eczema, rosacea and psoriasis.
LivingNature.com
Ingredients: Aqua (water), Mel (manuka honey), Leptospermum scoparium (manuka) oil*, Xanthan gum, Phormium tenax extract (Harakeke), Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil*, Tocopherol (vitamin E). *From natural essential oils: Limonene, Linalool.
$21 Cosrx, Advanced Snail 92, All in One Cream
Although it may sound a little strange, snail mucin is an ingredient that I love to incorporate into my skincare routine. It’s a miracle worker for my dry skin. It’s a deeply hydrating ingredient that boosts moisture retention and stimulates the production of collagen in the skin. The Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream from Cosrx is also fragrance-free as well as glycerin free!
Ingredients: Snail secretion filtrate, betaine, caprylic/capric triglyceride, cetearyl olivate, sorbitan olivate, sodium hyaluronate, cetearyl alcohol, stearic acid, arginine, dimethicone, carbomer, panthenol, allantoin, sodium polyacrylate, xanthan gum, ethyl hexanediol, adenosine, phenoxyethanol.
$34 First Aid BeautyHello FAB Coconut Water Cream
This fruit extract packed moisturizer is the Coconut Water Cream from First Aid Beauty. It’s glycerin-free and fragrance free and is part of the carefully curated Clean Beauty selection at Sephora. This is fragrance free, but an FYI to those sensitive to scents, it does have a noticeable coconut scent due to the high concentration of coconut-derived ingredients.
It’s a water gel consistency that’s suitable for all skin types but would be especially amazing for those with oily skin that need a light texture that won’t feel heavy on the skin.
Ingredients: Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Juice, Glucose, Maltodextrin, Water/Aqua/Eau, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Alteromonas Ferment Filtrate, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sea Salt (Maris Sal, Sal Marin), Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium (Feverfew) Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dipteryx Odorata Seed Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Cetyl Diglyceryl Tris(Trimethylsiloxy)Silylethyl Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Laureth-8.
Should you avoid glycerin in your fungal acne routine?
There is no definitive research proving that glycerin is a cause of fungal acne. This study actually shows that a low concentration of glycerin is effective in treating malassezia yeast. Here is another study that found that glycerin was an effective treatment for the yeast that causes fungal acne. On the other hand, a higher concentration of glycerin did the opposite and increased the presence of the fungus.
Most skincare formulations use an extremely low percentage of glycerin that would not cause a flare in fungal breakouts. So unless your dermatologist has specifically advised you to remove the ingredient from your skincare routine, it is likely not necessary for you to completely avoid it.