Glycerine - for DIY beauty & cleaning products
Glycerine is one of those behind-the-scenes ingredients that quietly improves your DIY recipes. It doesn’t do the cleaning itself, but it helps products look better, feel nicer, and behave the way you expect them to.
It’s a support ingredient that makes simple recipes more stable, more comfortable to use, and more polished overall.
What Glycerine Is
Glycerine is a clear, odourless liquid made from plant oils. It has a slightly syrupy feel and mixes easily with water, which is why it shows up in so many everyday products, from hand wash to moisturiser.
It’s gentle, versatile, and easy to work with, even if you’re new to DIY.
What Glycerine Is Used For (And Why It’s So Helpful)
Glycerine is used to support other ingredients rather than replace them.
In DIY cleaning and beauty products, it’s commonly used to:
- Help liquids stay blended instead of separating
- Improve the texture of hand wash, dish liquid, and gels
- Make soaps and washes feel gentler and less drying on hands
- Help essential oils sit more evenly in water-based mixes
- Works great with Xanthan Gum to thicken water based solutions without clumps
One of glycerine’s biggest benefits is that it acts as a bridge between oil and water. In plain terms, it helps ingredients that don’t naturally mix stay combined for longer, which is especially useful in sprays, washes, and gels.
Glycerine is also an excellent moisture retainer. It helps products hold onto moisture instead of drying out, which is why it’s so widely used in skincare and why it can make homemade cleaners more comfortable to use day to day.
It doesn’t increase cleaning power, but it absolutely improves how a product feels and performs.
Eco-Friendly Credentials
Vegetable glycerine is:
- Plant-derived
- Palm oil-free
- Biodegradable
It suits low-waste households and works well in products that go on your skin or down the drain.
Safety Notes
Glycerine is generally very mild and well tolerated. If you’re using it on your skin, a simple patch test is a sensible place to start.
Stored with the lid on tight, it keeps well and remains easy to use over time.
Glycerine might not be the star of the show, but it’s one of those ingredients that quietly makes everything work a little better.