Glycerin is used in many areas: the food industry, tobacco production, as well as in medicine and cosmetology. Let's focus on the last two branches, and find out how glycerin can help for beauty and health.
Properties of glycerin and debunking the myth of its harm
Glycerin is a viscous colorless liquid that does not smell, but tastes slightly sweet. Because of this flavor, this substance has its name, which in Latin means "sweet."
So, glycerine is useful because it has such properties:
- antiseptic;
- preserving;
- humidifying (hygroscopic - this substance is capable of absorbing water vapor from air and tissues).
It is because of the latter property, many believe that glycerin promotes the formation of wrinkles, because, applied to the skin, it absorbs moisture from the deep layers of the dermis. But do not forget that, firstly, it draws moisture to the surface of the skin and from the environment, and secondly, that with regular and sufficient drinking, the lower layers of the dermis have time to be saturated with moisture. Therefore, with a reasonable use of glycerin, it is not necessary to talk about its harm: just take it as a rule not to apply it to the skin in a dry room and a low level of humidity outside the window.
Use of glycerin in cosmetics
This substance in cosmetics is used quite often, especially it concerns hand creams: practically in each similar means of a class of "weights" it is possible to meet in structure of glycerin. But cosmetic companies sometimes add it to the face cream, which causes many women to be indignant: they say, glycerin, it's alcohol, and all the alcohols eventually dry the skin. However, now we know that cosmetics with glycerin is better to use when taking a bath, where high humidity: it is under such conditions that you can achieve maximum moisturizing of the skin with the help of this trihydric alcohol. Another great opportunity to apply glycerin - apply on the skin cream during bath procedures.
It is important to take into account that if you prepare home cosmetics on glycerin, then its concentration should not exceed 5-7%, because when applied undiluted, glycerin does dry the skin.
The use of glycerol in cosmetology
In cosmetology, glycerol is used very widely: it is part of masks and is used in various procedures that nourish the hands, face, nails and lips, as well as the whole body, if it is a glycerine bath.
- Glycerin for hands. To make the skin smooth, make a scrub with rock salt, and then place for 10 minutes brush in a container of glycerin and warm water in a ratio of 1: 3.
- Glycerin for the face. Make a restoring honey mask with glycerin during the winter period to simultaneously nourish and moisturize the skin. For cooking, you need 1 tbsp. l. honey and 1 tbsp. l. pure glycerin. Mix the ingredients and apply them on the face for 10-15 minutes while taking a bath.
- Glycerin for nails. To improve the color of nails, you can make a special ointment: mix 1 tsp. glycerin with 1 tbsp. lemon juice and 1/2 tsp. jojoba oil. Rub this mixture daily, and after a week the effect will be visible.
- Glycerin for the lips. To restore the bleached skin of your lips, take 1 tablespoon. castor oil, 1 tsp. glycerol and 1 tsp. honey. Mix the ingredients and apply on the lips (in an environment with a high level of humidity) for 15 minutes.
The use of glycerin in medicine
Glycerin is actively used by pharmacologists for the preparation of ointments because it easily mixes with other ingredients and has antiseptic properties.
Also, glycerin is known as a strong laxative because it slightly irritates the intestinal mucosa,
Contraindications to the use of glycerol
For oral administration, glycerol is contraindicated:
- those who suffer from kidney failure;
- people with internal bleeding;
- with diarrhea;
- with hemorrhoids in the acute stage;
- inflammatory diseases of internal organs;
- with tumors of the intestine.