Organic vegetable glycerin
What is vegetable glycerin?
Lipids, or fats, are made of fatty acids and glycerol. When lipids are mixed with water and then heated under pressure the glycerols separate from the fatty acids and mix with the water, forming an odourless, thick liquid with a slightly sweet taste. This liquid is glycerin. When it is made from plant oils it is a vegetable glycerin. It is usually made from soy, palm or coconut oil, however the vegetable glycerin I use is made from sunflower oil.
Is it sustainable?
Pros:
- It is renewable
- It is biodegradable
- Sunflowers are a water efficient crop
- Organic sunflowers are grown without chemical pesticides
Cons:
- There are energy costs of producing vegetable glycerine as the oils need to be heated and compressed
- Sunflowers are often produced on large scales, causing habitat loss and soil degradation.
My vegetable glycerin is from Primabene, and the current batch comes from India.
Is it good for skin?
Vegetable glycerin is good for the skin due to its moisturising and soothing properties.
Which products contain vegetable glycerin?
I use vegetable glycerin in several of my products because, as well as being beneficial to the skin, it is a good natural emulsifier: it helps to bind water-based and oil-based ingredients ensuring my products are smooth and uniform.
You’ll find it in:
