Key Points/Overview
Glycerol is a common ingredient in pharmaceuticals, where it can help improve the smoothness and taste of medicines. It is added to cough syrups to help prevent throat irritation which leads to coughing, and it is used to make tablets easier to swallow.
Glycerol is added to personal care products to protect the skin from irritants and bring moisture to the surface of skin and hair.
A variety of food and beverages contain glycerol to help retain moisture, and add smoothness, bulk and sweetness.
The FDA has approved glycerol for use as a food additive and for use in cosmetics and skin care products.
Uses & Benefits
Pharmaceuticals
Glycerol is a common ingredient in pharmaceutical and is used to improve smoothness and taste of medicines. Glycerol is added to cough syrups to help prevent irritation in throats which leads to coughing.1 It is also used to make tablets easier to swallow.
Personal Care Products
Glycerol is widely used in a variety of personal care products, including toothpaste, hair condition, cosmetics and moisturizers.2 It is added to skin care products to help protect the skin from irritants. It can also help to bring moisture to the surface of the skin, to help keep skin smooth. It is added to hair conditioner, shaving creams and eye drops for the same purpose.
Food Products
Glycerin is used in a variety of food and beverage products to help retain moisture, and add smoothness, bulk and sweetness.3
Safety Information
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the primary regulator of over-the-counter products and food packaging materials. FDA has approved glycerol for use as food additive.4 It is also generally recognized as safe (GRAS) and as an additive to food packaging materials when used as intended.5 An example of this is when glycerol migrates to food from paper and paperboard products.6
Glycerol is approved for use in cosmetics and skin care products,7 and the FDA’s Voluntary Cosmetic Registration Program shows that it is the third most frequently used ingredient in cosmetics.8
Sources
- How to get rid of a cough using over the counter cough syrups (netdoctor.co.uk)
- Glycerin – Cosmetics Info
- International Food Information Council What Is Glycerin? – Food Insight
- CFR – Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 (fda.gov) (Food for Human Consumption (continued)
- CFR – Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 (fda.gov) (Food for Human Consumption)
- eCFR :: 21 CFR Part 182 — Substances Generally Recognized as Safe
- CFR – Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 (fda.gov) (Drugs for Human Use)
- Personal Care Products Council – Glycerin – Cosmetics Info
- Glycerol | C3H8O3 – PubChem (nih.gov)
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