Is Glycerin Good For Eyelashes? Important Facts

Glycerin is a humectant and has the ability to attract moisture. But is glycerin good for eyelashes? Here is a quick guide to what you need to know.

Is Glycerin Good For Eyelashes

Glycerin is good for eyelashes. It moisturizes, conditions, and softens the hair. Glycerin is most effective in moderately humid climates. In dry climates, it may actually draw moisture out of your eyelashes. 

Benefits of Glycerin

Glycerin can be made in different ways. 

When used for beauty (at least in higher-end products), glycerin typically means vegetable glycerin. Vegetable glycerin is made from plant oils, generally coconut, palm, or soybean oils. 

This list of benefits refers specifically to vegetable glycerine:

  • May help with skin hydration
  • Can soothe irritated skin
  • Can moisturize, condition, and soften hair
  • Can help to ease dandruff
  • May help with bowel health

3 Reasons Why Glycerin Is Good For Eyelashes

3 Reasons Why Glycerin Is Good For Eyelashes

Here are the three main reasons why glycerin is good for eyelashes.

1. Glycerin Is A Humectant

Humectants attract and absorb water. This means that, when used in the right environment, glycerin will draw moisture from the atmosphere into your eyelashes. 

This hydrates and softens them.

2. Protective coating

Glycerin covers your eyelashes with a transparent, protective film. 

This can help to protect it from some environmental hazards. It is, however, important to note that glycerin is water-soluble. 

This means that rain will quickly remove it.

3. Makes eyelashes easier to groom

Glycerin can act as a lubricant for your eyelashes (and eyebrows). 

This can help brushes and combs to slide through them more easily. It, therefore, makes grooming more pleasant and protects against damage during the process.

Can Glycerin Help Grow Eyelashes?

Glycerin cannot help to grow eyelashes. It can, however, limit eyelash loss. Glycerin helps to hydrate your eyelashes. This improves their overall condition and helps to stop them from falling out before their proper time. 

Although glycerin itself cannot help to grow eyelashes, it is often used in combination with other ingredients that do. 

This creates “dual-action” products which are both convenient and effective.

Glycerin also helps to make grooming tools glide through the hair without causing any damage.

How To Use Glycerin For Eyelashes

How To Use Glycerin For Eyelashes

Remember that vegetable glycerine can be made from different source materials. 

Sometimes it is made from a mixture of source materials. 

If you have allergies, be sure to check the label carefully before you buy vegetable glycerine.

Be sure to do a patch test before using vegetable glycerin for the first time. 

If you buy vegetable glycerine made from a different source material, patch test again. Take care when applying any product to the eye area. 

If any product gets in the eye, wash it out immediately. If you experience any reaction, seek medical help.

Glycerin Recipes for conditioning and growing eyelashes

1 egg yolk + 2 tbsp vegetable glycerin

4 tbsp olive oil + 2 tbsp honey + 2 tbsp vegetable glycerin

1/4 cup honey + 2 tbsp coconut oil + 1/4 cup vegetable glycerin

Glycerin Recipes that condition and soothe eyelashes

1/2 cup distilled water + 1/2 cup rose water + 2 tbsp vegetable glycerin

1/4 cup aloe vera gel + 1/4 cup vegetable glycerin

For all recipes, mix all the ingredients well. Then apply to the eyelashes with a cotton swab. Leave for around 15 minutes then wash off.

Risks And Warnings Of Using Glycerin

The key point to remember about glycerine is that it can be made from different products. 

It’s therefore important to read the label to be sure of what you’re getting. Allergy sufferers should note that vegetable glycerin is often made from soybeans. 

There are, however, plenty of more allergy-friendly options.

Another important point to note is that glycerine is unsuitable for use in both very dry and very humid environments. 

In very dry environments, it will draw water from the deeper layers of your skin into the upper ones and then the eyelashes. 

This water will then be evaporated. The end result may therefore be that your skin and hair are left dryer than before.

In very humid environments, by contrast, glycerine will carry on drawing water into your eyelashes for as long as it stays on them. 

This means that they can become overly saturated (soggy).