We take a closer look at how glycerine helps Hair & Beard Shampoo and Boosting Body Wash from Gentlemen of Sweden, among others, to moisturize skin and hair so effectively.
How does glycerine work?
Let’s start by taking a closer look at what glycerine, also known as glycerol, actually is. In our case, glycerin is an excellent moisture binder, or humectant as it is also known in technical terms.
In skin and hair care, glycerine is often described as “the skin’s best friend” when talking about moisturizing. This description is due to its ability to attract and retain moisture in the skin and scalp. This ability is due to its chemical structure and how it interacts with water on a molecular level.
We dive deeper and look at the chemistry
Glycerol C3H8O3 or CH2OH-CHOH-CH2OH is a small organic molecule containing three so-called hydroxyl groups (-OH).
Hydroxyl groups are hydrophilic, which means they love water, which chemically means they have a strong ability to form both hydrogen and oxygen bonds with water molecules.
What does this mean for those of us who use shampoo and shower gel?
When a shampoo like Gentlemen of Sweden Hair & Beard Shampoo (or Boosting Body Wash) is used on the hair or body, the hydroxyl groups of the glycerine act as tiny magnets that actively attract water from the environment. The environment in this case can be both from the air if the humidity is high enough (which it usually is when you shower or wash) but also from the deeper layers of the skin. An adult man is about 60% water and the skin is a few percent higher.
Binds moisture
Once in place, the glycerine forms a kind of ‘reservoir’ of water in the outermost layer of the skin (the stratum corneum for those who like Latin) and in the hairs. The glycerine simply binds the moisture and slows down its evaporation.
To be a little scientific, it means that transepidermal water loss (TEWL, Transepidermal Water Loss) is reduced. In short, TEWL both helps and boosts the natural moisture balance of hair and skin.
Another unique feature of glycerine is that it draws moisture both from the air and from the deeper layers of the skin, depending on the ambient humidity. It adapts to the different levels of moisture available.
In humid environments it absorbs moisture from the air and in drier environments it draws up water from the lower layers of skin to moisturize the outer layer of skin.
We take a closer look at the biology.
In addition to its physical properties, glycerine is also a natural component of our own skin where it is part of the Natural Moist Factor (NMF). This allows the skin to “recognize” and use glycerin effectively.
The glycerine in Gentlemen of Sweden products is optimized to:
- Strengthening the skin barrier by helping to maintain the structure of the skin’s natural lipids (fats) in the outer skin, which in turn strengthens the skin’s protective barrier. The skin barrier is essential to prevent moisture loss and protect against external irritants.
- Improved elasticity. By maintaining the right moisture balance in the hair and skin, they become more elastic and supple. This in itself reduces the risk of hair breakage and skin feeling tight or cracking.
- We have also read that glycerine supports cell renewal and some research suggests that glycerine may also influence the maturation process of keratinocytes (skin cells). This contributes to a healthier skin and for the scalp this means a healthier environment with less itchiness and dead skin cells.
A short summary!
Glycerine acts as a moisture magnet, not only adding moisture but also helping to retain it.
The glycerine also helps to strengthen the natural defenses of the hair and scalp.
That’s why the development team at Gentlemen of Sweden thinks glycerin is such a key ingredient in our Hair & Beard Shampoo and Boosting Body Wash, to provide the moisturizing and conditioning effect we’re looking for.
