Glass skin. Mochi skin. Dolphin skin. Laminated skin. Vampire skin. The body’s largest organ is not allowed to just be.We all want our skin to glow, bounce, shine and sparkle. Glowing skin might be a sign of health, but just because you don’t have it, doesn’t mean you don’t have healthy skin. And yet, our Pursuit continues. And despite the problematic expectations, sometimes it’s validated. Everyday stressors, lack of sleep, and bad eating or drinking habits have all contributed to our unbalanced health and skin. and dermatologists. What we all need is a return to basics, and that includes embracing boring old ingredients like glycerine.

“Glycerine is a humectant, a hydrating and moisturizing agent that pulls hydration into the uppermost layer of skin from deeper layers and outer environment. It’s obtained from saponification of fats and oils,” explains Delhi-based dermatologist Dr. Geetika Mittal Gupta. skincare, glycerine is usually combined with emollients or occlusives that create a protective barrier that locks in hydration and prevents water loss.” Glycerine is therefore similar to hyaluronic acid, in the way it traps water in our skin. But it has an additional of super working well with emollients, making it a simple and effective moisturizer. Retaining water, moisture and working as a protective barrier—it’s easy to see why it’s so popular in skincare. If only life were that simple.

Glycerine is derived from animal and plant sources and is usually a byproduct of saponification (when fats are treated with glycerides to be made into soap). Vegan products cannot use animal fats, which leads them to glycerine derived from plant sources, most commonly palm oils And that’s where the problem begins. “Because it’s the ethics, the sustainability issue, the destruction of natural resources and animals,” says Kavita Khosla, founder of Purearth.

Palm oil is found in almost everything we use in our daily lives, from toothpaste to biscuits. And most of it (90%) comes from the forests of Indonesia and Malaysia. The demand has led to destructive levels of deforestation and climate change, it is also the main cause behind the looming extinction of orangutans. So, while vegan products might claim to use plant-derived glycerine, where they have sourced their palm oil is equally important. “Even checking ingredient lists is difficult because lay persons will not know which are palm oil derivatives,” says Khosla. There is an RSPO certification (Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil), but it’s not enforced, so brands don’t need to get or display it.