PoreWise One finding · Human trial · 2020
Study title
Combined effects of glycerol and petrolatum in an emollient cream: A randomized, double-blind, crossover study in healthy volunteers with dry skin
- Kind of evidence
- Human trial 2020 · 51 people · healthy volunteers with dry skin (Kligman score 2 or 3) · PMID 31532576
- Measured outcome
- Skin effect
- Year
- 2020
- Who was studied
- 51 healthy volunteers with dry skin (Kligman score 2 or 3)
- Sample size
- 51
- Measured outcome
- In a randomized, double-blind, four-arm crossover study of 51 healthy volunteers with dry skin, an emollient containing glycerol and petrolatum raised corneometry-measured skin moisture significantly above its vehicle (P < 0.0001) over 12 hours. The authors attributed the hydration gain to the glycerol component and the lower water loss to the petrolatum component.
- Certainty
- Moderate
- Who was measured
- Corneometry (skin moisture) and transepidermal water loss over 12 hours after one application.
- Study limits
- Measured on the forearms. The significant hydration result comes from the full emollient containing both glycerol and petrolatum.
Where it comes from
- Combined effects of glycerol and petrolatum in an emollient cream: A randomized, double-blind, crossover study in healthy volunteers with dry skin
Published by Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (Vaillant L, et al.) · Last checked 2026-11-11
Ingredients it was measured on
Skin concerns studied
Other findings on the same ingredient or concern
- Skin effectGlycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
Topical glycerol improves stratum corneum hydration, barrier function and skin mechanical properties. The review also reports reduced irritation response and faster wound healing, and traces the effect to aquaporin-3 transport and to glycerol's own presence in the skin.
Review article · 2008 · Humans in the cited studies, plus animal and in-vitro work on mechanism · Leave-on products. The review discusses both healthy skin and skin with dry or barrier-impaired conditions such as atopic dermatitis. · A narrative review. It compiles mechanisms and results from other studies.
- Skin effectPubChem
Glycerin is classified as a humectant in cosmetic ingredient databases: its role in a formula is to hold water.
Official ingredient listing · Cosmetic formulas generally. · Ingredient database · GLYCERIN · Skin effect of to the stratum corneum comes from a separate review of the literature. · Ingredient database · GLYCERIN
- Skin effectEffects of fermented tea seed oil on the skin lipid barrier and microbiome of sensitive skin
In a double-blind, randomized, half-face controlled trial of 25 Chinese women with sensitive skin, a moisturizer containing 5% fermented tea seed oil significantly improved facial skin hydration versus a base moisturizer over 4 weeks, alongside reductions in redness and facial wrinkles.
Human trial · 2026 · 25 people · young Chinese women with sensitive skin · Facial skin hydration, redness and wrinkles over 4 weeks. · Skin microbiome diversity showed similar change; the study has a company background.
- Skin effectFunctional properties and skin care effects of sodium trehalose sulfate
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 26 women selected for low stratum corneum water content, applying a lotion and emulsion containing 0.05% sodium trehalose sulfate to the face for 4 weeks decreased transepidermal water loss and increased stratum corneum water content versus the active-free placebo.
Human trial · 2024 · 26 people · Japanese women aged 33-59 with low stratum corneum water content, high water evaporation and low surface lipids · Facial TEWL and stratum corneum water content over 4 weeks. · Small sample (13 per group); part of the paper reports in-vitro 3D epidermal model work, which is separate from the human trial; company-affiliated research.
- Skin effectEfficacy of cream-based novel formulations of hyaluronic acid of different molecular weights in anti-wrinkle treatment
All five 0.1% hyaluronic acid creams tested, from 50 kDa to 2000 kDa, raised skin hydration and overall elasticity above the vehicle cream applied to the other eye at 60 days.
Human trial · 2011 · 76 people · Women aged 30-60 with periocular wrinkles · 0.1% hyaluronic acid creams applied twice daily for 60 days to the eye area of women aged 30-60 with periocular wrinkles. · Sixty days, and the vehicle sat on the fellow eye. Hydration and elasticity were read by instruments. The volunteers were women aged 30-60 with eye-area wrinkles.