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Ingredient glossary

Glycereth-26

What Glycereth-26 does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.

INCI: Glycereth-26

Solid and proven

In short: Glycereth-26 delivers hydration and slip, suits most skin types, and the evidence behind it is moderate.

What it does
Hydration, slip
Best for
Most skin types
Evidence
Moderate
How long
Straight away
Does it clash with what you use? Check it →

Written by Maya FaourHow we score →

What it actually is

Glycereth-26: A chain, not a molecule. Built to an average chain length rather than an exact one, so any batch holds a spread around that average instead of a single compound.
There is no single molecule to draw here, and that is the useful part. Which layer things act on

The Glow take

Genuinely worth a spot in your routine.

When your goal is deep, lasting hydration, Glycereth-26 pulls genuine weight, with a solid amount of evidence behind it. Gentle enough that most skin types can reach for it.

— Maya

What it does

  • hydration
  • slip

moderate evidenceUsed widely in serums and creams for long-lasting moisturization; safety profile similar to glycerin with improved aesthetics.

On a label: usually effective at 1-5%.

Who it's for, and who should skip it

Tends to suit

  • dry
  • dehydrated
  • all

Approach with care

No specific group flagged to avoid it.

  • Clogs poresLow
  • Irritation riskLow

How it fits each skin type

  • DrySuits
  • CombinationSuits
  • OilySuits
  • SensitiveSuits

Where it fits in your routine

WhenMorning and evening
Where in the orderOn damp skin, before your moisturizer

This one works on contact — there is nothing to wait for.

What that covers, and what it does not

Measured on: Stratum corneum hydration, corneometer capacitance.

Ethoxylated glycerin with a long PEG chain and no fatty tail; it behaves on skin as a substantive glycerin-type humectant, and surface water binding is immediate. Its other selling point, low-tack slip, is also a contact-instant sensory/rheological effect. I could not identify any published human trial reporting a hydration time course for glycereth-26 specifically -- use is supported by formulation practice and read-across from glycerin at 1-5%.

No trial identified. Humectant physical chemistry and read-across from glycerin; supplier and formulation literature only.

Plays well with

  • humectants
  • emollients

Glycereth-26, answered

Is Glycereth-26 safe during pregnancy?

Yes. Glycereth-26 is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with anything, if you are unsure it is worth a quick word with your doctor or midwife.

Who should avoid Glycereth-26?

No specific group is flagged to avoid Glycereth-26. It is well tolerated by most skin. Still, introduce anything new one product at a time.

What concentration of Glycereth-26 actually works?

Glycereth-26 tends to do its job in the 1 to 5% range. Much lower and it is likely underdosed.

Compare Glycereth-26 with

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Sources & how we reviewed this

Last reviewed August 2026. Educational information about a cosmetic ingredient, not medical advice.