Ingredient glossary
Glycine
On your shelf ✓What Glycine does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Glycine · Also: L-Glycine
In short: Glycine delivers hydration and conditioning, suits most skin types, and the evidence behind it is limited.
- What it does
- Hydration, conditioning
- Best for
- Most skin types
- Evidence
- Limited
The molecule
The Glow take
Nice to have, and nothing to overthink.
Glycine plays a quiet supporting role, rounding out a formula rather than being the reason you buy it.
— Maya
What it does
- hydration
- conditioning
weak evidenceA 2019 study that measured 26 NMF components directly counted glycine among the major ones, which earns the physiology real respect. What is missing is the other half: no published trial tests glycine alone on skin for hydration or anything else, so the score stays at supporting player. CIR judged the alpha amino acids safe as used.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- dry
- dehydrated
- normal
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
Plays well with
- humectants
- hyaluronic acid
- glycerin
Glycine, answered
Is Glycine safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Glycine 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 Glycine?
No specific group is flagged to avoid Glycine. It is well tolerated by most skin. Still, introduce anything new one product at a time.
What concentration of Glycine actually works?
Its concentration is rarely printed on the label, so use the ingredient list as your clue: near the top third it is likely doing real work, near the bottom it is more of a sprinkle.
This, for every label you own
One ingredient is easy. A full label is where it gets confusing. The Ingredient Decoder reads any product and tells you the honest truth, ingredient by ingredient.
Sources & how we reviewed this
- PMID 24335967abstract only, the full text is paywalled
- DOI 10.1038/s41598-019-54454-xabstract only, the full text is paywalled