Vegetable glycerin is a gift for the skin because it is emollient–softening and soothing skin–and a humectant, helping the skin hold moisture. Because vegetable glycerin it is soluble in both water and alcohol, it is invaluable as a natural ingredient that provides such properties as emolliency, and as a natural solvent, herbalists use it to extract botanical properties from plants without using alcohol.

Soap-Free Hydrating Skin Cleanser
1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
3 teaspoons water

Combine the ingredients in a small glass jar. Shake or stir to blend. Lightly coat a cotton ball and dab on the skin. Remove with fresh cotton balls. Rinse with water.

Variation: Add 1 teaspoon of pure rose water to the blend.