Glycerine Substitutes

Glycerin is a clear, almost colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is water soluable.

Glycerin is a water based liquid that attracts moisture as a humecant and has antiseptic properties; because of these two properties, it has many uses. The most common uses for glycerin are in baking to create a smooth consistency in confectionery items, in fog effect machines to make fog, in beauty products to moisten skin, in laboratory preservation or for various medical uses. Some forms of glycerin would be poisonous if consumed and therefore each of these uses has its own substitute that works as well as glycerin, but should not be substituted for each other.

Beauty Products

Glycerine is added to lotions, cosmetics and clear liquid soaps to aid in moisture and binding ingredients. cosmetic still life image by Radu Razvan from Fotolia.com

Glycerin is used in beauty products as a humecant, meaning it attracts moisture when applied to the skin. It also acts as an emulsifier to bind all of the ingredients in the lotion to make a creamy, smooth mixture. Glycerin is naturally created when lye soap is made. Coconut oil and lanolin should be used to replace glycerin in lotions. Use one half part coconut oil and one half part lanolin instead of glycerin to equal the same amount of glycerine that is needed. Coconut oil acts as a humecant to attract moisture and lanolin acts as an emulsifier to create the smooth texture. Together they give a similar effect as glycerin and can still be referred to as natural products.

Baking

Food grade glycerin is added to icings and candies to create a smooth texture and shiny finish. Heart with icing image by Elzbieta Sekowska from Fotolia.com

Food grade glycerin is used in baking to create a smooth texture and a shiny finish. Either liquid glucose or light corn syrup can be used in equal parts to replace glycerin to create the smooth texture. To recreate the shiny finish achieved with glycerin, heat the ingredients together in the microwave in 15 second intervals until they reach 80 and no more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Stir well between each heating to ensure that a crust does not form on top or the ingredients could scald in the process. Heating the glycerin with the ingredients to over 90 degrees Fahrenheit will dull the finished product.

Laboratory Preservative

Because of its antiseptic properties, glycerin is effective as a laboratory preservative. specimen image by Allyson Ricketts from Fotolia.com

Glycerin is used to preserve once living items in laboratories that would otherwise rot. Formaldehyde is an acceptable substitute for glycerin in equal amounts. The item should be completely submerged in formaldehyde and enclosed in an airtight jar to effectively preserve the item. Glycerin and formaldehyde will both preserve the item for up to 24 months at 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fog Machine

The distilled water mixture with propylene glycol or glycerine can be made more concentrated to decrease the rate of dissipation of the fog. smoke image by Zbigniew Nowak from Fotolia.com

Glycerin is used in making fog in fog machines at Halloween or for a scary effect any time of the year. Propylene glycol is a good substitute for glycerin as fog juice, however eight times as much propylene glycol must be used to get the same effect as glycerin. To make a fog juice with propylene glycol, mix 9.6 oz. propylene glycol with 6.4 oz. water and pour into the fog machine before turning it on. This gives the same effect as 0.8 oz. of glycerin and 15.2 oz. of distilled water.

Medical Uses

Glycerin can be used over the counter as a suppository laxative. Glycerin works as a laxative by drawing water into the intestines to create a bowel movement. Psyllium, polycarbophil and methylcellulose are over the counter substitutes for glycerin suppositories; all these substitutes should be taken orally instead of as a suppository. These products can be found under brand names at most pharmacies. Glycerin can be used orally to reduce the pressure in the brain and as treatment for conditions like cerebral edema. This form of medical glycerin is only available by prescription, however acceptable substitutes for this are Mannitol and Furosemide which also require use under a doctor's supervision. Controlled hyperventilation and fluid restriction are both methods that can be used as well to treat cerebral edema, however these are only temporary substitutes or in addition to medication under a doctor's supervision.

References

• Pioneer Thinking: What is Glycerin?
• The Soap and Detergent Association: Glycerin, An Overview
• FamilyDoctor.org: Laxitives, Over the Counter Products For Constipation
• Medical Journal Armed Forces India: Cerebral Edema and its Management
• AllRecipes.com: Decorating Cookies
• Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art

Resources

• HorrorSeek.com: Making Fog Juice