I have been doing research on and experimenting with glycerin for personal use. This stuff is un-believably versatile and at a couple of bucks or so for a nice size bottle, a bargain. First pure glycerin is odorless, colorless and non-toxic unless ingested in massive quantities. For our purposes it can be used as a pre-shave lubricant applied to wet skin. A quarter teaspoon added to your shaving mug will help produce superb lather with soap or cream and add lubrication. Added to any A/S splash it will give it moisturizing qualities or enhance those that already have some moisturizer. A great A/S is to mix unscented witch hazel with aloe gel and glycerin. No smell to interfere with cologne. Those of you that use any of the old style hair tonics like the Pinaud or Lucky Tiger lines can add glycerin to these for a conditioning tonic that keeps hair from drying out and gives body and sheen. This of course does not apply to the tonics with oil added. If you are a user of saline nose sprays to moisturize your nasal passages in dry weather, a little glycerin added to the bottle (5 or 6 drops) will sooth and adds to the moisturizing properties of the spray. I know some will say that some of these products already contain glycerin. True but a little more will improve them and not be detrimental. It’s like chocolate chip cookies. You always put more chips in the ones you make at home compared to the ones that come in a package.
Thanks Steve Mack. I bought some glycerin a couple of days ago but have been waiting till I get some shave cream (I already have soap in a mug) to try my hand at making some super lather. I think I'll just add some glycerin to my mug and give it a shot without the cream. Thanks. One question tho, does glycerin wash out of a shave brush easily?
I've been using it as pre-shave for quite a while now. It is great stuff. Unlike lots of oils, it protects and lubricates without being greasy. What's more it doesn't foul up brushes or your sink with that thick, greasy sludge common to a lot of other pre-shave oils.
