What is Ozonated Glycerin (Glyzine)?

You’ve heard of ozone oil, which is a culinary oil infused with glycerin. Did you know that other cosmetic liquids like glycerol or even petroleum jelly could be ozonated, each uniquely delivering some of ozone’s oxidative benefits?
Unlike many other cosmetic substances, glycerol is completely natural and water soluble. Your cells readily absorb glycerol and use it as fuel, which might make it an even better delivery system for ozone’s oxidative effects. In this article, we’ll cover what we know so far about ozonated glycerin and what it’s used for. However, there are many elements that are unknown about ozonized glycerin as it needs more research and information to be fully understood.
What is ozonated glycerin (glycine)?
Ozonated glycerin is a unique fluid created when ozone gas is infused into glycerin, resulting in a product with distinct chemical and functional properties. To fully appreciate its qualities, let’s break down its chemistry and benefits.
What is Glycerin?
Glycerin, also known as glycerol or glycerine, is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol compound. Most dietary fats are triglycerides, which are composed of a molecule of glycerin bound to three fatty acids. Chemical reactions like fat digestion or soap making can break the glycerin from the fatty acids, producing a clear, odorless, and viscous liquid with a mildly sweet taste. Chemically, glycerin is composed of three hydroxyl (OH) groups, making it highly water loving (hydrophilic) and an effective humectant—meaning it attracts and retains moisture.
In skincare and wellness applications, glycerin is widely valued for its ability to hydrate and protect the skin by forming a barrier that locks in moisture. Its compatibility with human tissues makes it a versatile base for many products.
How Does Ozone Infusion Transform Glycerin?
Ozone (O₃) is a highly oxidizing and unstable gas made up of three oxygen atoms. When an ozone-oxygen gas mix is bubbled into glycerin, some of the gas dissolves in the glycerin, while the rest chemically reacts with the glycerin. Ozone can oxidize the hydroxyl (OH) groups of glycerol, creating ketones, and organic acids [R][R].
These transformations stabilize the reactive properties of ozone, allowing ozonated glycerin to retain its oxidative potential over a much longer period compared to ozone gas or water, which lose its reactivity quickly. Currently, the industry speculates that the half life of ozonated glycerin is approximately 90 days, compared to 20 - 40 minutes of ozone gas or water.
Why is Ozonated Glycerin Superior for Certain Applications?
Unlike gaseous ozone, which dissipates quickly, ozonated glycerin offers a more stable and longer-lasting form of ozone delivery. This stability is particularly advantageous for uses where prolonged exposure to ozone's beneficial properties is desired.
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Humectant Properties: Glycerin is an excellent humectant, meaning it draws moisture to the skin and helps maintain hydration. When ozonated, it retains this ability while introducing the benefits of stabilized ozone [R].
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Cellular Compatibility and Bioavailability: Glycerin is a natural molecule that human cells readily recognize and absorb, facilitating efficient delivery of ozone or oxidized molecules into the skin or surrounding environment. The water-solubability of glycerin may allow ozonized glycerin to readily cross the skin barriers.
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Prolonged Activity: The slow release of ozone metabolites ensures extended release compared to gaseous ozone, which must be applied immediately after production.
What is ozonated glycerin good for?
Thanks to its chemical makeup, ozonated glycerin is a versatile and powerful compound. Its unique ability to combine ozone's reactive benefits with glycerin’s moisturizing properties makes it a valuable addition to products aimed at promoting wellness.
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Topical or surface disinfectant uses, such as hand sanitizer
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Skin wellness
Topical anti-aging application
Topical ozonated glycerin may have benefits on the appearance of age, as it can penetrate and deliver the hormetic oxidative effects on the skin. Its unique chemical properties and biological interactions make it a promising addition to formulations aimed at supporting resilient skin.
Science Behind Anti-Aging Potential:
1. Oxidative Action for Skin Renewal:- Ozonated glycerin slowly releases ozone and oxidized molecules, which may stimulate the skin’s natural processes.
- In a clinical study involving 50 Japanese women aged 40 - 60 years old, regular application of 80 ppm ozonated glycerin significantly improved the appearance of age spots after 8 weeks [R].
- As a humectant, glycerin naturally attracts and retains moisture. Ozonated glycerin combines this hydrating property with ozone’s oxidative effects, creating a dual-action ingredient that supports skin hydration and vitality.
- While research is needed, we think future studies could show ozonized glycerin creating a boost in anti-oxidants. While ozone is an oxidant, it may stimulate a small amount of stress to the skin, creating a natural response of antioxidants in the tissue.
Surface antiseptic use
Ozonated glycerin's oxidative nature makes it a promising candidate for antiseptic applications.
The ozone and some organic molecules in glyzine can disrupt the cell membranes of microbes upon contact, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses [R].
This mechanism works by oxidizing the lipid layers and proteins that form the structural integrity of these pathogens, ultimately neutralizing them.
Why Ozonated Glycerin Stands Out:
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Gentle Yet Effective: Unlike alcohol-based sanitizers that can dry out and irritate the skin, ozonated glycerin retains glycerin’s natural humectant properties, keeping skin hydrated while still delivering potent oxidative action against microbes.
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Longer-Lasting Activity: The stability of ozonated glycerin allows it to provide a prolonged antimicrobial effect, making it a valuable ingredient for hand sanitizers, wound cleansers, and similar products.
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Eco-Friendly Alternative: With its natural composition, ozonated glycerin may serve as a more sustainable choice for antiseptic products compared to harsher chemical alternatives.
Potential applications include:
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Hand Sanitizers: Its dual properties of moisture retention and microbial destruction make it ideal for frequent use without causing dryness.
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Surface Cleaners: Ozonated glycerin can be formulated into sprays or wipes for disinfecting high-touch surfaces.
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Topical Cleansers: Gentle yet effective for cleansing minor cuts, abrasions, or skin irritations, reducing the risk of infection.
By combining the oxidative strength of ozone with the moisturizing benefits of glycerin, ozonated glycerin emerges as a versatile antiseptic component suitable for wellness and hygiene products.
Water-soluble applications
Ozonated glycerin provides a versatile alternative to ozonated oils when water solubility is a requirement.
Unlike oils, which are hydrophobic, ozonated glycerin dissolves easily in water-based formulations, expanding its usability across a range of wellness and hygiene products [R].
Why Water Solubility Matters:
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Enhanced Compatibility: Ozonated glycerin can seamlessly integrate into water-based products, such as sprays, rinses, and gels. This makes it suitable for applications where oils are impractical or undesirable.
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Targeted Delivery: Its water-soluble nature allows ozonated glycerin to disperse evenly and penetrate effectively into water-based environments, enhancing its ability to deliver ozone’s oxidative benefits.
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Broad Application Spectrum: From surface disinfectants to personal care products, ozonated glycerin provides flexibility for creating effective formulations that meet consumer needs.
Potential Uses:
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Surface Disinfectants: Can be used as a hand-sanitizer and for cleaning hard-to-reach areas with water-based systems.
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Skin Mists: Lightweight formulations for hydrating and protecting the skin while delivering the ozonated compounds.
Ozonated glycerin’s water solubility bridges the gap between the potency of ozone and the versatility of water-based products, offering a functional, effective ingredient for diverse applications.
Why buy pure Glyzine?
Whether you ozonate glycerin yourself or purchase ozonated glycerin like Glyzine, purity is essential to ensure both safety and effectiveness. It’s very important that the glycerin is pure food-grade or laboratory-grade glycerin derived from edible fats, as petroleum-derived glycerin can contain harmful organic contaminants.
Pure vegetable glycerin is typically up to 99.7% pure, providing a clean base for the ozonation process. Any impurities present in lower-quality glycerin can react unpredictably with ozone, potentially creating harmful byproducts.
By starting with laboratory-grade glycerin, Glyzine guarantees a pure product free from contaminants, ensuring its stability and performance.
The ozonation process itself sterilizes the glycerin by infusing it with ozone, which is known for its oxidative and antimicrobial properties. However, starting with a pre-sterilized base enhances the overall purity, ensuring the final product is of the highest quality.
Closing Remarks
Ozonated glycerin, like Glyzine, combines the oxidative benefits of ozone with the hydrating and penetrating properties of glycerin. When purchasing ozonated glycerin for wellness purposes, be sure to use pure, sterile, and laboratory-grade.
- Micah Lowe