Is Vegetable Glycerin Compatible With Oil?
Vegetable glycerin is a natural product made from plant oils, making it highly compatible with other oils. However, when mixed together, oil and vegetable glycerine create unique properties than either liquid can’t achieve on its own.
What is Vegetable Glycerin?
Vegetable glycerin, also known as glycerol or glycerine, is an odourless, colourless and sweet-tasting liquid made from soy, palm and other vegetable oils. It’s used in a wide variety of products, from cosmetics to foods, and it’s also used in the manufacturing of specialty drugs. Vegetable glycerin is most often used to improve the texture, absorption, and shelf-life of product.
Substituting Vegetable Glycerin for Oil
Vegetable glycerin can be used as a substitute for oil, but it usually requires some additional ingredients. It has an overall lower viscosity than oil, so layering oil on top of it helps increase the viscosity. Additionally, adding a mixture of wax and vegetable glycerin can help the liquid maintain its consistency and lessen the need for oil.
Mixture Benefits
There are a few benefits to mixing vegetable glycerin and oil.
- Thickness and viscosity: Combining vegetable glycerin and oil can make a mixture that is thicker than each liquid on its own. This is helpful when trying to maintain a certain texture or consistency.
- Emulsifying capabilities: Oil and vegetable glycerin together can create stable emulsions between water and oil. This means that the mixture can evenly suspend one liquid in the other.
- Preservation: The mixture of oil and glycerin helps slow down the oxidation, or breakdown, of the product. This helps increase the shelf life of the product.
Conclusion
Vegetable glycerin and oil are highly compatible with each other and can provide a number of benefits when mixed. Ultimately, the type of oil used and the ratio of oil to glycerin will affect the viscosity, shelf life and stability of the mixture. Consult the product’s label or a pharmacist for more information on these mixtures.
