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Glycine

What Glycine is & what it does

A small amino acid used for hydration and conditioning, contributing to a soft, smooth skin feel. It also supports the skin's natural moisture balance.

What does Glycine do in skincare?

Glycine is a simple amino acid used in skincare as a conditioning and buffering ingredient. It can help support a formula's pH and contribute to a smooth skin feel, and amino acids like it are part of the skin's natural moisturizing factors. In sunscreens it plays a supporting role rather than acting as a UV filter.

Is Glycine safe?

Glycine is a basic amino acid found naturally in the body and in many foods, and it is widely used in cosmetics and generally considered safe at typical use levels. It is regarded as a mild, well-tolerated ingredient. As always, patch testing a new product is reasonable if your skin is very reactive.

Is Glycine vegan?

Glycine used in cosmetics is commonly produced synthetically or by fermentation, so it is often free of animal-derived material. However, amino acids can in principle be sourced from animal or plant proteins, so the source is not guaranteed by the name alone. Checking the brand's labeling is the reliable way to confirm a vegan source.

Sunscreens with Glycine

We rate 89 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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