The Inkey List
Supersize Omega Water Cream Duo
$31.35
Polyglycerin-3
Polyglycerin-3 is a cosmetic ingredient used in skincare formulas.
Summary
4 products tracked
Safety status
- Fungal acneGenerally fineSee the fungal acne checker →
What this means for you
Use this as orientation, not a prediction of individual tolerance.
May be useful for
The catalog does not link this ingredient to a skin type. Look at the whole product and how you will use it.
Who should be careful
The catalog does not say who should avoid this ingredient. It cannot judge a health need, pregnancy, or allergy.
An ingredient list confirms presence and order—not exact concentration, finished-formula performance, or personal comfort.
Evidence & sources
- official catalog snapshotEU CosIng Ingredients and Fragrance Inventory snapshot (2020-12-30; ref 36714)
- official database guidanceEuropean Commission: Cosmetic ingredient database and its evidence boundary
Provenance and review status are editorial metadata and are not published here — these are the records the profile is built from.
Decision snapshot
Current record- Evidence grade
- limited evidence
- In our catalog
- Found in 4 of the 7,062 products we've decoded
- Fungal acne
- Not a food source
This is not medical advice. see methodology →
Names & references
Official label names and chemical registry identifiers, with each available source kept explicit.
- Official INCI name
- Polyglycerin-3
- Korean · KCIA
- 폴리글리세린-3
Chemical registries
What the record supports
Claims, limitations, sources, and tracked research are kept together so the evidence can be checked in context.
What it does
The catalog calls its main role “humectant.” In plain language, it helps draw water into the upper layer of skin. These labels do not prove that it treats a skin condition.
Evidence strength
limited evidence
Benefits
- Humectant: Helps draw water into the upper layer of skin.
- These are formula roles. They do not prove a skin treatment benefit.
Side effects
- The catalog does not list side effects for this ingredient.
- Being in CosIng does not mean an ingredient is safe. Each finished product needs a safety check.
Where it fits in real formulas
Related ingredients, common formula neighbors, naming, and catalog context—kept separate from evidence and personal-fit guidance.
Similar ingredients
related by documented function or concern
Hyaluronic Acid (salt form)Pulls water into the skin for immediate hydration and a plumper lookHyaluronic AcidBinds water at the skin surface and supports short-term hydration. The widely repeated claim that it holds 1,000 times its weight in water is not supported by direct measurement. A 2025 review reported about 0.7–2 grams of water per gram of polysaccharide.AHA exfoliant (gentle)Exfoliates surface scale and can make rough texture feel smootherUreaHelps dry, tight skin hold more waterHydrolyzed KeratinConditions hair and smooths a damaged, rough cuticle
Where it's used
Real brands and product categories from the 4 decoded products listing Polyglycerin-3 — an observation of our catalog, not a claim about market share.
Product categories
moisturizers (4)
Based on those categories, Polyglycerin-3 shows up mostly in leave-on products (4 of 4 classified) — derived from product category, not a label fact.
Commonly appears alongside
How often another ingredient appears in the same decoded products. This does not show routine compatibility.
Frequently asked questions
What does Polyglycerin-3 do in skincare?
Polyglycerin-3 is a cosmetic ingredient used in skincare formulas. The catalog calls its main role “humectant.” In plain language, it helps draw water into the upper layer of skin. These labels do not prove that it treats a skin condition.
Is Polyglycerin-3 a fungal-acne (Malassezia) trigger?
Caprylic/capric triglyceride (MCT) is built from C8 and C10 fatty acids — both at or below the chain length Malassezia needs to grow at all, per the foundational 1968 study (fatty acids must be longer than C10). Glycerin and propanediol are a different case entirely: they're simple humectant polyols, not fatty acids or fatty-acid esters, so there's no lipid for Malassezia's lipases to act on in the first place. Generally well-tolerated on fungal-acne-prone skin.
How common is Polyglycerin-3 in skincare?
Polyglycerin-3 appears in 0% of the 7,062 decoded products in our catalog (4 products).
Which brands use Polyglycerin-3?
In the products we've decoded, Polyglycerin-3 appears in formulas from The Inkey List, Evolve organic beauty, Inkey List.
What kinds of products contain Polyglycerin-3?
In our decoded catalog, Polyglycerin-3 shows up mostly in moisturizers (4).
Is Polyglycerin-3 typically rinse-off or leave-on?
Based on the categories of the decoded products that list it, Polyglycerin-3 shows up mostly in leave-on products (4 of 4 classified) — derived from product category, not a label fact.
What is Polyglycerin-3 called in Korean?
On Korean labels, Polyglycerin-3 is listed as 폴리글리세린-3.
Products with Polyglycerin-3
All 4 →4 public products list this ingredient.
Catalog preview
A compact look at the first products in this result set
1–1 / 4
Compiled from the EU CosIng database (ref 36714) · snapshot 16 June 2026. The written profile above was human-reviewed; see its cited sources.