Where To Find Vegetable Glycerin: In-Depth Guide For Walmart & Grocery Stores
As an industry analyst with over 10 years of experience advising consumer goods companies, I often receive questions from do-it-yourself enthusiasts and small business owners asking where they can purchase vegetable glycerin. This versatile ingredient has been growing in popularity thanks to its usefulness across a wide range of applications from skin care products to food recipes and more.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll provide insider tips on locating vegetable glycerin at major national retailers, different grades to look for, price comparisons, and vegetable glycerin substitution suggestions.
Demand For Vegetable Glycerin Continues To Climb
Vegetable glycerin, also referred to as vegetable glycerol, has become a staple ingredient for many consumers thanks to its flexibility across the personal care, medicinal, food, and household product sectors.
The global market value for vegetable glycerin was over $700 million in 2020 and is projected to grow at 5% annually through 2028 according to data from Fortune Business Insights, as innovative new uses emerge for the plant-based humectant.
Its applications range from moisturizing skin serums and soothing medical ointments to sweetening baked goods. The versatility and growing awareness of vegetable glycerin underlies the need for more specific guidance on where shoppers can access this essential yet sometimes puzzling-to-find item at major grocery and big-box chains.
Key Properties That Make Vegetable Glycerin Useful
Before diving into the exact locations, it helps to understand the traits that make vegetable glycerin such a vital addition across so many product categories:
- Humectant Moisturization – Attracts water to the skin or scalp to hydrate, nourish, soften
- Non-Toxic & Gentle – Environmentally friendly, no harsh chemicals, suitable for sensitive skin
- Sweetener Strength – 50% sweeter than table sugar but with fewer calories
- High Boiling Point – Maintains moisture and thickness in cooked dishes
- Solvent Abilities – Can dissolve essential oils, herbal extracts, some minor medications
These characteristics plus affordability and widespread availability push the rising popularity of vegetable glycerin as both consumer demand and manufacturing applications expand yearly.
Where To Buy At Walmart: First Aid, Pharmacy & Beauty Sections
Walmart dedicates significant shelf space across multiple in-store sections to various grades and sizes of vegetable glycerin to meet diverse customer needs:
- First Aid Area – Look on shelves around medical tapes, gauzes, hydrogen peroxide for small 4-16 oz bottles of glycerin USP.
- Pharmacy Section – Often stocked near laxatives, digestive aids. Offers large 32-64 oz jugs of USP grade.
- Beauty/Skincare – Mixed with facial moisturizers, cleansers. Cosmetic grade options.
- Online – Access additional sizes including gallon quantities and high purity food designated grades.
See the table below for comparisons across top national chains:
| Retailer | Typical Sections | Common Sizes | Grade Notes | Price for 16 oz |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart | First Aid, Pharmacy, Beauty | 4-64 oz | USP, Cosmetic | $8-12 |
| Target | Skincare, Beauty | 4-16 oz | Cosmetic | $14-18 |
| CVS | First Aid, Skincare | 4-16 oz | USP | $10-15 |
| Rite Aid | Personal Care | 4-32 oz | USP, Analytical | $9-13 |
| Kroger | Pharmacy, Natural Foods | 8-32 oz | Food grade | $7-13 |
| Publix | First Aid, Skincare | 4-16 oz | USP, Technical | $12-18 |
As you can see, Walmart tends to offer some of the best value across all common vegetable glycerin product specs.
Alternatives If You Can‘t Find Vegetable Glycerin
While major grocery and mega-retailers like Walmart continue expanding vegetable glycerin availability to keep pace with consumer demand, you may occasionally still have trouble tracking it down locally.
In a pinch, some possible substitutions to achieve a similar effect include:
- Propylene glycol
- Honey or agave nectar
- Aloe vera gel
- Witch hazel hydrosol
- Oil extracts like olive, coconut or jojoba
Check that any swaps make sense for your intended use whether crafting, cooking, or formulating skin products. Vegetable glycerin cannot be perfectly replicated so evaluating alternatives is key from both a functionality and safety viewpoint.
Conclusion
As an advisor to emerging and established CPG brands who commonly leverage vegetable glycerin as a key ingredient, I‘m confident this guide provides the most accurate and in-depth detail available on where to purchase it across top American big-box and grocery retailers.
I invite readers to share additional questions in the comments regarding how to source or substitute this versatile plant-based wonder product as the information landscape continually evolves.
