oil
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Most widely used emollient and carrier oil in clean and prestige cosmetics. Colourless, odourless, oxidation-stable profile makes it the preferred vehicle for oil-based serums and peptide formulations.
Benefits
- Oxidation-stable carrier oil
- Lightweight non-greasy emollient
- Odourless and colourless
- Excellent solvent for lipophilic actives
- Low comedogenicity
Example uses
- Oil-based serums
- Emulsion oil phases
- Anhydrous balms
- Retinol and bakuchiol vehicles
- Tinted moisturiser bases
Mechanism of action
Medium-chain triglyceride (C8/C10) provides emolliency via passive lipid film deposition, reducing surface friction and TEWL. Low molecular weight and non-polar structure make it an effective solvent for lipophilic actives, enhancing their incorporation and dermal penetration via the lipid pathway.
Clinical evidence · High
Extensively characterised. Safety assessments by CIR and SCCS confirming safety. Role is vehicle.
Effective concentration range
q.s. (1–30% in formulations)
Formulation notes
Liquid at room temperature; low viscosity. Extremely stable — no antioxidant protection needed at standard use. Miscible with silicones and cosmetic esters.
Watchouts
No meaningful safety concerns. Some coconut-derived supply chain questions for consumers concerned about coconut oil ethics — caprylic/capric TG is fractionated and different from whole coconut oil.
Stacks with
Controversies & overclaims
No controversy. Occasionally mischaracterised as equivalent to coconut oil for comedogenicity — it is not; no appreciable lauric acid (the comedogenic fraction) is present.
Market positioning
Sold as skin-loving carrier oil. Accurate and appropriately understated. Primary value is functional vehicle, not active.
Comedogenicity
1 / 5
Sensitisation risk
Low
INCI & aliases
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
caprylic capric triglyceride · MCT oil cosmetic grade · fractionated coconut oil · medium chain triglyceride
Clean beauty perception
Universally accepted in clean beauty. EWG rating 1–2. One of the safest functional carrier oils available.
Related ingredients
Graph relationships
Timeline