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Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride · capric triglycerideBarrier

Lightweight synthetic-coconut emollient. Smooth skin feel without coconut's comedogenicity.

What it does

Caprylic/capric triglyceride is fractionated from coconut oil — only the medium-chain triglycerides remain after the longer-chain saturated fats are removed. The result is a clear, lightweight emollient with a silky skin feel. It's a workhorse ingredient in serums, moisturizers, and sunscreens, providing slip without the heaviness of unrefined oils. Generally well tolerated; not associated with the comedogenic concern of coconut oil itself.

The evidence, graded

expert consensusCaprylic/capric triglyceride is one of the triglycerides an expert panel reviewed. The family works as skin conditioners — sealing or softening — and as thickeners. The panel judged all 51 of them safe as currently used.Fiume 2022 · International journal of toxicology ↗

Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.

Also known as

fractionated coconut oil, mct oil

Pairs worth knowing

Squalane · works together ↗Ceramides · works together ↗Vitamin E (Tocopherol) · works together ↗

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