Pr
Propanediol Dicaprylate/Caprate
Propanediol Dicaprylate/CaprateBarrier
An oil-like ingredient that softens skin.
What it does
It’s made by joining propanediol to caprylic and capric acids, two fatty acids. It works like an oil, softening skin.
The evidence, graded
expert consensusUS safety reviewers (2017) judged a group of related esters safe as used, propanediol dicaprylate/caprate and neopentyl glycol diethylhexanoate among them; both soften skin. At up to full strength, neither caused allergy in repeat patch tests on people. Absorbed and broken down, neopentyl glycol diethylhexanoate gives 2-ethylhexanoic acid, which can harm the liver and reproduction. It’s used at up to 57%, but the reviewers judged the acid is cleared too fast to reach harmful levels.Becker 2017 · Cosmetic Ingredient Review ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
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