POLYGLYCERYL-4 CAPRATE
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate is an ingredient made of glycerol units linked to decanoates. Its chemical description specifies an average of four glycerol units, which accounts for the number 4 in its name and distinguishes it from other polyglyceryl caprates.
POLYGLYCERYL-4 CAPRATE: what it is
Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate is an ingredient made of glycerol units linked to decanoates. Its chemical description specifies an average of four glycerol units, which accounts for the number 4 in its name and distinguishes it from other polyglyceryl caprates.
The caprate part refers to the portion derived from decanoic acid. It is not an oil or a plant extract identified by the label; it is an ingredient produced from that chemical combination, with an average composition rather than one single isolated molecule.
POLYGLYCERYL-4 CAPRATE: what it does in cosmetics
In cosmetics, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate is used as a surfactant and emulsifier. In practical terms, it helps bring together components that would otherwise separate, such as water and oily materials, so the product remains an even mixture when it is applied, rinsed, or dispensed.
A 2023 study used POLYGLYCERYL-4 CAPRATE in nanoparticles carrying alpha-bisabolol. The antioxidant and antibacterial findings were assessed for that alpha-bisabolol-containing system, not for Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate on its own, so the study does not establish those effects for the isolated ingredient in an ordinary cosmetic.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
