PROPYLHEPTYL CAPRYLATE
Propylheptyl Caprylate is an ester identified in chemical literature as 2-propylheptyl octanoate. The word caprylate refers to octanoate, one part of the molecule joined to a 2-propylheptyl chain; this gives the ingredient an oil-like character that fits the lipid phase of many cosmetic preparations.
PROPYLHEPTYL CAPRYLATE: what it is
Propylheptyl Caprylate is an ester identified in chemical literature as 2-propylheptyl octanoate. The word caprylate refers to octanoate, one part of the molecule joined to a 2-propylheptyl chain; this gives the ingredient an oil-like character that fits the lipid phase of many cosmetic preparations.
Its name can sound similar to caprylic acid or caprylic/capric triglyceride, yet it does not mean either of those materials on its own. It is a defined compound made from octanoate and 2-propylheptyl groups, a distinction that helps explain why it appears on labels as a texture ingredient rather than as the name of a particular plant oil.
PROPYLHEPTYL CAPRYLATE: what it does in cosmetics
Propylheptyl Caprylate is used as a skin emollient. In everyday terms, an emollient helps a product glide over the skin and supports a softer after-feel once it has been spread, which can be useful in creams, lotions, sunscreens, and other products meant to apply without a dry drag.
Its plausible benefit concerns feel and the way the oily part of a preparation behaves during application; it does not turn a product into a treatment for acne, dark spots, wrinkles, or irritation. For someone reading a label, it is best understood as a contributor to the product experience, while the final sensory result comes from the product's full ingredient combination.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
