Skip to content
be sonatural, Face masks, read from the back

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Fractionated coconut oil

Well toleratedEmollientemollientsolventskin conditioning

No meaningful concern for most people; irritation is possible but rare.

Also written as: Fractionated Coconut Oil · MCT Oil · Medium Chain Triglycerides

What it is

This is a made-to-spec oil built by joining glycerin to just two medium-chain fatty acids, caprylic (C8) and capric (C10), which are separated out of coconut or palm kernel oil. Stripping out the longer and unsaturated fatty acids leaves a colourless, odourless liquid that is far lighter and far more stable than the parent oil. It is one of the most-used emollients in skincare and a standard solvent for oil-soluble actives and pigments.

What it does well

  • Light, fast-absorbing emollient that thins heavier oils

    Its short fatty acid chains give it a low viscosity and a dry after-feel, which is why formulators use it to make butters and rich oils wearable. It also resists oxidation far better than the coconut oil it comes from.

    Moderate evidence

Worth knowing

  • Assumed to behave like coconut oil because of its origin

    This is a misunderstanding. Coconut oil's reputation for congesting skin is usually attributed to its high lauric acid (C12) content, and caprylic/capric triglyceride contains essentially none of it. Chemically it has little in common with the whole oil.

    Matters most toPeople with acne-prone skin who avoid anything coconut-derived on principle.

Where the EU stands

No specific restriction

Not listed in any Annex of the EU Cosmetics Regulation, so there is no specific concentration limit; it is still covered by the general safety assessment every cosmetic product must pass before sale.

source ↗

Masks that contain Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride