When I mix creams, serums or balms at home, I look for ingredients that give the product a luxurious feel, but without silicones and without a heavy oily film. And that's exactly why I chose Coco caprylate.
Coco caprylate. is a natural emollient obtained from coconut oil. In home cosmetics production, it represents an ideal alternative to light silicones. It allows me to achieve a professional, modern texture without having to give up my requirements for a more natural composition.
I use it mainly because it significantly affects the sensory properties of the resulting product. Thanks to it, the cream or oil spreads beautifully, gains better slip and does not leave a greasy film on the skin. After application, the skin is soft and smooth, but does not feel sticky or overloaded.
A great advantage is also faster absorption. In home recipes, it often happens that the resulting emulsion is too thick or heavy. By adding Coco caprylate, the mixture can be lightened and given the lightness that we know from professional preparations. Just replace part of the heavier vegetable oil and the texture will change significantly.
As a natural alternative to siliconesit offers a very similar effect of smoothness and glide. If I don't want to use synthetic silicones in my cosmetics, but still want an elegant, silky feel on the skin, Coco caprylate is the ideal solution for me. The resulting product looks sophisticated, even if it was created at home in the kitchen.
I also appreciate its gentleness. It is also suitable for more sensitive skin, does not clog pores and works well in minimalist formulations, where I work with only a few carefully selected ingredients.
In practice, I add it to skin creams, light serums, body lotions, oil serums, where it replaces part of the vegetable oil, but also to toning creams or homemade sunscreens, because it improves spreadability and overall comfort during application.
I most often include it in the oil phase of the recipe. The dosage usually ranges from about 5 to 20 percent depending on how light a consistency I want to achieve. For example, if I replace some of the almond or olive oil with Coco caprylate, the product is immediately softer, less greasy, and lighter..
I would describe the feeling on the skin as a combination of dry oil and a light silky serum. The skin is smooth and soft to the touch, without a noticeable shine. This effect is noticeable even in very simple homemade recipes and that is what makes it an ingredient that I return to repeatedly.
As a homemaker I don't want to compromise between naturalness and a pleasant texture. Coco caprylate allows me to create products that stand up to commercial cosmetics, while maintaining full control over the composition and production process. If you want to take your home recipes a step further, it's worth making room for it in your raw material kit.
Solubility and Phase
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Soluble in oils
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Belongs to oil phase
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Not soluble in water
Recommended dosage
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Usually 5–20%
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Can also be used in higher proportions in oil serums
Skin Type
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Suitable for normal, combination and oily skin
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Does not weigh down, does not leave a greasy film
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Low comedogenic potential (Comedone is the technical name for a clogged pore – i.e. a blackhead or a white “subcutaneous” dot.
If the ingredient is comedogenic, it can promote the formation of these blockages, especially in oily or acne-prone skin. Coco caprylate has a low tendency to clog pores, and is therefore also suitable for combination and oily skin.
Stability and storage
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Stable emollient
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Store in a dry, dark place at room temperature
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Long shelf life
Suitability for natural cosmetics
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Plant-based
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Biodegradable
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Can be used in natural cosmetics concepts
Consistency and appearance
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Clear to slightly yellowish liquid
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Light, dry texture
Possible combinations
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Works well with light esters
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Lightens heavier oils (olive, castor)
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Suitable for SPF formulations
If you are interested, you can find it here Coco caprylate.
If you want to see more information, take a look at the glossary.