Caprylhydoxamic Acid ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is used mainly as a preservation booster with chelating activity, especially against yeast and mold. It binds iron that microbes need, which helps the broader preservative system perform more reliably.
What does Caprylhydoxamic Acid do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is used mainly as a preservation booster with chelating activity, especially against yeast and mold. It binds iron that microbes need, which helps the broader preservative system perform more reliably.
Is Caprylhydoxamic Acid clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is generally accepted and is not a common headline restricted-list ingredient. The main caveat is tolerance, since stronger preservation systems can cause stinging or irritation in some leave-on formulas.
Is Caprylhydoxamic Acid sustainable?
This material is commonly made from C8 fatty-acid feedstocks, often coconut or palm-kernel derived, combined with synthetic hydroxylamine chemistry. It is expected to biodegrade and is not known for high environmental persistence, but palm-linked sourcing can affect its sustainability profile.
Is Caprylhydoxamic Acid COSMOS-approved?
It can be used in COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic formulas when the raw material grade meets COSMOS criteria, and many commercial grades are sold with COSMOS approval. Its Green Chemistry profile is moderate: renewable fatty feedstock and low use levels are positives, while the hydroxamic-acid chemistry adds synthetic processing and residual-reagent control requirements.
How does Caprylhydoxamic Acid work chemically?
The molecule combines a lipophilic C8 alkyl chain with a hydroxamic-acid head group that strongly complexes ferric ions, which explains both its chelating behavior and antimicrobial support. Typical use levels are about 0.05% to 0.2%, with broad pH utility around mildly acidic to neutral systems, and it is often paired with glycols or glyceryl esters to improve solubility and preservation coverage.
Last updated 2026-08-18