Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a nonionic emulsifier and solubilizer that helps disperse oils, fragrance components, and lipid-soluble actives in water-based formulas. It can also support mild cleansing and improve rinse feel in surfactant systems.
What does Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a nonionic emulsifier and solubilizer that helps disperse oils, fragrance components, and lipid-soluble actives in water-based formulas. It can also support mild cleansing and improve rinse feel in surfactant systems.
Is Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate clean?
It is generally well accepted in clean-beauty frameworks because it is mild, non-ethoxylated, and not a common sensitizer. The main watchpoint is raw-material quality and residual free fatty acids or glycerol-derived byproducts, which reputable suppliers control by specification.
Is Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate sustainable?
This material is typically made from glycerin and plant-derived fatty acid feedstocks, often linked to coconut, palm kernel, or other vegetable oil supply chains. It is expected to be readily biodegradable, with sourcing certification being the main sustainability variable.
Is Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate COSMOS-approved?
It is generally permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic when made from approved renewable feedstocks using compliant esterification chemistry. Its profile fits Green Chemistry well because it uses bio-based inputs, has good biodegradability, and does not require ethoxylation.
How does Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate work chemically?
The molecule is a nonionic polyglycerol fatty ester, with a three-unit glycerol-derived hydrophilic head group and a medium-chain saturated lipid tail. It is commonly used around 0.5 to 3% as a solubilizer, co-emulsifier, or mild surfactant, and it is broadly compatible across typical cosmetic pH ranges.
Last updated 2026-05-13