An ester of caprylic and capric acids with ethoxylated glycerin, used as a surfactant and conditioning ingredient.
What it is
Glycereth-7 caprylate/caprate is the ester of a mixture of caprylic and capric acids with glycereth-7, a polyethylene glycol ether of glycerin containing on average 7 ethylene oxide units. CosIng lists it as an emulsifying, foam-boosting and cleansing surfactant and a hair-conditioning and skin-conditioning ingredient.
Where it is used
Appears on the ingredient lists of a small number of products.
Limits of interpretation
The INCI list shows which ingredients are present, not how much of each. Above 1%, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight; below 1% the order is free.
The INCI name does not show the ratio of caprylic to capric acid or the degree of esterification.
Functions
- Surfactant – emulsifying
- Helping suspensions or dispersions of liquids in a second liquid by reducing the surface tension of the substances to be emulsified.
- Surfactant – foam boosting
- Increasing foaming capacity and/or stabilize foams in general.
- Hair conditioning
- Enhancing the appearance and feel of hair. Leaving the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and/or imparting volume, lightness, gloss, texture, etc.
- Skin conditioning
- Maintaining the skin in good condition.
- Surfactant – cleansing
- Wetting body surfaces, emulsifying or solubilizing oils, and suspending soil (generally, such ingredients contribute to the foaming and lathering properties of cleansing products).
EU regulation
This ingredient is not listed in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the CosIng data.