A polyglycerol ester used as an emollient, emulsifier, cleansing surfactant and solvent.
What it is
Polyglyceryl-3 caprate/caprylate/succinate is an ester of polyglycerin-3 (a polyglycerol with an average of three glycerol units) with a mixture of capric, caprylic and succinic acids. CosIng lists it as an emollient, emulsifying and cleansing surfactant, skin-conditioning ingredient and solvent.
Where it is used
Found in a small number of products, such as cleansing oils, creams and makeup removers.
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 exact proportions of the acids.
Functions
- Skin conditioning – emollient
- Acting as lubricants on the skin surface providing the skin with a soft and smooth appearance.
- Surfactant – emulsifying
- Helping suspensions or dispersions of liquids in a second liquid by reducing the surface tension of the substances to be emulsified.
- Skin conditioning
- Maintaining the skin in good condition.
- Solvent
- Dissolving other components of cosmetics. Solvents are usually liquids (aqueous and nonaqueous).
- 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.