A sorbitan ester of caprylic acid used as a skin-conditioning, cleansing and viscosity-controlling ingredient.
What it is
Sorbitan sesquicaprylate is a mixture of mono- and diesters of caprylic acid with hexitol anhydrides derived from sorbitol; sesqui indicates an average of about one and a half acid groups per molecule. CosIng lists it as a skin-conditioning ingredient, cleansing surfactant and viscosity-controlling agent.
Where it is used
Found in creams, lotions, cleansers and other emulsions, sometimes as part of preservative-boosting blends.
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 ratio of mono- to diesters.
Functions
- 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).
- Viscosity controlling
- Increasing or decreasing the viscosity (thickness) of cosmetics.
EU regulation
This ingredient is not listed in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the CosIng data.