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The Beauty & Personal Care Brand Builder Series

Ingredient Deep Dive

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

The Beauty & Personal Care Brand Builder Series

Ingredient Deep Dive

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

A Dry-Touch Emollient & Solubilizer

Dicaprylyl Carbonate is a light emollient carbonate ester (from coconut-derived alcohols), supplied as a clear, thin oil.

It gives a remarkably dry, velvety touch, boosts spreadability, and helps dissolve UV filters and actives — a favorite in sunscreens and light moisturizers.

Quick Insights

Ingredient Rating:

GOOD

Type of Ingredient:

Emollient and Solvent

Intended Function:

A light, dry-touch emollient carbonate that also solubilizes UV filters and lipophilic actives.

Common Applications:

Used in sunscreens, light moisturizers and serums.

Target Audience:

Brands wanting a dry-feel emollient and filter solubilizer for light, modern textures.

Also Known As:

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Benefits of Dicaprylyl Carbonate

A dependable functional ingredient that does its job elegantly.

Dry, Velvety Feel: One of the driest-feeling emollients available.
Excellent Spread: Distributes evenly and thins heavier oils.
Solubilizer: Dissolves organic UV filters and some crystalline actives.
Lightweight: Adds slip without any greasy residue.
Naturally Derived Option: Commonly made from coconut-derived alcohols.

How It Works

Its carbonate structure spreads exceptionally well and evaporates-off residue to a dry finish, while acting as a good solvent for organic sunscreen filters and lipophilic actives — improving both feel and formulation flexibility.

Formulating with Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Oil-phase; excellent as a co-solvent for UV filters and to lighten the skin feel of an emulsion.

Safety Analysis

Dicaprylyl Carbonate is a well-tolerated, widely used emollient. Substantiate the finished product (patch / HRIPT) per MoCRA.

References

https://incidecoder.com/ingredients/dicaprylyl-carbonate

https://cosmetics.specialchem.com/inci-ingredients/dicaprylyl-carbonate

https://cosmeticanalysis.com/cosmetic-ingredients/dicaprylyl-carbonate

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