Hydroxycaprylic Acid

AKA “2-Hydroxyoctanoic acid, 2-Hydroxycaprylic acid, Octanoic acid, alpha-Hydroxycaprylic acid, alpha-Hydroxyoctanoic acid, DL-2-Hydroxyoctanoic acid, DL-2-Hydroxycaprylic acid, .alpha.-Hydroxycaprylic acid”

Synthetic

Ingredient Facts

Hydroxycaprylic acid

AKA: 2-Hydroxyoctanoic acid, 2-Hydroxycaprylic acid, Octanoic acid, Alpha-Hydroxycaprylic acid, Alpha-Hydroxyoctanoic acid, DL-2-Hydroxyoctanoic acid, DL-2-Hydroxycaprylic acid, .alpha.-Hydroxycaprylic acid

Synthetic · Emollient · EWG: 4

Synthetic

Humectant

Emollient

Skin Conditioner

Plant Oil

Synthetic

Clean

A gentle conditioning agent that helps skin feel soft and smooth by improving moisture retention and texture.

Solubility 927 mg/mL

Formula

C8H16O3

Mol. Weight

160.21

CAS #

617-73-2

Form

Liquid

State

Solid

See origin →

Functions

Skin Conditioning

A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.

Humectant

A moisture magnet. Pulls water from the air and deeper skin layers up to the surface to keep skin plump and hydrated.

Emollient

Fills in the tiny cracks between skin cells to make everything feel smooth and soft. The "silky finish" ingredient.

Locks in moisture

Traditional Use

A synthetic fatty acid derivative developed for modern cosmetics as an emollient and preservative booster. No traditional use; it was formulated to provide specific sensory and stability characteristics in contemporary skincare products.