Glycereth-7 Caprylate/Caprate

Glycereth-7 caprylate/caprate is a nonionic surfactant made by reacting ethoxylated glycerin with medium-chain fatty acids. It's used to solubilize oils, boost rinse-off, and stabilize emulsions while providing mild cleansing and a lighter skin feel.
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Ingredient Snapshot

Overview
A gentle plant-based cleansing agent that lifts away oil and residue.
Category
Emulsifying, Cleansing, Skin Conditioning
Type
Surfactant

Ingredient Ratings

Overall Rating

Good

Comedogenic Risk

None

Skin Benefits

Gently lifts oils and sunscreen, helping skin feel clean without a tight afterfeel. Improves clarity of formulas by dispersing oils uniformly for a light, comfortable finish.

Uses In Skincare & Cosmetics

Used in micellar waters, gel cleansers, and makeup removers for mild cleansing and solubilizing. Also appears in lightweight lotions to stabilize emulsions and improve spreadability.

Comedogenic Rating

This ingredient is not typically evaluated for comedogenicity, and no standardized rating is available.

Safety

Typically low irritation, though it may sting eyes or bother very sensitive skin at higher use levels; discontinue if redness occurs. Not known to pose comedogenic or photosensitizing concerns.

Is Glycereth-7 Caprylate/Caprate a Good Ingredient?

It's Good for its mild, effective solubilizing and cleansing action, which supports clear, elegant formulations with generally low irritation compared with harsher surfactants. Performance is formulation-dependent, but it reliably improves rinse-off feel and texture, which is enough for Good without quite reaching Great.

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