You are tightening a facial serum to a lighter skin feel, or you need a carrier oil that will not develop a rancid note nine months into a sunscreen’s shelf life, or your color base keeps re-agglomerating because the pigment never fully wetted out. In each of those cases the ester most formulators reach for first is caprylic/capric triglyceride, usually shortened to CCT. It is light, low in viscosity, and unusually stable for a plant-derived oil, which is why it turns up across skin, sun, color, lip, and hair systems as the default carrier and spreading aid.
The short version: Caprylic/capric triglyceride (CCT; INCI Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride; CAS 73398-61-5, also registered as 65381-09-1) is a medium-chain triglyceride ester made by esterifying fractionated C8 (caprylic) and C10 (capric) fatty acids from coconut or palm kernel oil with glycerin. As a formulation ingredient it behaves as a light, low-viscosity emollient ester with a dry-to-medium slip, good spreadability, and a strong oxidative-stability profile that supports long shelf life. It works as a carrier and solvent for lipophilic (oil-soluble) actives and UV filters, as a wetting and dispersing medium for pigments, and as a spreading aid in skin care, sun care, color cosmetics, lip, and hair. Performance is formulation-dependent: CCT is a carrier and emollient ester, not a single-ingredient fix. Confirm the grade and specification you need (for example NF, Ph. Eur., or a defined cosmetic grade) for your application.
What caprylic/capric triglyceride actually is
CCT is a triglyceride: a glycerol backbone esterified with three fatty-acid chains, built specifically from medium-chain acids. The two acids are caprylic acid (C8) and capric acid (C10), separated out of coconut or palm kernel oil by fractionation, then re-esterified with glycerin into a mixed triglyceride. The result is a clear, pale, low-viscosity liquid with a bland odor. Per the Cosmetic Ingredient Review summary at Cosmetics Info, it is an oily mixed ester of caprylic and capric fatty acids derived from coconut oil and glycerin, reported as a viscosity-controlling and pigment-dispersing ingredient that adds slip to a formulation.
One naming point trips up new buyers. CCT, “fractionated coconut oil,” and “MCT oil” share the same INCI (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride) and overlap heavily, but they are not produced identically: cosmetic CCT is the deliberately re-esterified mixed triglyceride of fractionated C8/C10 acids, whereas “fractionated coconut oil” is often described as distilled coconut oil with the long-chain fraction removed. For purchasing, the spec that matters is the C8:C10 ratio (commonly near 60:40 or 70:30, which shifts viscosity and slip slightly) rather than the marketing name. Ask the supplier for the ratio on the CoA rather than inferring it from the label.
The reason CCT is so stable sits in that chemistry. The C8 and C10 chains are fully saturated — there are no carbon-carbon double bonds, so there is no unsaturation site where peroxide oxidation can initiate, the way it does in long-chain unsaturated vegetable oils. The medium-chain triglyceride structure is documented in primary chemical databases such as PubChem. The practical consequence for a formulator is a long, predictable shelf life and very little odor or color drift over time.
The formulation properties formulators buy it for
Everything below is a physical or sensory property of the ester and how it behaves in a formula. None of it is a skin-health claim.
- Low viscosity. CCT is a thin, freely flowing liquid, so it lowers the apparent viscosity of an oil phase and helps an emulsion pump, spray, or pour. Use it as a letdown or thinning oil where a richer ester or butter is dragging the system too thick.
- Dry-to-medium slip and spreadability. It spreads easily and leaves a light, non-greasy afterfeel rather than a heavy oily film. This is a sensory/aesthetic characteristic of the finished product, and it is the main reason CCT reads as “light” in skin care.
- Solvency for lipophilic ingredients and UV filters. CCT dissolves and carries oil-soluble actives, fragrances, and lipophilic UV filters, which is why it is common in the oil phase of sunscreens as a filter solvent and distribution medium.
- Pigment wetting and dispersion. It wets and distributes pigments, helping a color base disperse evenly and resist re-agglomeration, which supports consistent payoff and a smoother glide in color cosmetics.
- Oxidative stability. The saturated medium-chain structure resists oxidation, giving long shelf life and low odor/color development relative to unsaturated plant oils.
A genuine trade-off comes with that lightness. CCT is a light carrier, not a heavy cushioning oil — it will not deliver the rich, substantive afterfeel of a heavier ester, butter, or wax, and it cannot rescue a poorly built emulsion. When the brief calls for a heavier, more cushioned feel, pair CCT with a more substantive ester or pick a heavier one outright, and treat CCT as the part of the oil phase that keeps the whole thing light and stable.
Uses by application
| Application | How CCT functions in the formula |
|---|---|
| Skin care (creams, lotions, serums, facial oils) | Light emollient carrier and spreading aid; lowers oil-phase viscosity and tunes slip; solvent/vehicle for oil-soluble ingredients |
| Sun care (sunscreens, sun milks, sprays) | Solvent and carrier for lipophilic (oil-soluble) UV filters; improves spread and reduces oily drag; oxidative stability supports shelf life |
| Color cosmetics (foundation, blush, eyeshadow) | Pigment wetting and dispersion medium; carries and distributes pigments evenly; adds glide |
| Lip (balms, sticks, glosses) | Emollient slip and gloss carrier; dissolves oil-soluble colorants and actives; bland odor and clear appearance |
| Hair (leave-ins, serums, oils) | Lightweight slip carrier; reduces greasy feel in hair oils and serums; solvent for oil-soluble ingredients |
The usable takeaway: when you are choosing where CCT earns its place, slot it in as the light, stable solvent/carrier portion of the oil phase, then build texture and cushion around it with heavier components. Start screening it at roughly 2-15% of an oil phase and adjust to your target slip and viscosity on the bench.
Choosing CCT versus other emollient esters
CCT is the default, but it is one of several light esters that overlap in feel. The differences are mostly in afterfeel, spreading speed, polarity/solvency, and source.
| Emollient ester | Physical / sensory character | Where it fits relative to CCT |
|---|---|---|
| Caprylic/capric triglyceride (CCT) | Light, low viscosity, dry-to-medium slip, high oxidative stability, plant-derived | The balanced default carrier — light slip plus stability plus broad solvency |
| Isopropyl myristate (IPM) | Very dry, fast initial spread, low viscosity | Drier and faster-breaking than CCT; choose IPM for the driest, lightest first touch, CCT for a more cushioned light slip and a plant-derived, triglyceride carrier |
| Dicaprylyl carbonate | Very light, dry, fast volatile-like spread, high polarity | Even drier and faster-spreading than CCT, with strong solvency for some UV filters; CCT gives more cushion |
| Cetearyl octanoate (cetearyl ethylhexanoate) | Light-to-medium, smooth velvety slip, more substantive | More cushion and a more “finished” velvety feel than CCT; CCT spreads lighter and drier |
| Isononyl isononanoate | Light, dry, silky/powdery afterfeel, branched ester | Comparable light, dry feel with a silky finish; CCT adds triglyceride solvency and oxidative stability |
| Mineral oil / paraffin | Heavy, occlusive, greasy slip, petroleum-derived | Heavier and greasier than CCT; CCT is the lighter, plant-derived alternative when you want to cut that oily feel |
Two comparisons drive most substitutions. Against IPM, CCT trades a touch of IPM’s ultra-dry, fast break for a slightly more cushioned slip, a plant-derived origin, and a triglyceride backbone with strong oxidative stability, useful when you want light without a bone-dry finish. Against mineral oil, CCT is straightforwardly lighter, less greasy, and plant-derived, which is why reformulations moving away from petrolatum-type oils so often land on it. Full side-by-side tradeoffs are in our cosmetic emollient esters selection guide and, for the IPM comparison specifically, the isopropyl myristate emollient guide.
Grade, specification, and supply
CCT trades in cosmetic grade and, depending on source, pharmacopeial (NF / Ph. Eur.) quality. The spec points a buyer should pin down are the C8:C10 ratio (affects viscosity and slip), acid value, peroxide value, color (often reported as APHA / Gardner), and moisture. Confirm the exact grade and specification you require (for example NF, Ph. Eur., or a defined cosmetic grade) against your application and your own incoming-QC limits; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) governs the lot you actually buy, and a regulatory or pharmacopeial status should be verified for your product and jurisdiction rather than assumed from a name.
RawSource supplies caprylic/capric triglyceride for beauty and personal-care and industrial manufacturing formulators, alongside the related emollient esters above, in drums, IBCs, and bulk with CoA documentation. We hold CCT in domestic US stock, which shortens lead time compared with import-dependent supply — a real scheduling advantage when you are timing production around a launch or a reorder. Tell us your target C8:C10 ratio, grade, and volume, and request a sample and current CoA to qualify it on your own system.
Frequently asked questions
What is caprylic/capric triglyceride (CCT)?
CCT is a medium-chain triglyceride ester (INCI Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride; CAS 73398-61-5, also 65381-09-1) made by esterifying fractionated caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) fatty acids from coconut or palm kernel oil with glycerin. It is a clear, light, low-viscosity liquid used in cosmetics as an emollient ester and carrier oil.
What does CCT do in a cosmetic formulation?
It functions as a light emollient and spreading aid, a solvent and carrier for oil-soluble (lipophilic) actives and UV filters, a pigment-wetting and dispersion medium, and a viscosity-tuning oil. These are physical and sensory formulation functions; the right loading depends on your full formula.
Is CCT the same as fractionated coconut oil or MCT oil?
They share the INCI name Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride and overlap heavily, but the production routes differ — cosmetic CCT is the deliberately re-esterified mixed triglyceride of fractionated C8/C10 acids, while “fractionated coconut oil” is often distilled coconut oil with the long-chain fraction removed. For purchasing, match on the C8:C10 ratio and CoA rather than the name.
How does CCT compare to isopropyl myristate (IPM)?
Both are light, low-viscosity esters. IPM gives a drier, faster initial break, while CCT gives a slightly more cushioned light slip, a plant-derived origin, and a saturated triglyceride backbone with strong oxidative stability. Choose IPM for the driest first touch and CCT for a light feel with a stable, triglyceride carrier; validate skin feel on your own base.
Why is CCT considered oxidatively stable?
Its caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) chains are fully saturated, so there are no carbon-carbon double bonds where peroxide oxidation can begin, unlike unsaturated long-chain vegetable oils. In practice that means a long, predictable shelf life with little odor or color drift. Confirm peroxide and acid values on the CoA for the lot you buy.
What grade and specification should I order?
Specify the C8:C10 ratio, acid value, peroxide value, color (APHA/Gardner), and moisture, and confirm whether you need a cosmetic grade or a pharmacopeial grade such as NF or Ph. Eur. for your application and jurisdiction. The CoA for your lot governs; request a sample to qualify performance before committing to volume.
Editorial note. This article is general technical guidance for cosmetic and personal-care formulation professionals. The behavior of caprylic/capric triglyceride (slip, spreadability, solvency, pigment dispersion, and stability) depends on your specific formulation, the other ingredients present, processing, packaging, and storage, and must be validated on your own system; the Certificate of Analysis governs the grade you buy, and any grade or regulatory status (for example NF, Ph. Eur., or a defined cosmetic grade) must be confirmed for your application and jurisdiction. Review the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before handling. Products are sold for industrial and professional use only. Nothing here is a cosmetic, medical, health, or efficacy claim. RawSource makes no warranty, express or implied, and assumes no liability for use of this information.
