A diol used for skin-conditioning and to support some preservative systems.
Sources: 1, 21,2-Octanediol
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Not assessed
Caprylyl Glycol
What it does
Contributes to formula moisture and antimicrobial performance in a tested combination.
Sources: 1, 2Good for
- Conditioning formulas
How to use it
Use the finished serum, cleanser or moisturizer as directed. This ingredient does not require a separate routine step.
Sources: 1, 2Who should be careful
A person can react to the finished formula even when the ingredient is generally well tolerated under assessed conditions.
Sources: 1, 2Pairs well with
No supported pairings have been documented for this record.
Usage, safety and formulation details
Mechanism of action
Its water-compatible hydroxyl groups and hydrocarbon portion give it properties useful in multi-ingredient systems.
Sources: 1, 2Potential adverse effects
Stinging or contact reactions are possible in an individual product; many other formula components can also be responsible.
Sources: 1, 2Formulation considerations
Its presence does not prove that a product is adequately preserved; microbial testing is a finished-product requirement.
Sources: 1, 2Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Safety tags
- Fragrance allergen
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Essential oil
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Drying alcohol
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- May irritate sensitive skin
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
What remains uncertain
- Exact concentration, final pH and the full composition of any unprovided finished product
Clinical evidence and research
Clinical evidence
Evidence for its main benefitNot assessed
The cited references support identity, formulation role or safety context. No standalone clinical efficacy rating has been completed for the main benefit in this draft.
Sources: 1, 2Regulation and ingredient label names
Regulatory information
No jurisdiction-specific assessment is recorded. An inventory listing is not blanket approval.
Names on ingredient lists
caprylyl glycol
Chemical identity and molecular structure
Chemical information
Chemical structure
| Detail | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PubChem CID | 14231 | PubChem compound 14231: chemical identity |
| molecular formula | C8H18O2 | PubChem compound 14231: chemical identity |
| molecular weight | 146.23 g/mol | PubChem compound 14231: chemical identity |
Content updated 9 November 2026.
Sources (3)
Scientific sources
- CIR: Safety assessment of 1,2-glycolssafety assessment · 2012
- Safety testing of a 1,2-hexanediol/caprylyl glycol preservative systemhuman tolerance study · 2009
- PubChem compound 14231: chemical identitychemical identity
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