Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate
100% natural origin · ISO 16128

Is Polyglyceryl-3 Caprate natural?

Yes. Polyglycerol from vegetable glycerin condensed with coconut/palm-kernel-derived capric acid; both fragments natural origin.

INCI namePolyglyceryl-3 Caprate
CAS133654-02-1
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade by esterifying vegetable-derived polyglycerol with capric acid,…

How we scored it

Ester of polyglycerol (3 glycerol units, natural) and capric acid C10 (oleochemical); esterification loses only H2O → 1.0.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

Made by esterifying vegetable-derived polyglycerol with capric acid, typically fractionated from coconut or palm kernel oil. Both feedstocks follow standard oleochemical routes for cosmetic-grade material.

In plain English

A plant-derived emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in creams and lotions. It's made from vegetable glycerin linked to coconut- or palm-kernel-derived fatty acid.

CosIng definition: 1,2,3-Propanetriol, homopolymer, decanoates (1:1) (3 mol glycerol average molar ratio)

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2POLYGLYCERYL-3 CAPRATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3POLYGLYCERYL-3 CAPRATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYGLYCERYL-3%20CAPRATE