Capryloyl Glycine

What is Capryloyl Glycine?

Capryloyl Glycine is a synthetic acylglycine compound created by combining glycine, a naturally occurring amino acid, with caprylic acid, a medium-chain fatty acid often sourced from coconut or palm oils. It serves as a multifunctional ingredient in cosmetics, primarily in the surfactant and conditioning categories for skincare and haircare products. Its structure allows it to act as an amphiphile, effectively reducing surface tension to aid in emulsifying oils and dirt for easy rinsing in cleansers, shampoos, and body washes. As a conditioning agent, it coats hair shafts to minimize friction, static, and tangles, promoting smoother texture and shine. This mild anionic surfactant supports foaming and micelle formation in gentle formulations like facial washes and micellar solutions, making it ideal for everyday routines without harshness.

Comedogenic Rating 0/5 Low risk of clogging pores
EWG Safety Rating 1 View on EWG →
PubChem View on PubChem →

Roles in Formulation

This ingredient serves the following purposes in cosmetic formulations:

Hair conditioning
Improves softness, shine, and manageability by reducing friction and static; commonly achieved with cationic agents, silicones, oils, or conditioning polymers.
Surfactant
Lowers surface tension to enable cleansing, emulsifying, and foaming; central to shampoos, body washes, and many emulsions and micellar systems.
Cleansing agent
Removes dirt, oil, and impurities by lowering surface tension and forming micelles, enabling soils to be lifted and rinsed away from skin, hair, or teeth.

Benefits

Gentle cleansing action removes impurities while preserving natural moisture.

Enhances hair softness, shine, and ease of styling by reducing friction.

Low comedogenic rating supports clearer skin in purifying products.

Who It's For

A quick guide for who this ingredient may suit (and who should be cautious).

Who May Benefit Who Should Avoid
People using daily cleansers seeking mild surfactants.
Those with known allergies to amino acid derivatives.
Individuals with hair needing improved manageability and reduced static.
People experiencing irritation from similar acyl surfactants.
Users preferring low-hazard ingredients in rinse-off products.
Individuals sensitive to coconut-derived fatty acids.

Safety Notes

  • Low hazard rating from EWG indicates broad safety in cosmetics.
  • Recognized as safe for use in personal care products by cosmetic reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions about Capryloyl Glycine

What does Capryloyl Glycine do in products?

It acts as a surfactant for cleansing, emulsifying, and foaming, while conditioning hair for better softness and manageability.

Is Capryloyl Glycine safe for sensitive skin?

It carries a low hazard rating and is formulated for mild use in cosmetics suitable for everyday application.

Does Capryloyl Glycine cause comedones?

With a comedogenic rating of 0, it is not associated with pore-clogging in cosmetic formulations.