Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate

INCI: Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate | Function: Emollient | Type: Synthetic Ester Blend

What Is Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate?

Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate is a mixed ester of pentaerythritol with caprylic (C8) and capric (C10) acids — the medium-chain fatty acids from coconut/palm kernel oil. This is one of the most widely used pentaerythrityl esters in cosmetics, confirmed by INCIDecoder as having “emollient” function. It provides a lightweight, non-greasy, fast-absorbing emolliency that is ideal for day creams, serums, sunscreens, and hair oils. The balanced C8/C10 profile offers a pleasant dry-touch feel.

Key Skin Benefits

+ Lightweight emolliency — non-greasy, fast-absorbing feel
+ Excellent spreadability — medium chain lengths enable even application
+ Versatile — works in face, body, hair, and sun care
+ Good solubility — helps dissolve oil-soluble actives and UV filters

Pros

+ One of the most commonly used and tested pentaerythrityl esters
+ Excellent sensory profile for mainstream skincare
+ Good solvent for sunscreen filters and oil-soluble actives
+ Partially derived from renewable coconut/palm kernel oil

Cons

− Fully synthetic through esterification process
− Moderate emolliency — may not be enough for very dry skin alone
− Palm kernel sourcing may have sustainability concerns
− No active skincare benefits beyond emolliency

Specifications

Property	Value
Usage Areas	Face, Body, Hair
Product Type	Leave-On, Rinse-Off
Source	Synthetic
Natural Level	Synthetic

Safety Ratings

Metric	Rating
Skin Sensitivity	1/5
Comedogenic Rating	1/5
EWG Score	1/10

Regional Regulatory Limits

Region	Leave-on %	Rinse-off %	Status
EU (CosIng)	No limit	No limit	Allowed
US (CIR/FDA)	No limit	No limit	Allowed
Japan (MHLW)	No limit	No limit	Allowed
ASEAN	No limit	No limit	Allowed
China (NMPA)	No limit	No limit	Allowed

Typical Usage % by Product Type

Product Type	Typical %
Day cream / lotion	2 - 8%
Sunscreen lotion	3 - 10%
Hair oil / serum	3 - 15%

References

CosIng (2025) — Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate. CAS: 68441-68-9. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/
INCIDecoder — Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate (emollient). https://incidecoder.com/ingredients/pentaerythrityl-tetracaprylate-tetracaprate
SpecialChem — Emollient esters database. https://cosmetics.specialchem.com/

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