What it is
In the register’s words: “Decanoic acid, mixed diesters with octanoic acid and propylene glycol.”
- EU register name (INCI)
- PROPYLENE GLYCOL DICAPRYLATE/DICAPRATE
- CAS number
- 68583-51-7 / 58748-27-9 / 68988-72-7
- EC number
- 271-516-3
What the register lists it for
These are the uses the European Commission’s CosIng register lists for Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate in any cosmetic, hair roles first. They say why a maker might add it, not what it does in one formula, and they aren’t a safety rating.
- Emollient
-
Oils, butters and similar ingredients that make a surface feel soft and smooth. On hair they coat the strand; many plant oils carry this role.
Register definition: “Acting as lubricants on the skin surface providing the skin with a soft and smooth appearance.”
Where it sits on each label
US labels list ingredients from most to least, except that those at 1% or less may follow in any order. A name near the top is a large part of the formula. A label doesn’t mark where the 1% point falls, so further down, the order says little about how much is in it.
- Rinse-out conditioners 4 labels First five names: 1 of 4 Rinse-out conditioners without it
- Deep conditioners 7 labels First five names: 0 of 7 Deep conditioners without it
- Leave-in conditioners 2 labels First five names: 0 of 2 Leave-in conditioners without it
- Stylers 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Stylers without it
- Heat protectants 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Heat protectants without it
Every label, product by product (15)
- Aunt Jackie's In Control Moisturizing Softening Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 4th of 39 names
- Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 21st of 26 names
- Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 20th of 24 names
- PATTERN Medium Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 32nd of 38 names
- DevaCurl Melt Into Moisture Deep conditioner 15th of 41 names
- Mielle Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner Deep conditioner 15th of 38 names
- Aunt Jackie's Coco Repair Coconut Creme Deep Conditioner Deep conditioner 17th of 33 names
- Kristin Ess Strand Strengthening Reconstructive Moisture Mask Deep conditioner 32nd of 50 names
- Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Hair Mask Deep conditioner 17th of 26 names
- Rizos Curls Deep Conditioner Deep conditioner 14th of 20 names
- As I Am Hydration Elation Intensive Conditioner Deep conditioner 24th of 29 names
- DevaCurl Leave-In Decadence Leave-in conditioner 14th of 39 names
- PATTERN Leave-In Conditioner Leave-in conditioner 24th of 43 names
- Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl Smoothie Styler 20th of 28 names
- Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection & Heat Protectant Crème Heat protectant 13th of 30 names
Each line runs from the first name on a label to the last; a dot is where this ingredient sits. Makers change formulas now and then; if the list on your bottle differs, go by your bottle.
Your next step
Other emollient ingredients on these labels
- Cetearyl Alcohol 80 labels
- Cetyl Alcohol 45 labels
- Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil 31 labels
- Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil 25 labels
- Stearyl Alcohol 23 labels
- Glyceryl Stearate 15 labels
- Glycol Distearate 15 labels
- Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil 14 labels
Updated · The name, numbers and uses come from the European Commission’s CosIng entry (CC BY 4.0); we write the uses in US spelling and put the hair ones first. The labels are each maker’s own. The order rule is the FDA’s Cosmetics Labeling Guide. All our sources are on the Sources page.