Caprylic Acid
INCI: Caprylic Acid · CAS: 124-07-2
Medium-chain C8 saturated fatty acid with mild antimicrobial activity. Used as a preservative booster and surfactant building block. Can be slightly irritating at higher levels.
ComedogenicDescribes any ingredient, cosmetic, or skincare product that tends to clog pores. Scored 0 (non-comedogenic) to 5 (highly likely to clog pores).
1 / 5
IrritancyRefers to the state or quality of being irritating, provoking annoyance, or causing physical discomfort. Scored 0 (well tolerated) to 5 (likely to irritate sensitive skin).
2 / 5
EWGThe Environmental Working Group operates the EWG Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database, which evaluates the safety of tens of thousands of personal care products. Scored 0–10 based on hazard level: 0–2 low hazard, 3–6 moderate, 7–10 high.
1 / 10
Functions
antimicrobial, fatty-acid
Functions in a formula
- antimicrobial
- fatty-acid
Suitable for skin types
- Normal
- Oily
Also listed as
Octanoic Acid
Our matcher recognises all of these names automatically.
This page is continuously reviewed. Last updated 7/1/2026.
Informational only - not medical advice. See methodology.