Common Name(s): Capric acid c10,medium-chain fatty acid,antimicrobial emollient
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides c10 capric acid mild antifungal emolliency.
Why It's Used: Medium-chain antifungal fatty acid โ capric acid's c10 chain is long enough to partition into fungal membranes providing antifungal disruption while being short enough to be well-tolerated on human sc lipid bilayers from the natural coconut heritage.
How It Works: C10:0 saturated fatty acid. coconut oil: 6-8% capric. antifungal: c10 membrane disruption malassezia + candida. emollient: medium-chain. cosmos from coconut. glyceryl caprate: same antimicrobial.
Typically Found In: Antifungal emollients,scalp care
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient โ emollient
Secondary Functions: Barrier sealing,softening
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%โ5%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional - feedstock declaration required
Halal Status: Unverified - feedstock declaration required (plant, animal and petrochemical routes all exist)
Source Notes: Plant-derived, synthetic or animal-derived. verify source. [audit 2026-07-29 rev2: origin-dependent: the same inci exists in plant, animal and petrochemical versions and the name does not discriminate. determination requires shariah-panel sign-off.]
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 1/5 โ low; formulation-dependent
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Humectants,ceramides,actives as carrier
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Capric acid antifungal chain-length specificity: fatty acid antifungal activity peaks at c8-c12. below c8: too water-soluble, poor membrane partitioning. above c14: too lipophilic, too slow membrane penetration kinetics. c10 capric occupies the optimum range โ sufficient logp for membrane partitioning but sufficient water activity for diffusion through the aqueous environment to reach fungal membranes. this chain-length optimum explains why medium-chain fatty acids are the most active antifungal fatty acid range.
Last Verified: 2026-03-12
Primary Sources: Cosing database,capric acid c10 antifungal medium-chain review