Emollient

Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate

Reviewed by Rosie · Last updated 18 Aug 2026

Supple, wax-like, lubricating, thickening agents | Helps prevent water loss

What Is Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate?

An emollient is a supple, wax-like, lubricating, thickening agent that prevents water loss and has a softening and soothing effect on skin.

Examples of emollients are ingredients like plant oils, mineral oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, petrolatum and fatty acids (animal oils, including emu, mink, and lanolin, the latter probably the one ingredient that is most like our own skin’s oil). More technical-sounding emollient ingredients, such as triglycerides, benzoates, myristates, palmitates and stearates, are generally waxy in texture and appearance but provide most moisturizers with their elegant texture and feel.

How widely it's used

0.8%
of skincare products contain this ingredient — placing it in the top 25% of most-used ingredients.
Most common in: Sunscreens Moisturisers

Regulatory information

Standardised cosmetic-ingredient identifiers used by regulators.

Show identifiers
INCI Name
BUTYLENE GLYCOL DICAPRYLATE/DICAPRATE
Function
Emollient, Skin Conditioning

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Part of a family

Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate is a variant of Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, the form you will most often see on an ingredients list.

Supple, wax-like, lubricating, thickening agents

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