Cocoglycerides

Cocoglycerides are a mixture of mono-, di-, and triglycerides from coconut fatty acids used primarily as emollients/skin-conditioning agents, typically at a few percent up to higher levels in creams and cleansers. Human experience and patch-test data generally show low irritation potential, but they are not completely inert and can occasionally trigger stinging or contact reactions in highly reactive/eczema-prone patients or when used on compromised skin. Given the need to err on patient safety while reflecting typical tolerability, this fits a very gentle (0.2) profile rather than inert. Safety Notes: Cocoglycerides are used as emollients/co-emulsifiers and lipid refatters; in many commercial leave-on lotions/creams and rinse-off cleansers they appear at low supportive levels around 0.1–2% (often to boost sensorial feel and mildness without heavy oil load). In richer leave-on products (body butters, barrier creams, balms, makeup-removing oils/cleansing balms) they are commonly used at 5–30% as a primary emollient, and in anhydrous or near-anhydrous consumer balms/oils they can reach very high proportions, with observed OTC “oil/balm” style formulas using ~50–70% as the main lipid base. No specific EU/FDA maximum applies; practical limits are driven by product format (emulsion vs anhydrous), viscosity, and solubilization/clarity targets.