Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Dicaprylyl Carbonate is a lightweight emollient/skin-conditioning ester used commonly at a few percent up to higher levels in moisturizers and sunscreens to improve slip and reduce greasiness. In clinical and patch-test experience it is generally well tolerated with low inherent irritancy, but as a lipid-like solvent it can occasionally contribute to stinging or barrier discomfort in highly compromised eczema skin when layered with other actives. For patient-safety in severely sensitive populations, it fits best as very gentle rather than completely inert. Safety Notes: In commercial formulas, dicaprylyl carbonate is often used at very low levels (~0.1–1%) as a slip/light emollient or dispersing aid in leave-on creams, sunscreens, and makeup where it fine-tunes sensory feel. More commonly it sits in the 2–15% range as a primary emollient in leave-on lotions/serums and sunscreen vehicles. High-strength consumer-available anhydrous oils/balms, primers, and silicone-free “dry oil” style products can use it as a major base oil phase component up to ~30–35% (higher levels exist mainly in neat blend components or non-cosmetic contexts rather than typical finished skincare).