triheptanoin
what it is
A triglyceride — three short heptanoic acid (C7) chains attached to a glycerin backbone, typically made from castor-derived raw materials. INCI name Triheptanoin. Structurally it is a close cousin of the fats in plant oils, just shorter and lighter.
why we use it
It spreads quickly, feels nearly weightless and has no fragile double bonds, so it does not oxidise and turn rancid over the product's life. In a formula carrying 25.00% zinc oxide, light and stable emollients are what keep daily application from feeling like a chore.
where you'll find it
In our mineral sunscreen (SPF 50+ PA++++), in the lightweight emollients group (30.00% total). Per-ingredient percentages within the sunscreen groups are not yet published; the group totals are exact.
evidence
Functional — spreading and oxidative stability, both measurable. The molecule itself is unusually well characterised because it is also used in clinical nutrition, an uncommon pedigree for an emollient.
safety
Very well tolerated on skin with low irritation potential; the same substance is consumed in food and medical contexts at far higher exposures than a sunscreen will ever deliver.