Today, we will discuss an ingredient from coconut oil: fractionated coconut oil. Because of its nourishing properties, fractionated coconut oil is ideal for the body and hair. We will tell you all you want to know about it.
What is fractionated coconut oil?
Fractionated coconut oil (INCI: Caprylic/Capryc fatty oil) is acquired through an extraction process parallel to virgin coconut. That is, it is a piece of the coconut oil that we generally know.
This colorless and exceptionally light oil has a low consistency and is soluble with other oils. It is used as a transporter oil for medicinal balms, which works with their ingestion, as well as different oils or extracts. This is why it is a highly used ingredient in formulations of cosmetic products such as creams, soaps, or lotions.
How to obtain fractionated coconut oil
As we mentioned, this is a fraction of regular coconut oil, so fractionation—a technique for separating the different fats in vegetable oils—is used to obtain it.
What does this process consist of?
- Cooling ordinary coconut oil to solidification temperature thickens the long-chain oils so they sink to the base, leaving those with a lower melting point at the top.
- Along these lines, long-chain unsaturated fats and lauric and myristic acid are wiped out, leaving only the medium-chain fatty acids. This results in an oil with a melting point of -4ºC, with a longer useful life.
Phytochemical composition of fractionated coconut oil
- Fractionated coconut oil has a phytochemical composition of primarily saturated fatty acids. Thus, capric acid represents 41.5%, while caprylic fatty acid is 58.5%.
- This composition makes it an oil that does not oxidize quickly.
Differences and similarities between coconut oil and fractionated coconut oil
Although they may seem similar, regular coconut oil and fractionated coconut oil are not the same.
Therefore, some of their main differences are the following:
- Natural coconut oil is solid at low ambient temperatures, making some formulations, such as facial oils, more challenging.
- Fractionated coconut oil stays fluid even in low temperatures. It is likewise more effectively absorbed by the skin.
- Natural coconut oil maintains long-chain fatty acids.
- However, because they are naturally processed, they share similar features, such as nutritional and moisturizing properties and many antioxidants.
Main cosmetic properties of fractionated coconut oil
Fractionated coconut oil has multiple properties for both skin and hair:
- It is an ingredient that makes cosmetic products more easily absorbed.
- It penetrates deeply into the skin, intensely hydrating both the skin of the body and the face.
- It is a very light ingredient.
- It helps soothe skin without clogging pores.
- It is a disinfectant.
- It is non-greasy and can also be used in hair products like conditioner without leaving it heavy.
- It helps nourish and repair hair.
Innovative cosmetic products with fractionated coconut oil
- This natural ingredient is widely used in lotions, oils, creams, hair products, and cosmetics.
- These are a few cosmetic products that contain fractionated coconut oil and that serve as inspiration for your following natural cosmetic formulations :
- Biodegradable Raspberry Body Scrub – Lush – a body scrub containing natural biodegradable particles that assist with taking out toxins and mitigating the skin.
- Healthy Protection Body Sunscreen – Sunscreen is a cream with actual channels of mineral beginning that safeguard the skin from the sun, with cell reinforcement fixings that forestall photoaging.
- Epic Smoke Liner – Eyeliner – Nyx – An eye makeup product.
- Baume Calmant Inspiration – Calming balm – The Body Shop – A calming balm to repair the skin.
- Aqua bomb super drops serum – Facial serum – Belif – A facial serum indicated to awaken dullness and lackluster skin.
- Cannabis Hair – Revitalizing Shampoo with Hemp Oil – Dr. Santé – Hair shampoo that helps to deeply cleanse, repair, and nourish hair.