| What is it? | Fractionated coconut oil is coconut oil that has had the long chain triglycerides removed, leaving the short and medium chain triglycerides, to create a lightweight liquid oil. |
| INCI | Cocos Nucifera Oil |
| Appearance | Clear, thin liquid |
| Usage rate | Up to 100% |
| Texture | Smooth, thin liquid |
| Scent | None |
| Absorbency Speed | Fast |
| Approximate Melting Point | 0–10°C |
| Solubility | Oil |
| Why do we use it in formulations? | Fractionated coconut oil is inexpensive and lightweight with little to no scent. I like it in products like cleansing oils and balms, which are wash-off products. It can also be a good base for massage products, and works well as a simple base for blends of more expensive oils in facial serums. |
| Do you need it? | No, but I really like it—it is versatile and inexpensive. |
| Refined or unrefined? | Fractionated coconut oil only exists as a refined product |
| Strengths | Inexpensive, lightweight. |
| Weaknesses | Possibly not considered totally “natural”. |
| Alternatives & Substitutions | Other lightweight, inexpensive oils like MCT, grapeseed oil, safflower oil, or sunflower oil would be good choices. |
| How to Work with It | Include it in the oil phase of your products; if can be hot or cold processed, as needed. |
| Storage & Shelf Life | Stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry, fractionated coconut oil should last at least two years. |
| Tips, Tricks, and Quirks | Fractionated coconut oil and MCT (medium chain triglycerides) are not the same thing. Medium chain triglycerides are just the medium chain triglycerides found in coconut oil (caprylic/capric triglyceride while fractionated coconut oil is coconut oil without the long chain triglycerides, but still containing short and medium chain triglycerides. This distinction is rarely important, though it is very important to anyone who suffers from fungal acne.
Despite the “not-the-same-thing” thing, you will very often find them sold as if they are. This usually takes the form of MCT being sold as fractionated coconut oil (they’re often listed on the label as if they are synonyms). Check the INCI to see what you’re getting—MCT will be Caprylic/capric triglyceride. If you can only find one or the other it doesn’t really matter (unless you’re formulating for fungal acne). Purchase whatever you can get and use them interchangeably. |
| Recommended starter amount | 250mL (8fl oz) |
| Where to Buy it | Buy it from an online DIY ingredient supplier or Amazon. |
Some Formulations that Use Fractionated Coconut Oil
- Foaming Shower Oil
- Simple Sulfate-Free Shampoo Bar
- Extra Creamy Green Clay Cleansing Balm
- Whipped Cupuaçu Passionfruit Body Butter
- Creamy Clay Balm-to-Milk Cleanser
- Super Simple Oil-to-Milk Cleanser
- Sweet Magnolia Natural Cleansing Oil
- Argan Plum Body Oil
- Sea Glass Salt Scrub
- Shealoe Emulsified Body Butter
- Rich Lavender Shower Cleansing Cream
- Passionfruit Velvet Dry Oil Mist
- Super Simple Moisturizing Lotion with Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG-100 Stearate
- Ice Palace Bath Bombs
- Rose and Clay Cleansing Balm
- Whipped Cream Calendula Facial Cleanser
- Creamy Jelly Facial Cleanser
- Cream Silk Cleansing Balm
- Passionfruit Coconut Matte Velvet Moisturizer
- Super Simple Moisturizing Lotion
