C10-18 Triglycerides (Butter Pearls)
What is it? | C10-18 Triglycerides are a fatty thickener, used to boost viscosity, stability, and richness in our formulations.
Simply Ingredients sells C10-18 Triglycerides as “Butter Pearls”, which is a very fitting name! Their product appears to be Premier OliPearls by Premier Specialties, Inc. Other manufacturers also make a product with this INCI: LIPOCIRE™ A SG by Gattefossé, MM Wax® 10-18 by MMP International, and DUB CIRE H1 by Stearinerie Dubois. |
INCI | C10-18 Triglycerides |
Appearance | White pellets |
Usage rate | 0.5–30% (You can go higher, especially if you live somewhere quite hot) |
Texture | When added to formulations, C10-18 Triglycerides contributes a rich, silky skin feel. |
Scent | Slightly fatty—nothing noticeable in finished formulations. |
Absorbency Speed | C10-18 Triglycerides tends to slow the absorbency speed of formulations it is added to as it makes formulations feel richer. |
Approximate Melting Point | 45–55°C |
Solubility | C10-18 Triglycerides are oil soluble |
Why do we use it in formulations? | C10-18 Triglycerides is included in formulations to make them feel richer, to boost viscosity, to harden/solidify, and to improve stability.
C10-18 Triglycerides is a good way to make a product solid and rich while maintaining good slip. |
Do you need it? | No, but I sure like C10-18 Triglycerides! |
Refined or unrefined? | C10-18 Triglycerides only exists as a refined ingredient |
Strengths | Rich, creamy thickening with beautiful skin feel. Very versatile. |
Weaknesses | Harder to find than other fatty thickeners, like cetearyl alcohol and stearic acid. |
Alternatives & Substitutions | I’d try a blend of cetearyl alcohol and stearic acid; probably 70% cetearyl alcohol and 30% stearic acid? You’ll have to test it yourself and see what works for the particular formulation you’re using.
A pseudo wax, made from hydrogenated oils, could potentially work. I do not recommend using a true wax, like beeswax or candelilla wax, instead of C10-18 Triglycerides. |
How to Work with It | Include C10-18 Triglycerides in the heated oil phase of your formulations. It needs to be melted. |
Storage & Shelf Life | Stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry, C10-18 Triglycerides should last at least two years. |
Tips, Tricks, and Quirks | It is possible for this ingredient to be made from animal sources, but I haven’t found versions made from non-vegetable sources. The product Simply Ingredients sells is made from olives. |
Recommended starter amount | 100g (3.5oz) |
Where to Buy it | Buy it from an online DIY ingredient supplier. Mine is from Simply Ingredients. The Formulary sells it in the UK. |