Ingredient glossary
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
On your shelf ✓What Capryloyl Salicylic Acid does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Capryloyl Salicylic Acid · Also: LHA, Lipohydroxy Acid
In short: Capryloyl Salicylic Acid delivers exfoliation and anti acne, suits combination and oily skin best, and the evidence behind it is moderate. One thing to know: clear it with your doctor if pregnant; introduce it gently.
- What it does
- Exfoliation, anti acne
- Best for
- Combination, Oily skin
- Watch out
- Clear it with your doctor if pregnant; introduce it gently
- Evidence
- Moderate
- How long
- Never measured
The molecule
The Glow take
Genuinely worth a spot in your routine.
When your goal is fading dark spots and evening out tone, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid pulls genuine weight, with a solid amount of evidence behind it. Introduce it gently, and pair it with something soothing if your skin runs sensitive.
— Maya
What it does
- exfoliation
- anti acne
- brightening
moderate evidenceSplit-face acne and peel studies show low-concentration capryloyl salicylic acid improves lesions hyperpigmentation and fine lines comparably to higher-strength glycolic acid while often causing less irritation though data are still limited versus classic salicylic acid.
On a label: usually effective at 0.3-1%.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- oily
- combo
- acne prone
- congested
- photoaged
- hyperpigmentation
Approach with care
- very sensitive
- compromised barrier
- pregnancy
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskModerate
- pH-dependentIts effect depends on the product's pH
How it fits each skin type
- DryNeutral
- CombinationSuits
- OilySuits
- SensitiveTake care
Often chosen for acne prone, congested, photoaged, hyperpigmentation. Take extra care if any of these apply to you: compromised barrier, pregnancy.
Where it fits in your routine
Nobody has measured whether Capryloyl Salicylic Acid changes how your skin handles sun.
No human measurement exists, and unlike salicylic acid there is a positive in vitro signal. The 3T3 neutral red uptake phototoxicity test returned photo-irritation factors of 4 and 2.6 to 1.7, which under current OECD TG 432 cut-offs read as probable phototoxicity; the original author classified it non-phototoxic under the older cut-offs. In vitro only, so the row stays unknown.
CIR safety assessment update (2024), 3T3 NRU phototoxicity, PIF 4 and 2.6-1.7 against OECD TG 432
Nobody has published how long this takes to work.
What is known, and what is missing
Measured on: Non-inflammatory (comedonal) lesion count and pigment/tone improvement from leave-on use.
The one identifiable human trial is a peel protocol, not a product: 20 subjects, split face, six LHA peels at two-week intervals against salicylic acid peels on the other side, 55.6% versus 48.5% reduction in non-inflammatory lesions at Day 98. That is a different exposure from the 0.3-1% leave-on this row's own concentration clue describes, there is no vehicle arm to separate either peel from time and washing, and the author list includes staff of the company that sells the LHA peel. No leave-on trial of capryloyl salicylic acid alone reports a time course, and the finished products that do show early change pair it with salicylic acid, whose contribution cannot be separated out. What is specifically missing is a vehicle-controlled study of leave-on LHA with interim visits.
PMID:21896127 (Levesque A, Hamzavi I, Seite S, Rougier A, Bissonnette R. Randomized trial comparing a chemical peel containing a lipophilic hydroxy acid derivative of salicylic acid with a salicylic acid peel in subjects with comedonal acne. J Cosmet Dermatol 2011;10(3):174-8) - peel series, active comparator, Day 98 endpoint. No leave-on time-course study located.
Plays well with
- benzoyl peroxide
- niacinamide
- humectants
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, answered
Is Capryloyl Salicylic Acid safe during pregnancy?
Clear it with your doctor first. Capryloyl Salicylic Acid is flagged as use-with-caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so check with your doctor or midwife before adding it.
Who should avoid Capryloyl Salicylic Acid?
Approach Capryloyl Salicylic Acid with care if any of these apply to you: very sensitive, compromised barrier, and pregnancy. Its irritation risk is moderate, so introduce it slowly and patch test first.
What concentration of Capryloyl Salicylic Acid actually works?
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid tends to do its job in the 0.3 to 1% range. Much lower and it is likely underdosed.
During pregnancy
Treat Capryloyl Salicylic Acid as a maybe rather than a yes for now. It is flagged as one to use with caution while pregnant or breastfeeding, so it is worth clearing before you carry on.
When in doubt, check with your doctor or midwife. They outrank any website, including this one.When it is worth booking →
Compare Capryloyl Salicylic Acid with
Can you mix Capryloyl Salicylic Acid with
- Niacinamide
- Retinol
- Salicylic acid (BHA)
- Lactic acid
- Glycolic acid
- Retinal
- Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
- Retinyl Palmitate
- Retinyl Acetate
- Retinyl Propionate
- Retinyl Retinoate
- Tretinoin
- Adapalene
- Mandelic Acid
- Gluconolactone
- Lactobionic Acid
- Phytic Acid
- Citric Acid
- Benzoyl Peroxide
- Willow Bark Extract
- Papain
- Bromelain
- Ammonium lactate
- Sponge spicules
- Betaine Salicylate
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