Sodi-um Hydroxide ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily a pH adjuster, used in small amounts to raise alkalinity or neutralize acidic ingredients. It is also used in soapmaking, where it reacts with fats or oils during saponification.
What does Sodi-um Hydroxide do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily a pH adjuster, used in small amounts to raise alkalinity or neutralize acidic ingredients. It is also used in soapmaking, where it reacts with fats or oils during saponification.
Is Sodi-um Hydroxide clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is accepted when used to control final product pH, but the raw material is highly caustic and concentration-dependent. Finished formulas are assessed by their final pH and irritation profile, not by the presence of this ingredient alone.
Is Sodi-um Hydroxide sustainable?
This material is an inorganic mineral-derived base, commonly produced from salt and water through electrolysis. It does not bioaccumulate or persist as an organic pollutant, though production can be energy-intensive.
Is Sodi-um Hydroxide COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS for defined uses such as pH adjustment and saponification, including in natural and organic formulations when compliant with the standard. Its Green Chemistry profile is mixed, with simple mineral feedstocks and no persistence, but relatively energy-intensive manufacturing.
How does Sodi-um Hydroxide work chemically?
This compound is a strong inorganic ionic base that fully dissociates in water and can shift formula pH quickly, so it is usually added incrementally and measured by final pH rather than a fixed percentage. In many emulsions and gels it is used at low levels, often well under 1%, while in soapmaking it is consumed by reaction with fatty acids.
Last updated 2026-05-15