Sodium Hyaluronate

TL;DR. This ingredient is a water-binding humectant and skin-conditioning polymer. It helps formulas give a hydrated feel, light slip, and a soft film on skin or hair.

What does Sodium Hyaluronate do in a cosmetic formula?

This ingredient is a water-binding humectant and skin-conditioning polymer. It helps formulas give a hydrated feel, light slip, and a soft film on skin or hair.

Is Sodium Hyaluronate clean?

This ingredient is widely accepted in clean-beauty frameworks because it is generally well tolerated, non-sensitizing, and not a common restricted-list trigger. Irritation is uncommon and is more often linked to the overall formula than to this material itself.

Is Sodium Hyaluronate sustainable?

This ingredient is now commonly made by microbial fermentation rather than animal extraction, which improves sourcing consistency. It is biodegradable, used at low levels, and has a relatively favorable environmental profile, though fermentation still depends on feedstock and energy inputs.

Is Sodium Hyaluronate COSMOS-approved?

This ingredient is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic frameworks when produced through compliant fermentation and processing. It aligns well with Green Chemistry principles through aqueous processing, low use levels, and biodegradability.

How does Sodium Hyaluronate work chemically?

This compound is a linear anionic glycosaminoglycan polymer with repeating sugar units, and different molecular weights change the feel from cushiony film-forming to lighter, faster-absorbing hydration. Typical use levels are about 0.01% to 0.2%, with best stability in mildly acidic to neutral formulas and reduced stability under high heat, strong acid or base conditions, and oxidative stress.

Last updated 2026-05-13