TetraSodium EDTA ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a chelating agent that binds metal ions in water-based formulas. It helps protect color, scent, texture, and preservative performance from trace minerals.
What does TetraSodium EDTA do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a chelating agent that binds metal ions in water-based formulas. It helps protect color, scent, texture, and preservative performance from trace minerals.
Is TetraSodium EDTA clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is often restricted or flagged because of environmental persistence and metal-mobilization concerns, not because it is a common skin irritant. It is generally well tolerated at typical cosmetic use levels.
Is TetraSodium EDTA sustainable?
This material is synthetic and is not readily biodegradable, so it has a weaker environmental profile than many newer chelators. Its main sustainability concern is persistence in wastewater and the ability to keep metals soluble in aquatic systems.
Is TetraSodium EDTA COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards. Its fit with Green Chemistry is limited because it is synthetic, persistent, and not designed for ready biodegradation.
How does TetraSodium EDTA work chemically?
The molecule is a water-soluble aminopolycarboxylate salt with multiple binding sites that strongly complex calcium, magnesium, iron, and copper ions. It is commonly used around 0.01% to 0.2%, remains functional across a broad pH range, and can improve preservative robustness by reducing metal-driven instability.
Last updated 2026-05-13