Sodium Citrate

Sodium citrate is the trisodium salt of citric acid, a water-soluble organic compound. It's used to regulate pH, improve stability, sequester metal ions that affect appearance, and support preservative efficacy in blends.
Like this ingredient?

Ingredient Snapshot

Overview
A citrus-derived salt that balances pH and stabilizes formulas.
Category
Skin Conditioning
Type
Buffer

Ingredient Ratings

Overall Rating

Great

Comedogenic Risk

None

Skin Benefits

It helps keep products gentle by moderating acidity and supporting a consistent feel over time, and can improve overall appearance by reducing off-tones caused by trace metals.

Uses In Skincare & Cosmetics

It's found in serums, moisturizers, and shampoos as a buffering salt and chelator that maintains formula integrity.

Comedogenic Rating

This ingredient is not typically evaluated for comedogenicity, and no standardized rating is available.

Safety

It's typically well tolerated; pH adjustments can occasionally sting on broken or very sensitive skin. No widely recognized regulatory restrictions apply at standard cosmetic use levels.

Is Sodium Citrate a Good Ingredient?

It earns a Great rating as a widely validated buffer and chelator that improves formula stability and preservative performance, with low irritation risk at usual concentrations and excellent solubility.

Products with Sodium Citrate

Related Ingredients