Sodium Succinate

Sodium Succinate is the sodium salt of succinic acid, a water-soluble dibasic carboxylate used in cosmetic formulations. It mainly serves as a pH buffer and counterion that supports formulation stability and ingredient compatibility.
Like this ingredient?

Ingredient Snapshot

Overview
A buffering salt that helps keep formulas comfortable on skin.
Category
Sensitive Skin
Type
Buffer

Ingredient Ratings

Overall Rating

Fair

Comedogenic Risk

None

Skin Benefits

It helps keep formulas comfortable on skin by moderating acidity, which may reduce the chance of sting from actives, though skin benefits here are indirect and mainly formulation-supportive.

Uses In Skincare & Cosmetics

It's used in toners, serums, and cleansers to hold a steady pH in acid-containing or sensitive-skin formulas.

Comedogenic Rating

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

Safety

It's typically low irritation and well tolerated as a buffering salt. It's unlikely to cause issues, but stinging can occur in formulas with strong actives or extremes of pH.

Is Sodium Succinate a Good Ingredient?

It rates Fair as an effective pH buffer that indirectly supports skin comfort, but direct skin benefits are limited; irritation risk is low though possible at higher concentrations or in very acidic or alkaline systems.

Products with Sodium Succinate

Related Ingredients