Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium Hydroxide is a cosmetic ingredient used as a buffering, denaturant agent. It appears in about 8% of cosmetic products in our 90,000+ product dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 795 studies of its skin or topical use.
| INCI name | SODIUM HYDROXIDE |
| Function | BUFFERING, DENATURANT |
| CAS number | 1310-73-2 |
| EC number | 215-185-5 |
| Prevalence | 7,261 products (7.82% of dataset) |
| Most used in | Skincare |
| EU status | Restricted (annex ) |
| Scientific studies | 795 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical) |
| Monthly searches | 49,500 |
Used in
Serums 14.1%Face Cleansers 13.5%General Moisturizers 7.8%Exfoliators 6.4%Toners 6.2%Shampoos 5.8%
Frequently asked
- What does Sodium Hydroxide do in skincare?
- Sodium Hydroxide functions as a buffering, denaturant agent in cosmetic formulas.
- Is Sodium Hydroxide allowed in cosmetics?
- Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
- What products contain Sodium Hydroxide?
- It is most commonly found in Skincare products, especially serums (14.1% of its uses).
Manufacturers with experience using Sodium Hydroxide
Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.