Sodium citrate, pharm. 100 g

Sodium citrate is a pH regulator, preservative and chelator

Sodium citrate is the sodium salt of citric acid. The active ingredient helps regulate pH, reduces the likelihood of bacterial contamination of cosmetics, and also binds heavy metal and calcium ions, improves foaming, appearance and preservation of cosmetic products.

Why use chelators, we wrote in the Blog Beurre "Chelating agents in cosmetics", and the importance of pH regulation is described in the article "What is pH and why is it important for the skin?"

Component characteristics and features of use

INCI: Sodium Citrate

Another name: sodium citrate 3-subst. pharm. (Na3C6H5O7*2H2O)

Appearance: white crystalline powder with a sweet and sour taste

Dosage: up to 4%

Solubility: in water

Storage: in a cool, dry place away from light

Sodium citrate in cosmetics

Sodium citrate is a salt of citric acid, which is found in citrus fruits and other plants. The substance is obtained by crystallizing citric acid with sodium hydroxide.

Many actives, preservatives and surfactants work at a certain pH level. Even if you have lowered the acidity of your cosmetic product, it must be stabilized so that it does not change over time. Sodium citrate helps not only regulate the pH of the finished cosmetic product, but also stabilize it. For this, a special buffer solution is created in a pair with citric acid. The required pH level is achieved by the exact proportions of sodium citrate and citric acid

To create a buffer solution, use the following proportions:

• Citric acid 1%
• Sodium citrate 15%
• Water 84%

The pH of the citrate buffer should be approximately pH 5.5, but you can adjust it to this level using NaOH.

Such a buffer solution is used to stabilize foaming cosmetics, while the composition also has chelate properties: it binds heavy metal ions, which improves foaming, reduces the hardness of tap water.

Sodium citrate itself:

• regulates pH
• binds metal and calcium ions
• conditions
• improves foaming
• reduces the likelihood of bacterial contamination of the finished product, inhibits bacterial growth
• reduces the smell of cosmetics, this is very important if you add active ingredients with a pronounced smell to your cosmetics.
   

Why is it so important to regulate the pH of cosmetics

The skin has a certain pH level, it is called the acid mantle of the skin. The acidity level of the skin is maintained by the sebaceous glands, microflora and sweat glands. If the acidity level of the skin is disturbed, then the protective function of the skin is also disturbed. Such disturbances can be provoked by environmental factors, bacteria, allergies. With age, the skin also becomes more "acidic". That is why it is important to balance the acidity of cosmetics, it will help the skin maintain the necessary pH level.

It is with the help of sodium citrate that the problem of pH of cosmetics can be easily solved, and the additional properties of binding metal ions and suppressing the growth of bacteria make this component very valuable.
 

Sodium citrate in soap making

In addition to adjusting the pH in cosmetics, sodium citrate together with sodium lactate is actively used in soap making. This additive significantly improves the appearance, hardness and foaming of the finished soap.

Since citric acid salt is a chelating agent, it is able to bind heavy metal ions, the water becomes softer and the finished soap foams better. Due to the chelating properties of sodium citrate, oxidation processes in soap from scratch are slowed down, this significantly extends its shelf life, the soap retains its original color and aroma longer. Sodium citrate makes soap from scratch harder, and therefore economical.

Sodium citrate binds calcium and magnesium, this prevents the formation of the so-called soap scum, which consists of calcium and magnesium salts with fatty acids.
 

Why is it better to use sodium citrate, not citric acid in soap from scratch

Many soap makers use citric acid in soap from scratch instead of sodium citrate. They calculate the additional alkali for it, thus sodium citrate is also formed in the aqueous alkaline solution. However, if there are errors in the calculations, food or low-quality citric acid is used, then free alkali may remain in the soap. Using sodium citrate will protect you from such a problem, you do not need to put additional alkali in the soap recipe from scratch.
 

Sodium citrate - compatibility and safety

Sodium citrate is suitable for any skin type, the active does not cause irritation. It combines well with other components. However, it is important to remember that any acid salts, including sodium citrate, are electrolytes. This means that they can affect the viscosity of gels, the stability of emulsions and surfactant systems. Take this into account when making recipes.

Handmade cosmetics recipes, formulas and reviews

It is very difficult to create your own correct recipes if you are new to cream maker. And we are ready to help you with this. Go to the YouTube channel Beurre Cosmetic Kitchen, where we have already developed many recipes for handmade cosmetics and share the technology for making cosmetics with our own hands. And also you can check Blog from Beurre, where we share useful information about creating the right natural cosmetics.