Sodium citrate has many uses one of them is Skin care. In cosmetics and skincare products. Sodium citrate primarily functions as a buffering agent to control the pH level, but may also be used as a preservative.
pH Regulating
As a buffering agent, tri sodium citrate functions to establish and hold the pH of a product. If you remember back to highschool science, pH stands for ‘potential hydrogen’ and it refers to the level of acidity or alkalinity of a given solution.
The range of pH scale is from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral, while a pH less than 7 is acidic and a pH greater than 7 is alkaline. Sodium citrate can buffer solutions in the pH range of about 3 to 6.2. Buffering refers to a mild change in pH. Normaly skin's pH is slightly acidic, typically between 4.75 and 5.5.
It is important to balance the pH of cosmetics and skincare products in order to maintain the normal pH of skin as closely as possible. If a product is too acidic it may irritate the skin or cause a stinging sensation. However, if a product is too alkaline it will deplete your skin of vital, natural lipids. Skin that is too alkaline can be more susceptible to acne because a certain level of acidity is needed to inhibit bacterial growth.
In addition, the disrupted acid mantle can inhibit the absorption of topical skin care products. Using ingredients such as sodium citrate, cosmetic manufacturers can adjust the pH of their formulations, resulting in better tolerance through the skin.
A little helper ingredient used to adjust the pH of the product. It also helps the products stay good longer by neutralizing the metal ions in the formula (which usually comes from water)
Preservative
In addition to acting as a buffering agent, sodium citrate is used as a preservative. The use of preservatives in most products is essential to prevent degradation caused by microorganisms and to protect the product from unintentional contamination during use.
Microbial contamination of products, especially those used around the eyes and on the skin, can lead to skin problems such as inflammation and infection. Preservatives like sodium citrate help prevent such problems.
Comments