Essentially Natural Sodium Citrate

• Ingredient Type: Buffering agent and chelator
• INCI: Sodium Citrate
• Also Known As: Trisodium citrate
• Appearance: White powder
• Purity: 99.9%
• GMO Status: GMO-free
• Environmental Profile: Biodegradable
• pH: 8.9
• Recommended Usage Rate: 0.1 to 1% in the water phase
  
• Food Status: Food safe for personal use (not food grade certified)
  

This product is commonly used to:

• Buffer and help stabilise pH in creams, lotions, gels, and other water-based cosmetics
• Support preservative performance by helping keep formulas within a suitable pH range
• Chelate hard water minerals (calcium and magnesium) to reduce discolouration and improve stability
• Improve performance in household and cleaning formulas where water softening is helpful
• Use in food applications for personal use where a citrate buffer or acidity regulator is needed

This product is suitable for:

• DIY formulators wanting better pH stability in personal care products
• Makers who need a gentle buffering ingredient for water-based formulations
• Formulators looking to reduce the impact of hard water minerals in products
• Cleaning product makers wanting a chelating, water-softening helper
• Customers needing a versatile ingredient that is widely used across home and personal care

This product is not for:

• Anyone looking for a finished cosmetic product rather than an ingredient
• Products intended for ingestion and resale to the public, as it is not labelled as food grade
• People who prefer not to handle powders in DIY making
• Formulas where you need to lower pH significantly on its own, as sodium citrate is primarily a buffering and chelating support ingredient

• As a pH Buffer in Cosmetics: Use at 0.1 to 1% in the water phase of creams, lotions, gels, and similar products.
• As a Chelator: Include within the recommended range to help bind metal ions and support formula stability, especially in hard water conditions.
• As a Food Safe Ingredient for Personal Use: Use only when you understand the application and dosage requirements, noting it is not sold as food grade certified.

Processing Tip: Add to the water phase and mix until fully dissolved before combining with other phases.

• May irritate eyes and skin.
• Avoid inhaling dust and avoid contact with eyes.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets.
• Store well sealed, away from moisture, sunlight, heat, and humidity.
• If pregnant or breastfeeding, consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before use.

Q: What does sodium citrate do in cosmetics?
A: It helps buffer pH and can chelate metal ions, which supports product stability and can help preservatives and sensitive ingredients perform more reliably.

Q: What does “food safe” mean here?
A: It means the ingredient is pure, commonly used in food, and handled hygienically for personal use, but it is not labelled as food grade for resale in edible products because it is repacked outside a certified food production facility.

Q: Is sodium citrate the same as citric acid?
A: No. Citric acid lowers pH, while sodium citrate is the salt form that is mainly used to buffer and help stabilise pH.

Q: Can I use sodium citrate in bath bombs?
A: It can be used in bath bomb style formulations, often alongside citric acid, but results depend on the full recipe and water content control.