Sodium Hydroxide
INCI · Sodium Hydroxide · also Lye
Overview
A strong alkali used in tiny amounts to raise a formula's pH to where it needs to sit. It is the counterweight to acidic ingredients: an exfoliating acid or a vitamin C serum is neutralised with it until the finished product lands in its intended range.
Who it's for
Anyone using an acid toner, a low-pH cleanser or a carbomer-thickened gel; the raw ingredient is caustic, but in a finished cosmetic it has already reacted and is present as a salt.
Cautions
Seeing it on a label is not a sign that a product is harsh — the opposite, usually, since its presence means the pH was deliberately adjusted rather than left wherever the raw materials fell. Concentrated sodium hydroxide as a raw material is corrosive and is not something to handle at home.
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What does Sodium Hydroxide do in skincare?
A strong alkali used in tiny amounts to raise a formula's pH to where it needs to sit. It is the counterweight to acidic ingredients: an exfoliating acid or a vitamin C serum is neutralised with it until the finished product lands in its intended range.
Is Sodium Hydroxide considered safe for skin?
Seeing it on a label is not a sign that a product is harsh — the opposite, usually, since its presence means the pH was deliberately adjusted rather than left wherever the raw materials fell. Concentrated sodium hydroxide as a raw material is corrosive and is not something to handle at home.