Sodium Levulinate
INCI · Sodium Levulinate
Overview
The salt of levulinic acid, obtained from plant sugars and used as part of a preservative system rather than as a preservative on its own. It is almost always paired with sodium anisate, the two together covering a usefully broad range.
Who it's for
Products positioned as free of conventional preservatives, which still need microbial protection and get it from combinations like this one.
Cautions
Systems of this kind work in a narrower pH window than a conventional preservative, so they are a formulation constraint as much as a marketing choice. Levulinate blends can carry a faint scent of their own, which is why some unfragranced products still smell of something.
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What does Sodium Levulinate do in skincare?
The salt of levulinic acid, obtained from plant sugars and used as part of a preservative system rather than as a preservative on its own. It is almost always paired with sodium anisate, the two together covering a usefully broad range.
Is Sodium Levulinate considered safe for skin?
Systems of this kind work in a narrower pH window than a conventional preservative, so they are a formulation constraint as much as a marketing choice. Levulinate blends can carry a faint scent of their own, which is why some unfragranced products still smell of something.