The ingredient, explained

Sodium Citrate

Sodium Citrate has published research relevant to cosmetic safety assessment.

BufferingChelatingMasking

Explore connections

Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

Trisodium citrate

About this ingredient: EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗

Buffering: Helps resist changes in a formula's pH.
Chelating: Binds metal ions that can affect product stability or appearance.
Masking: Reduces or conceals the formula's underlying odour or taste.

Function definitions: European Commission ingredient function definitions (SCCNFP/0299/00, pages 16 to 20) ↗

Registry functions describe possible formulation roles, not results for a finished product. A dictionary entry is not an approval or a safety assessment.

A closer look

What the research shows

Safety assessment

The panel reviewed animal and clinical evidence with a dermal focus for sodium citrate and concluded on the practices and concentrations described in the report.

What this does not tell us

Group safety assessment, not efficacy evidence. Historical food-additive language is context from the paper and is not asserted as current regulation.

Sources for this summary. PubMed 24861367 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Selective exact-identity review of 1 supplied local candidates and the targeted primary-source search recorded below. Bounded review, not a systematic search.