The ingredient, explained
Sodium Levulinate
A published expert safety assessment covers the exact ingredient in the specified exposure context.
Ingredient guide
What it is and what it does
Sodium 4-oxovalerate
About this ingredient: EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗
- Skin conditioning
- A broad cosmetic role for maintaining skin condition. It does not identify a particular clinical benefit.
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
Panel judged assessed cosmetic uses safe when formulated to be nonirritating.
What this does not tell us
Two-ingredient safety assessment with bounded uses and concentrations; not preservative efficacy or skin benefit trial.
Sources for this summary. PubMed 40932362 ↗
Research review checked Oct 1, 2026
Bounded review of local candidates, exact-name indexed primary journal/PubMed safety and topical searches; not a systematic review.
Ingredient research is not proof that a product containing this ingredient works.
Read the 1 selected study
Safety assessment
Safety Assessment of Levulinic Acid and Sodium Levulinate as Used in Cosmetics. ↗
International journal of toxicology · 2025
Follow the formula
Products containing this ingredient
From the wider catalogue. Linked by the ingredient list, without an efficacy ranking.
Names and identifiers
Registry identity
Sodium 4-oxovalerate
- INCI name on ingredient lists
- SODIUM LEVULINATE
- CAS registry number
- 19856-23-6
- EC number
- 243-378-4
Sources for this ingredient record
- EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗ · ODbL 1.0 (Open Beauty Facts database) · Recorded Aug 8, 2026