The ingredient, explained

Sodium Metabisulfite

Sodium Metabisulfite has published research relevant to the stated experimental context.

AntioxidantReducingPreservative

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Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

Disodium disulphite

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

Antioxidant: Limits oxidation, including deterioration of formulation ingredients. This label alone does not show a clinical antioxidant effect in skin.
Reducing: Chemically changes another material through reduction.
Preservative: Helps inhibit microbial growth in the cosmetic product.

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

Human safety research

Two children with severe atopic dermatitis reacted to sodium metabisulfite in the selected six-child food-additive challenge subgroup.

What this does not tell us

Oral challenge in selected children with severe dermatitis does not estimate general allergy prevalence or establish topical cosmetic reactions.

Sources for this summary. PubMed 2610332 ↗

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.