Sodium Citrate Granules

Sodium Citrate is the sodium salt of citric acid and is widely used in cosmetic formulation as a buffering agent and pH adjuster. Its primary function is to help maintain a stable pH throughout the life of a cosmetic product. A consistent pH supports ingredient performance, product stability and skin compatibility, making Sodium Citrate an important ingredient in many formulations.

Sodium Citrate is highly soluble in water and is suitable for a wide range of skincare, hair care and personal care products. It is frequently combined with Citric Acid to create a buffer system that helps resist changes in pH caused by other ingredients or storage conditions. This makes it particularly useful in formulations containing preservatives, active ingredients and botanical extracts where pH stability is essential for reliable product performance.

Maintaining the correct pH is an essential part of successful cosmetic formulation. Many cosmetic ingredients perform best within a specific pH range, including preservatives, exfoliating acids and active skincare ingredients. Sodium Citrate helps keep formulations within the desired pH range by acting as a buffering agent, supporting both product stability and ingredient performance.

Sodium Citrate is suitable for a wide variety of cosmetic products, including facial cleansers, shampoos, conditioners, creams, lotions, serums and toners. It is particularly valuable in formulations where maintaining a stable pH contributes to preservative effectiveness and the long term stability of the finished product.

When used alongside Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate creates a balanced buffer system that helps minimise unwanted pH fluctuations during manufacturing and storage. This allows formulators to develop cosmetic products with greater consistency while improving formulation reliability across different batches.

Sodium Citrate is typically dissolved into the water phase of a cosmetic formulation before combining with other ingredients. The required usage level depends on the desired pH, the formulation itself and whether it is being used as part of a buffer system with Citric Acid. Small adjustments are often sufficient to achieve the required pH stability.

During formulation, the final pH should always be measured using a calibrated pH meter. Sodium Citrate can then be used alongside Citric Acid to gradually adjust and maintain the desired pH. This approach allows formulators to achieve greater control over product consistency and ingredient performance.

Sodium Citrate is compatible with many cosmetic ingredients, including surfactants, emulsifiers, botanical extracts, humectants and preservatives. As with all cosmetic formulations, stability testing and compatibility testing should be completed before bringing a product into production.

Sodium Citrate helps cosmetic formulators produce products with stable and consistent pH levels. This supports ingredient performance, improves formulation stability and contributes to a better user experience across many skincare and hair care products.

As a buffering agent, Sodium Citrate helps reduce changes in pH that may occur during manufacturing or storage. This is particularly important in formulations containing preservatives, active ingredients or botanical extracts that rely on a controlled pH for optimum performance.

Its high water solubility makes Sodium Citrate easy to incorporate into many cosmetic formulations, while its compatibility with a wide range of cosmetic ingredients gives formulators greater flexibility during product development. Whether creating facial cleansers, shampoos, lotions or serums, Sodium Citrate provides dependable pH control that supports high quality cosmetic formulations from development through to finished production.

Sodium Citrate works particularly well with these commonly used cosmetic ingredients.

• Citric Acid, paired with Sodium Citrate to create an effective buffer system that maintains a stable formulation pH.

• Sodium Benzoate, preservative performance is supported by maintaining the correct pH, making this a common pairing in water based formulations.

• Potassium Sorbate, frequently used alongside Sodium Benzoate and Sodium Citrate in acidic formulations to create an effective preservation system.

• Cocamidopropyl Betaine, a mild surfactant commonly found in facial cleansers, body washes and shampoos where Sodium Citrate helps maintain the ideal pH.

• Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI), a gentle surfactant often used in syndet bars and cleansing products, with Sodium Citrate helping optimise formulation pH and long term stability.