Sodium citrate is the sodium salt of citric acid used in skincare primarily as a buffering agent to stabilize formulation pH and as a chelator that binds metal ions to improve product stability. It is a base/formulation ingredient rather than a therapeutic active.
| Reported effect | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Mild skin irritation | Rare | Possible at higher concentrations or low pH, typically transient |
Contact sensitization or allergic reaction | Very rare | Uncommon; isolated reports in sensitive individuals |
Stinging on compromised or broken skin | Uncommon | Related to acidity in poorly buffered formulas |
Frequencies reflect typical cosmetic use reported in the literature, not a guarantee for your skin.
Peer-reviewed papers on this ingredient, via PubMed.