Sodium Lactate

Description

Sodium Lactate is the sodium salt of Lactic Acid that has moisturizing property and other skin-loving benefits. It can be found in the ingredient labels of many types of products including lotions, hair products, cleansers and soaps. Sodium Lactate is a more effective humectant than Glycerin, with the ability to hold twice the amount water.

INCI Name: Sodium Lactate

Ingredient Function: Humectant

Derived From: Fermentation of corn and beet plant sugars

Appearance: Clear liquid with thin and soft texture

Solubility: Water

PH: 7.5-9

Storage: Store in a cool, dry place, away from moisture

Shelf Life: 5 to 6 years

Usage Rate:

• Lotions: Use 0.5% – 5%   |  Add Sodium Lactate to water phase of a formulation
• Cold Process Soaps: Use 1 teaspoon per pound of oils. *Add Sodium Lactate to cooled Lye Water. Adding too much Sodium Lactate during soap making will result in very hard, brittle and crumbly bar soaps
• Hot Process Soaps: Use 3-5% of the weight of your oil

 

Formulation Notes:

• Add Sodium Lactate to water phase of a formulation
• Sodium Lactate is a non-sticky alternative to glycerin. It also creates a better skin-feel than glycerin
• In Soap Making: Add Sodium Lactate to the Lye Solution.
• Substitutions: Vegetable glycerin, propanediol, propylene glycol

 

Properties of Sodium Lactate

• Moisturizing Property: Sodium Lactate helps keep the skin hydrated due to its humectant property, by which it draws moisture to the skin
• Mild skin lightening properties: When used at higher than 5%, Sodium Lactate has helps exfoliate the skin, revealing a radiant skin and a lighter complexion
• Antioxidant property
• PH Adjuster
• Preservative booster

 

Uses of Sodium Lactate in Bath and Bodycare Formulation

• Non-Sticky, Light-Weight Humectant: When added to emulsion-type formulations such as lotions, Sodium Lactate helps moisturize the skin without feeling sticky/ tacky (like glycerin does), and also helps prevent lotions from drying out if left open
• Soap Hardening Agent: Sodium Lactate helps create firmer, harder bar soaps, which have the benefit of lasting longer in the bathroom (preventing soaps from going moist/ soggy). *As a result of the hardening effect, Sodium Lactate makes your bar soaps cure/ dry faster
• Soap Texture Enhancer: In hot process soaps, Sodium Lactate helps create smooth and creamy bar soaps that are firm/ hard
• Preservative Booster: Sodium Lactate is commonly used as a preservative in the food industry
• PH Stabilizer/ Buffering Agent: Sodium Lactate helps adjust a product’s PH value to within the skin’s natural PH, without  a need for PH adjusting

 

*NOTE: This product is for external use only; Use for cosmetic formulations only