PENTASODIUM PENTETATE
PENTASODIUM PENTETATE is the sodium salt of pentetic acid. In water, this form dissolves readily and provides several sites that can bind metal ions, which is why it is used where tiny amounts of metals could change a product's appearance or behaviour.
PENTASODIUM PENTETATE: what it is
PENTASODIUM PENTETATE is the sodium salt of pentetic acid. In water, this form dissolves readily and provides several sites that can bind metal ions, which is why it is used where tiny amounts of metals could change a product's appearance or behaviour.
It is not a plant extract or a treatment active. The useful distinction from pentetic acid is its salt form: the Cosmetic Ingredient Review describes pentasodium pentetate as readily water-soluble, whereas the corresponding acid is not. That difference helps explain its use in liquid and water-based products.
PENTASODIUM PENTETATE: what it does in cosmetics
In cosmetics, PENTASODIUM PENTETATE is a chelating agent. In everyday terms, it binds ions such as calcium and magnesium that may be present in trace amounts in water or raw materials, reducing interference that can make a clear liquid hazy or impair a formula's foaming and cleansing performance.
In practical use, it helps keep the product stable; it is not the ingredient that cleanses, moisturises or colours on its own. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review reports use across several categories, especially hair dyes and colours; that describes the formulation context assessed, not a direct benefit for hair or skin.
PENTASODIUM PENTETATE: conditions and care
In the European Union, PENTASODIUM PENTETATE appears in Annex II, entry 1721, which lists substances prohibited in cosmetic products. Products intended for that market must not contain this ingredient.
Restrictions and conditions of use
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
