SODIUM METABISULFITE
Sodium Metabisulfite is an inorganic sodium-and-sulfur salt. It is also called sodium pyrosulfite; these names refer to the same substance, rather than to a botanical extract, oil, or fragrance ingredient.
SODIUM METABISULFITE: what it is
Sodium Metabisulfite is an inorganic sodium-and-sulfur salt. It is also called sodium pyrosulfite; these names refer to the same substance, rather than to a botanical extract, oil, or fragrance ingredient.
The material is water-soluble and consists of ions, not of a raw material taken from a plant part. That distinguishes it from plant-derived antioxidant ingredients: in this case, the relevant feature is sulfite chemistry, not botanical compounds supplied by the product.
SODIUM METABISULFITE: what it does in cosmetics
In cosmetics, Sodium Metabisulfite can work as an antioxidant and reducing agent. In practical terms, it can help limit oxidation reactions involving sensitive formula components, helping certain chemical changes occur less quickly during a product's shelf life.
It can also be used as a preservative, meaning it helps hinder the growth of microorganisms in the product itself. That is not a skin or hair treatment benefit: the published assessment of sulfites describes formulation uses, including hair products, and does not show that isolated Sodium Metabisulfite treats acne, dark spots, or disease.
SODIUM METABISULFITE: conditions and care
In the European Union, the preservative limit is 0.2% expressed as free sulfur dioxide. Other uses have product-specific limits: 0.67% in oxidative hair dyes, 6.7% in hair straighteners, and up to 0.45% in facial self-tanning products.
Restrictions and conditions of use
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
