Common Name(s): Chelating agent/acid,ph adjuster metal chelator,formulation stability aid

CAS Number: N/a

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Adjusts formulation ph, chelates trace metal ions that catalyse active ingredient and lipid oxidation, and enhances preservative efficacy by chelating metal ions from bacterial cell walls weakening gram-negative outer membrane integrity.

Why It's Used: Essential formulation stabiliser — trace metals (from water, pigments, actives) catalyse fenton-type radical chain reactions that degrade antioxidants and oxidise unsaturated fatty acids. chelation removes the metal catalysts before they initiate oxidative degradation.

How It Works: Multidentate ligands (edta: 6 coordination sites; citric acid: 4 sites) form thermodynamically stable complexes with fe²⁺/fe³⁺ (edta k_f = 10²⁵) and cu²⁺ (k_f = 10¹⁹) — orders of magnitude more stable than metal-lipid or metal-protein complexes, effectively deactivating the metal catalyst. preservative synergy: edta chelates ca²⁺ from bacterial lps, compromising gram-negative outer membrane integrity.

Typically Found In: All formulations,oxidation-sensitive products

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – cosmetic active

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

Typical Concentration Range: 0.01%–1%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Conditional - supplier confirmation required

Halal Status: Unverified - supplier confirmation required

Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier. [audit 2026-07-29 rev2: the record's own source_notes does not assert a non-animal origin, or instructs the reader to verify with the supplier; "yes" asserts knowledge the record does not hold. determination requires shariah-panel sign-off.]

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1–2.

Works Well With: Standard skincare actives

Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Edta is the most effective chelator but faces restriction pressure in some natural certifications; citric acid, gluconic acid, and phytic acid provide cosmos-accepted alternatives with equivalent chelation capacity at 2–5× higher concentration.

Last Verified: 2026-03-12

Primary Sources: Cosing database,chelating agent metal sequestration preservation review