Ingredients

Tetrasodium EDTA

What tetrasodium EDTA does as a chelator in cleansers and creams, how it differs from disodium EDTA, and the environmental question.

By Nora Ellison · Published

No specific flag recordedIn 17 products we cover

Annotations are editorial flags, not safety scores or measured reaction rates. How we classify and match ingredients.

Also known as Tetrasodium Ethylenediaminetetraacetate, Edetate Sodium

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Chemical structure of Tetrasodium EDTA (C10H12N2Na4O8)
Chemical structure of Tetrasodium EDTA (C₁₀H₁₂N₂Na₄O₈), drawn from PubChem CID 6144.

Quick facts

INCI name
Tetrasodium EDTA
CAS number
64-02-8
Origin
Synthetic
Chemical class
Aminopolycarboxylate chelator (EDTA salt)
What it does in a formula
chelating
Why it is in the formula
Binds trace metal ions from water and raw materials so the preservative, scent and color stay stable.
Regulatory notes
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel concluded that EDTA and its salts, including tetrasodium EDTA, are safe as used in cosmetics, and reaffirmed that conclusion in a 2019 re-review.

What is Tetrasodium EDTA?

Tetrasodium EDTA is a chelator: a synthetic molecule that grabs metal ions such as calcium, magnesium and iron and holds them so they can’t react with the rest of the formula. It is the four-sodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, usually shortened to EDTA.

It dissolves easily in water and gives an alkaline solution, so you’ll often see it in bar soaps, body washes and foaming cleansers, as well as some creams. It usually appears near the end of the ingredient list. Its close relative, disodium EDTA, does the same job in products with a lower pH.

What does Tetrasodium EDTA do?

  • Binds metal ions. Trace minerals from water or raw materials can discolor a product, change its scent or make it go off faster. Chelation keeps them out of the way.
  • Helps preservatives work. Some preservatives work less well when metal ions are free in the formula. EDTA supports the preservative system, though it isn’t a preservative itself.

It’s a background helper. It isn’t there to do anything to your skin.

Who is Tetrasodium EDTA for?

It appears in products for every skin type, and most people won’t notice it. The safety review concluded that EDTA salts are safe as used in cosmetics and noted that these chelators aren’t likely to penetrate the skin.

The more common question is environmental. EDTA is slow to break down and can persist after it is washed down the drain. If that matters to you, some products use other chelators, such as tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, sodium phytate or trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate.

What to pair Tetrasodium EDTA with, and what to avoid

There’s nothing to pair. It works inside the formula, not as a separate step in your routine. You don’t need to look for it or avoid it on skin grounds. If you’d rather avoid EDTA for environmental reasons, check cleanser and soap labels, where it is most common.

Quick picks with Tetrasodium EDTA

Picked from label facts only. We haven't tested these products.

All 17 products with Tetrasodium EDTA

Gel, Foam & Cream Facial Cleansers (8)

Shaving Creams, Gels & Oils (4)

Body Creams, Butters & Body Oils (4)

Daily Moisturizers & Water Gel Creams (1)

Common questions

What is the difference between tetrasodium EDTA and disodium EDTA?

Both are salts of the same chelator, EDTA, and do the same job of binding metal ions. Tetrasodium EDTA carries four sodium ions instead of two and is more alkaline in water, so you'll more often see it in soaps and cleansers than in low-pH serums.

Is tetrasodium EDTA a preservative?

No. It's a chelator. By tying up metal ions it can help a preservative system work more reliably, but it doesn't replace the preservative.

Is tetrasodium EDTA bad for your skin?

A cosmetic safety panel concluded EDTA salts are safe as used in cosmetics and noted they aren't likely to pass through the skin. As with any ingredient, a reaction is possible, so stop using a product that bothers you.

Is tetrasodium EDTA bad for the environment?

EDTA breaks down slowly, so it can persist in wastewater, which is why some brands choose alternatives. The amount in one product doesn't tell you the product's overall environmental footprint.

Sources