Why do some lotions and creams have sodium hydroxide in them?!

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Learn what is really real, in an industry full of fake › Forums › Ask the Beauty Brains › Why do some lotions and creams have sodium hydroxide in them?!

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  • December 10, 2013 at 6:54 pm #91550
    Ingrid
    Member

    Why do some lotions and creams have sodium hydroxide in them? Isn’t that a ‘burning’ type chemical that is used to make soap?

    Why would you want to put that on your face or body?

    December 10, 2013 at 7:11 pm #92997
    RandyS
    Member

    Sodium hydroxide (or NaOH as we chemists call it) is there for one reason: to adjust pH. 


    While NaOH is damaging to skin and hair when used at high concentrations and at high pH, when used at low levels at neutral pH, it doesn’t cause any problem at all. That’s because sodium hydroxide is basic (hi pH) and it will react with other ingredients that are acidic (low pH.) For example, when sodium hydroxide is mixed with hydrochloric acid (which is very powerful) the result is water and regular table salt. 


    Neutralized hydroxide is not harmful at all. 
    December 14, 2013 at 8:15 pm #93018
    Isnipu
    Member

    Why is there sodium hydroxide in cuticle softener and remover?

    December 14, 2013 at 9:39 pm #93019
    RandyS
    Member

    Cuticle removers use a higher level of sodium hydroxide to soften the cuticle. This is different from the example I gave above where it’s only used to adjust ph.

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