TETRASODIUM EDTA

📋 Quick facts

Description: TETRASODIUM EDTA — chelating agent, stabilizes formulations.

All Functions: chelating agent, stabilizes formulations

Quick Facts:

• Category: other

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• TETRASODIUM EDTA is a chelating agent—it binds to minerals like calcium
• Used in cosmetics at less than 2% concentration
• Not absorbed through skin when used in cosmetic products
• Considered safe for use in cosmetic formulations by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
• Research shows antimicrobial potential, but mainly in medical/biofilm contexts, not typical skincare

⚗️ Chemical Overview

See also: Edetate Calcium Disodium Anhydrous (related) … View More …

Source(s): PubChem, via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

TETRASODIUM EDTA is the sodium salt form of EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid), a chelating agent that works by binding to metal ions like calcium in formulations (Int J Toxicol, 2002). In skincare and cosmetics, it’s used at concentrations below 2%, and importantly, clinical testing found no absorption of EDTA salts through the skin itself (Int J Toxicol, 2002). One key consideration: because EDTA chelates calcium, it may affect how easily other chemicals pass through the skin barrier—a property formulators must account for when combining it with other ingredients (Int J Toxicol, 2002). The safety assessment concluded these ingredients are safe as currently used in cosmetic formulations, and systemic exposure from typical cosmetic products would be well below levels that caused problems in animal studies (Int J Toxicol, 2002).

Recent research has explored tetrasodium EDTA’s antimicrobial properties in medical contexts. In laboratory studies, tetrasodium EDTA showed synergistic antimicrobial activity when combined with other agents like ethanol and chlorhexidine against biofilms (bacteria organized in protective layers)—a major concern in wound care and medical devices (J Glob Antimicrob Resist, 2021). However, this research was conducted in controlled laboratory conditions against biofilm-associated infections, not typical skincare scenarios, and the authors note that in vivo and clinical studies are needed to confirm these findings (J Glob Antimicrob Resist, 2021). The antimicrobial potential documented in medical research has not been established for standard cosmetic skincare use.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Lanigan RS et al. (2002). Final report on the safety assessment of EDTA, calcium disodium EDTA, diammonium EDTA, dipotassium EDTA, disodium EDTA, TEA-EDTA, tetrasodium EDTA, tripotassium EDTA, trisodium EDTA, HEDTA, and trisodium HEDTA. Int J Toxicol.
• Sivaranjani M et al. (2021). Synergistic activity of tetrasodium EDTA, ethanol and chlorhexidine hydrochloride against planktonic and biofilm cells of clinically relevant pathogens. J Glob Antimicrob Resist.
• Sánchez-Pedreño P et al. (2009). Contact allergy to tetrasodium EDTA in a sunscreen. Contact Dermatitis.

🧴 Products Containing TETRASODIUM EDTA

• Old Spice Swagger
• herbal essences champu
• Sun dance, Sundance Sonnen light Lotion mit Kokosduft 20 mittel
• Tabac Deodorant Stick
• H&S Champú
• AgeDefy, P&G, Pantène, Pantène Pro-V, Pantène Pro-V Expert, Pantène Pro-V Expert Collection, Procter & Gamble AgeDefy Shampooing
• Procter & gamble as Head&Shoulders Shampoo Classic Clean 400ml
• Old Spice Deodorant Old Spice Bearglove
• Daytox Daytox Cleansing Foam
• Palmolive Reinigende Tonerde
• Cien Cien cream soap Milk&Honey
• Head & Shoulders Shampooing antipelliculaire + après-shampooing 2 in 1 anti-chute
• Old spice Deodorant
• Aldi Lacura sensitive shower cream
• Ombia Sapone liquido
• Невская косметика Крем-мыло детское с алоэ вера и подорожником «Ушастый нянь»
• Hair System by Watsons Micellar Botanical Purifying Shampoo
• Heads and shoulders Smooth and silky heads and shoulders anti dandruff shampoo
• Unilever, Radox Radox muscle soak
• Leo Bancroft Blissfully Bouncy Volumising Conditioner
• ColourB4 Effaceur de coloration
• Delia, Delia Cosmetics Cameleo Blond Moyen 7.0
• GHD GHD HEART PROTECT SPRAY
• Herbal Essences bee strong shampoo
• Isabel Bain moussant senteur lavande
• gel de banho warm feeling continente
• Ivatherm Ivapur
• Lux Lux wake me up soap
• Lux Shake me up
• cadum cadum
• PROCTER & GAMBLE NORGE AS Aussie Shampoo Miracle Moist 90ml
• Lux, unilever AVON DE BEAUTE
• The fruit company Crema de manos
• Barnängen, Schwarzkopf & Henkel Barnängen Active Pearls Aqua spirit
• CONAXESS TRADE NORGE AS Blonde Blondering Highlights M1
• Palmolive Optims
• Pantene formula pro vitaminas
• shampoo shampoo
• Vogue Vogue Colorissimo
• Shop Line Poudre éclaircissante professionnelle bleue