With so many ingredients in store-bought products, it can be tricky to figure out what to be wary of. However, some chemicals, despite their intimidating names, are essential to your favorite products. Sodium palmate is definitely one of them.
Sodium Palmate
Type of Ingredient: Sodium palmate is a common base ingredient in soaps that helps remove dirt and grime from the skin.
Main Benefits: It not only eliminates oil, dirt, and grime but also acts as an emulsifier, ensuring your products maintain their consistency.
Who Should Use It: Anyone can use sodium palmate unless they have a rare allergy to it.
How Often Can You Use It: It can be used daily, even multiple times a day.
Works Well With: Since sodium palmate can be drying, it pairs well with moisturizers.
Don’t Use With: Sodium palmate can be used with most ingredients. Just ensure you support your skin’s moisture barrier with nourishing ingredients.
What Is Sodium Palmate?
Despite sounding like a synthetic ingredient to avoid, sodium palmate is actually beneficial. Sodium palmate is a type of sodium salt naturally derived from the fatty acids in palm oil. It is created through saponification, a process where palm oil reacts with sodium hydroxide, causing a fatty acid to react with an alkali.
Sodium palmate is typically used in soaps and cosmetics as a base ingredient, which is the purest form before adding colors or scents. It helps eliminate excess oil and buildup on the skin, and acts as an emulsifier to prevent formulations from separating. Its essence, it keeps your favorite products consistent in appearance and texture.
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Benefits of Sodium Palmate for Skin
While ensuring product efficacy is a primary reason for its inclusion, sodium palmate also offers several skincare benefits:
Removes Dirt and Oil: Sodium palmate effectively lifts oils, dirt, and other impurities from the skin for easy washing away.
Gentle on Skin: Hu states that sodium palmate is known for its gentleness, making it suitable for various skin types.
Daily Use: This ingredient is safe for daily use, even multiple times per day. It is especially recommended for nighttime use to thoroughly cleanse the skin.
Compatible with Other Ingredients: Sodium palmate can be paired with other skincare products. Experts suggest combining it with moisturizing ingredients to maintain skin hydration.
Emulsifies Products: It helps maintain the texture and consistency of your favorite products.
Side Effects of Sodium Palmate
Although sodium palmate is a gentle cleanser, its ability to strip oils from the skin can lead to dryness. Those with normal or combination skin typically fare well with it. Individuals with very dry or acne-prone skin might experience redness and irritation.
If you have extremely sensitive or acne-prone skin, you may want to avoid sodium palmate. While it’s an effective cleanser, it can cause redness and irritation in sensitive or acne-prone skin.
How to Use Sodium Palmate
Sodium palmate can be used in both morning and evening cleansers. However, if you choose to use it only once a day, incorporate it into your nighttime routine to ensure all makeup and grime are thoroughly removed. Follow up with a moisturizer to prevent dryness.
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II DISCLAIMER: Every skin is different, not everything works for everybody. I recommend you test the product before completely using any new product. II
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