Sodium Myristate
A fatty-acid soap salt. It cleanses and builds a dense foam in soap cleansers. It can dry out dry skin at alkaline pH.
Supporting ingredient
It gives a product its texture, stability or shelf life. It has no claimed effect on the skin, so an efficacy tier does not apply. What is known about its safety is below
Tolerability and safety
- Irritation potential
- Low
- Allergen risk
- Low
- Pregnancy
- Safe
- Suitable for
- Normal, Dry, Combination, Oily, Sensitive
About this ingredient
Sodium Myristate is the sodium salt of myristic acid, in other words a soap. It cleanses and builds a dense, creamy lather, so it is common in soap-type cleansers and rinse-off soap-based formulas. This is a functional ingredient, a cleansing surfactant, not a skincare active. Its job is to lift oil and dirt and produce foam. It does that job well, within a system that usually runs at alkaline pH. Applied topically there is no meaningful systemic absorption, so it can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. On tolerance, irritation and allergy potential is low, but harshness is moderate: as an alkaline soap it can dry out dry or sensitive skin with frequent use. On oily skin it usually feels comfortable; with dry skin or a tendency to tightness, a lower-pH cleanser or less frequent use is wiser.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sodium Myristate safe during pregnancy?
Sodium Myristate is considered safe during pregnancy at typical cosmetic concentrations. Systemic absorption through the skin is minimal.
What skin types is Sodium Myristate for?
Sodium Myristate suits: normal, dry, combination, oily, sensitive.
What is Sodium Myristate and what does it do in cosmetics?
A fatty-acid soap salt.
What's the INCI name for Sodium Myristate?
The INCI name is Sodium Myristate.
See Sodium Myristate in a product composition right on the store page
The Evigrade extension adds an evidence panel to iHerb, Sephora, Druni and 12 more stores. This ingredient and every other one in the product show evidence-tier, allergen risk and pregnancy/lactation flags at a glance.
Similar role in the formula
Other functional ingredients
Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Sodium Oleate, Sodium Oleth Sulfate, Sodium Olivate, Aniba Rosodora Wood Extract, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum, Levulinic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate
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