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Sodium Gluconate

What Sodium Gluconate is & what it does

A gentle, plant-derived chelator that binds metal ions to stabilize formulas, with mild hydrating benefits. It is biodegradable and skin-friendly.

What is Sodium Gluconate and what does it do in sunscreen?

Sodium Gluconate is a chelator: it binds stray metal ions in a formula so they cannot speed up spoilage or break down the active ingredients. This keeps a sunscreen stable and helps preservatives and antioxidants work better. It is plant-derived (the sodium salt of gluconic acid, from glucose) and also adds a mild hydrating, skin-friendly touch.

Is Sodium Gluconate safe?

Yes. It is a gentle, widely used cosmetic chelator that works to protect the formula rather than to act strongly on the skin. It is biodegradable, well tolerated, and the same compound is used as a food additive, so it carries a long record of safe use at the low levels found in skincare.

Does Sodium Gluconate clog pores?

No. Sodium Gluconate is water-soluble and used in tiny amounts to stabilize the formula, not a heavy oil or wax. It is considered non-comedogenic and is a very unlikely cause of breakouts.

Is Sodium Gluconate a preservative?

No. It is a chelator, not a preservative, so on its own it does not stop microbes from growing. It supports the preservative system by binding metal ions that would otherwise undermine it, but the actual preserving in a sunscreen is done by ingredients like phenoxyethanol or ethylhexylglycerin.

Is Sodium Gluconate natural or synthetic?

It is plant-derived. Sodium Gluconate is the sodium salt of gluconic acid, made from glucose (a plant sugar), so it comes from a natural source. It is also readily biodegradable, which makes it a popular, eco-friendly chelator.

Sunscreens with Sodium Gluconate

We rate 292 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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