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Sodium Levulinate

What Sodium Levulinate is & what it does

A naturally derived preservative and conditioning agent that protects formulas while adding mild moisturizing benefits. It suits natural-leaning systems.

What does Sodium Levulinate do in skincare?

Sodium Levulinate is the sodium salt of levulinic acid and is used mainly as a preservative-boosting and conditioning ingredient. It helps support a product's preservation system and can contribute to skin conditioning. It is often paired with sodium anisate in nature-derived formulas.

Is Sodium Levulinate safe?

Sodium Levulinate is generally considered safe for cosmetic use at typical concentrations. It is frequently chosen for gentle and naturally positioned products as part of a milder preservative approach. Those with sensitive skin can patch test before regular use.

Is Sodium Levulinate natural or synthetic?

Sodium Levulinate can be derived from levulinic acid that is produced from plant sugars, so it is often described as naturally derived. The final ingredient is processed to a cosmetic-grade salt. It is commonly used in nature-focused formulations.

Sunscreens with Sodium Levulinate

We rate 81 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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