If you've ever looked at the ingredients list on a bar of handmade soap, you might have spotted sodium lactate and wondered what it is. Let me explain why this ingredient has become a staple in my soap-making process.
What Is Sodium Lactate?
Sodium lactate is the sodium salt of lactic acid, a naturally occurring compound. In its pure form, it's a clear, odourless liquid that's completely water-soluble. While it sounds very scientific, it's actually derived from natural sources—lactic acid is found in milk, fermented vegetables, and even produced by our own bodies during exercise.
Why I Use It in Soap
Sodium lactate serves several important purposes in handmade soap:
- Harder bars: It helps create a firmer bar of soap that lasts longer in the shower and doesn't turn to mush between uses.
- Easier unmoulding: For soap makers, it makes removing soap from moulds much easier, reducing breakage and waste.
- Smoother texture: It contributes to a silkier, more luxurious lather.
- Moisture retention: As a humectant, it helps draw moisture to the skin, leaving it feeling soft rather than tight or dry.
How It's Made
Sodium lactate is produced through the fermentation of natural sugars (often from corn, beets, or sugarcane) to create lactic acid. This lactic acid is then neutralised with sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate to form sodium lactate. The process is similar to how other natural fermentation products—like yoghurt or sauerkraut—are made.
Is It Safe?
Absolutely. Sodium lactate has an excellent safety profile and is widely recognised as safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products. Here's why:
- It's approved by regulatory bodies worldwide, including the FDA and the European Commission.
- It's non-toxic and biodegradable.
- It's actually used as a food additive (E325) in many countries, so it's safe enough to eat in small quantities.
- It's gentle on skin and suitable for most skin types, including sensitive skin.
- Our bodies naturally produce and metabolise lactate, so it's a familiar compound to our system.
In my soaps, I use sodium lactate at a rate of about 1-3% of the total oils, which is well within safe usage guidelines. It's one of those ingredients that works quietly in the background, making each bar better without changing the natural character of the soap.
If you have any questions about the ingredients in our soaps, I'm always happy to chat. Transparency about what goes into each bar is important to me—after all, these are products I use on my own skin every day.