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Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is a versatile, biodegradable chelating agent used in cosmetics and personal care products to bind and inactivate metal ions, such as iron and copper, preventing oxidation, discoloration, and instability in formulations. It serves as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional chelators like EDTA, boosting the efficacy of preservatives and stabilizing pH across a wide range. Derived from natural sources, it enhances product safety and shelf life, particularly in water-based or emulsion systems, and is globally approved for cosmetic use with low toxicity and irritation potential.
What is it Made of?
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate consists of:
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- Tetrasodium (2S)-2-[bis(carboxylatomethyl)amino]pentanedioate: The primary active compound, a tetrasodium salt derived from L-glutamic acid, an amino acid produced via aerobic fermentation of sugars and ammonia.
- Water: Typically 52-54% in commercial solutions, serving as a carrier.
- Sodium Hydroxide: Minor amounts (0-0.4%) for pH adjustment.
- Impurities: Trace levels of sodium glycolate, sodium formate, and nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt (below 0.15-1.7%), along with heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and mercury at <5 mg/kg.
Best Skin Type for Using It:
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is suitable for all skin types, particularly:
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- Sensitive Skin: Its non-irritating and non-sensitizing properties make it gentle, with minimal risk of allergic reactions or stinging, ideal for allergy-prone individuals.
- Oily and Acne-Prone Skin: Helps stabilize formulations without comedogenic effects, supporting preservative action to prevent microbial growth that could worsen acne.
- Dry Skin: Enhances product stability in moisturizing formulas, indirectly aiding hydration by maintaining efficacy of other ingredients.
- Normal and Combination Skin: Maintains formulation integrity without disrupting the skin’s natural barrier or pH balance.
- Mature Skin: Supports stable, non-irritating products that align with aging skin’s sensitivity needs. However, as with any ingredient, patch-testing is recommended for those with extreme sensitivities, though no significant adverse effects have been reported at cosmetic concentrations.
Benefits of Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
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- Chelating Action: Binds metal ions to prevent oxidation, discoloration, and degradation, ensuring product stability and longevity.
- Preservative Booster: Enhances the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents, allowing lower preservative concentrations while extending shelf life by 6-18 months or more.
- pH Stabilization: Maintains consistent pH in formulations, effective across a wide range (pH 3-11), improving overall performance.
- Eco-Friendly Profile: Readily biodegradable and derived from renewable sources, aligning with clean beauty standards and reducing environmental impact.
- Formulation Versatility: Compatible with aqueous, emulsion, and surfactant-based systems, including O/W and W/O emulsions.
- Non-Irritating: Low risk of skin or eye irritation, with no sensitization observed in human and animal studies.
- Improves Texture and Efficacy: Prevents precipitation and hardness from water, leading to smoother, more effective skincare products.
- Globally Compliant: Approved for worldwide use in cosmetics, with safety confirmed by expert panels.
Pros and Cons of Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
Pros:
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- Superior Chelating Efficiency: Effectively controls metal-catalyzed decomposition and reduces water hardness, outperforming some traditional chelators.
- Safe and Gentle: Non-toxic, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing, suitable for sensitive skin and clean formulations.
- Multifunctional: Combines chelation with preservative boosting and pH stabilization, minimizing the need for additional stabilizers.
- Biodegradable and Sustainable: Fully breaks down environmentally, offering a green alternative to phosphates or EDTA.
- Easy Incorporation: Liquid form mixes readily in water phases or at the end of formulation, compatible with most ingredients.
- Broad Compatibility: Works in diverse products and pH ranges without affecting viscosity or texture significantly.
- Low Use Levels: Effective at 0.1-1%, cost-efficient for boosting overall formula performance.
Cons:
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- Potential Odor: May have a slight ammonia scent in raw form, requiring masking in scented products.
- Trace Impurities: Contains minor levels of potential carcinogens like nitrilotriacetic acid, though mitigated at low cosmetic concentrations.
- pH Adjustment Needed: Optimal in neutral to alkaline ranges; may require tweaks in highly acidic formulas.
- Higher Cost: As a premium, natural-derived ingredient, it can be more expensive than synthetic alternatives.
- Not Fully Natural for Purists: Synthesized from glutamic acid, which may not appeal to those seeking purely plant-extracted options.
- Incompatibility Risks: May interact with certain ions or require testing in complex matrices to confirm stability.
- Requires Challenge Testing: Efficacy in boosting preservation depends on the formulation, necessitating microbial tests.
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is a biodegradable chelating agent derived from L-glutamic acid that stabilizes cosmetic formulations by binding metal ions and boosting preservatives. It offers broad compatibility across skin types and product types, with proven safety and minimal irritation potential in peer-reviewed assessments. As an eco-friendly alternative to EDTA, it enhances shelf life, pH stability, and overall efficacy in skincare while aligning with clean beauty trends.
Disclaimer:
The information in this blog post is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or dermatological advice. Always consult a qualified dermatologist or healthcare provider before using products containing Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, especially if you have sensitive, oily, acne-prone, or compromised skin (e.g., eczema, rosacea), are pregnant, or have pre-existing medical conditions. Individual results may vary, and while Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is generally well-tolerated with low irritation potential, some users may experience rare allergic reactions, irritation, or stinging, particularly with high concentrations, very sensitive skin, or improper formulation. Patch testing is strongly recommended before use, especially for sensitive or allergy-prone skin or new products. Avoid applying to broken or inflamed skin, and use high-quality, sustainably sourced Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate to minimize environmental impacts and ensure purity. Store products in a cool, dark place to prevent degradation. The author is not liable for any adverse effects resulting from the use of Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate based on this information. Claims are based on peer-reviewed scientific research, but efficacy and safety depend on formulation, concentration, and individual skin type.
