Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate

Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate is a preservative derived from the naturally occurring amino acid, glycine. It is often used in cosmetics and skin care products as a natural alternative to parabens, although the process used to create Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate requires synthetic actions. It is considered an effective preservative because of its ability to cover a broad spectrum of microbes and protect formulas against bacteria, yeast and mold. Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate is used at extremely low concentrations between .1% to 1% and is seen in skin care products, as well as in hair conditioners.


Safety Measures/Side Effects:

The Cosmetics Database has found Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate to be a low hazard ingredient, and non-irritating, nonsensitizing, non-toxic by skin absorption and non-mutagenic. However, even at concentrations less than 1%, this ingredient has been shown to cause skin and eye irritation and may be more irritating than the parabens it is replacing.

Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate also has the potential to be contaminated with formaldehyde, and can also break down into formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, toxin and irritant that is rated as a high hazard by the EWG. However, this is not considered to be a frequent occurrence, and the amounts of formaldehyde resulting from Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate is negligible.

Facts about Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate : 

1. Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate is a naturally derived preservative that is effective in both hydrophobic and hydrophilic solutions to prevent the growth of bacteria and microbes.  

 

2. It is an inert salt that has one of the lowest reaction rates of any preservative used in cosmetics. It is distilled from pure glycine, which is one of the 20 amino acids found in the human body, and precursor to human protein development.  

 

3. Unlike other preservatives, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate remains stable across a wide range of pH levels and temperatures, making it an ideal ingredient for cosmetics.

 

4. While it is true, it can break down into formaldehyde, it does not mean it will. There is the possibility, but unlike Urea—which will always break down into formaldehyde—Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate does not.  

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