Sodium Polyphosphate
AKA “Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Chelating Agent”
Ingredient
Ingredient Facts
Sodium polyphosphate
AKA: Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Chelating Agent
Ingredient · Chelating · EWG: 1
Synthetic
Chelating Agent
Clean
Polyphosphoric acids, sodium salts
CAS #
68915-31-1
Form
Powder
See origin →
Functions
Chelating
Grabs onto metal ions in water that would destabilize the formula. Keeps your product from going bad or changing color.
Anti-Inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Fights Acne
Binds metal ions
Traditional Use
A synthetic inorganic salt developed in industrial chemistry. Used in cosmetics as a water softener, chelating agent, and pH buffer.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Sodium Metaphosphate, Sodium Trimetaphosphate and Sodium Hexametaphosphate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Sodium Hexametaphosphate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Sodium Polyphosphate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Sodium Hexametaphosphate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Sodium Polyphosphate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
The role of chelating agents and amino acids in preventing free radical formation in bleaching systems.
Hodes J, Sielaff P, Metz H, Kessler-Becker D, Gassenmeier T et al.
Free radical biology & medicine, 2018
Final report on the safety assessment of Sodium Metaphosphate, Sodium Trimetaphosphate, and Sodium Hexametaphosphate.
Lanigan RS
International journal of toxicology, 2001
Final report on the safety assessment of Sodium Metaphosphate, Sodium Trimetaphosphate, and Sodium Hexametaphosphate.
Lanigan RS
International journal of toxicology, 2001
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR