Sodium Palmate
Sodium Palmate is a common cleansing agent and emulsifier derived from palm oil. You’ll find it in many traditional bar soaps, facial cleansers and body washes where it helps create a rich, creamy lather that lifts away dirt and oil. It is one of the most widely used soap-making ingredients in the UK beauty industry.
How it works in skincare
In cosmetics and skincare, Sodium Palmate acts as a surfactant that lowers the surface tension of water, allowing it to mix with oils and impurities on the skin so they can be rinsed away. It also functions as an emulsifier, helping to blend oil and water phases in formulations, and contributes to the firm texture and stable lather of bar soaps. Produced by saponifying palm oil with sodium hydroxide, it is valued for its excellent cleansing power, abundant foam and cost-effectiveness in both luxury and everyday British beauty products.
Key benefits
- Produces a rich, creamy lather
- Effectively removes dirt, oil and impurities
- Helps create solid bar soap formats
- Works as a natural emulsifier
- Gives a satisfying clean feel to skin and hair
- Compatible with a wide range of cosmetic formulations
Best for
normal skin, oily skin, combination skin
Where it comes from
Sodium Palmate is obtained from the fruit of the oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis). The palm oil is extracted from the fruit pulp and then saponified with sodium hydroxide to create the cleansing salt.