Sodium Metaphosphate Average Emulsifier No known benefits Sodium Metaphosphate at a glance Synthetic emulsifier and pH adjuster Also used in the dental field Deemed safe as used in cosmetics Requires careful formulation to avoid levels proven to irritate skin Sodium Metaphosphate description Sodium metaphosphate is a synthetic ingredient used in cosmetics formulations as an emulsifier and a pH adjuster, and in dental preparations as a mild abrasive. It’s typically produced by reacting salt (sodium chloride) with phosphoric acid in a 1:1 ratio. The independent Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel has ruled sodium metaphosphate safe to use in cosmetics when it is formulated to be non-irritating. Tests done for the safety assessment found that sodium metaphosphate in a 1% solution was mildly irritating to the skin of human subjects. This ingredient is used in concentrations of 0.01-9.6%, with the larger concentrations being in rinse-off products.