Using Chelating Agents like Disodium EDTA in Formulations

Chelating agents, such as Disodium EDTA, are commonly used in cosmetic and personal care formulations to bind with metal ions present in water. These metal ions, often found in tap water or even some types of purified water, can cause instability, discoloration, and reduce the effectiveness of other ingredients in the product.

• Distilled Water: Distilled water is highly purified and contains very few, if any, metal ions. Therefore, when using distilled water as the base for your cream or gel formulation, adding a chelating agent like Disodium EDTA is generally not necessary.

• Infused Water: If you are using infused water (like floral water or herbal infusions), the need for a chelating agent depends on the purity of the base water used for infusion and the infusion process itself. If the infusion was made using distilled water, adding EDTA is likely unnecessary. If made with tap water or less pure water, a chelating agent might be beneficial.

• Other Water Types: For tap water, reverse osmosis (RO) water, or other non-distilled water sources, adding a chelating agent like Disodium EDTA or Tetrasodium EDTA is highly recommended to ensure product stability and performance. The choice between Disodium EDTA and Tetrasodium EDTA often depends on the final pH of your formulation (Disodium EDTA is typically used for pH 3-9, while Tetrasodium EDTA is for pH 8-12).

In summary, while chelating agents are vital for formulations using water with potential metal ion contamination, they are typically not required when using pure distilled water.