Ingredient glossary / pH adjuster
Sodium hydroxide (lye)
On the label: Sodium Hydroxide · pH adjuster
What it is
The alkali that turns oils into soap. None remains in a properly made bar; in creams it appears in tiny amounts to set the pH.
pH adjusters: pH adjusters set the acidity of the formula so the actives work and the preservatives hold.
Wikidata: Chemical compound. Q102769 →
In the research
272 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Skin Absorption of Radionuclide and Hybrid Cleaning Solutions · Toxics, 2026
- Enzymatic oxidation of lactose for lactobionic acid production: Effect of reaction conditions and dairy side stream compositions · Journal of dairy science, 2026
- Preparation of enriched extracts from Mentha longifolia subsp. typhoides samples collected from different localities in terms of ursolic and oleanolic acids · Scientific reports, 2026
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Products whose label lists it
14 on the siteMatched from the ingredient list the supplier printed; the position in the list (first or thirtieth) is on each product page.
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Other ph adjusters
Dew & Balm describes ingredients from the public record and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA. If a product causes a reaction, stop using it; a reaction that spreads or affects breathing is a call to a doctor or 911.