What it is
Sodium bicarbonate is a white, water-soluble inorganic salt that acts as a mild alkaline buffer. In formulations it is used in small amounts to neutralize acids and fine-tune pH toward the target range, supporting stability of the overall system. It has no UV-filtering or active skincare role in these products.
Safety & warnings
Sodium bicarbonate is generally regarded as safe and well tolerated at the low levels used for pH adjustment. As a mild alkali it could be irritating only at high, undiluted concentrations, which is not relevant to its buffering use here. It is not a recognized fragrance allergen.
Origin & sourcing
Inorganic mineral salt; produced industrially, for example via the Solvay process or from natural soda ash deposits.
Questions everyone asks
Why is baking soda in my sunscreen?
It is used in tiny amounts as a pH adjuster and buffer to bring the formula to its intended pH and help keep it stable, not as a skincare active.
Will it make a sunscreen feel gritty or abrasive?
No. At the low levels used for pH control it is fully dissolved and contributes no abrasive or scrubbing effect.