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thickener

Sodium Chloride

Fearmongered, actually fine·Strong evidence

Ordinary salt, used in surfactant-based products like shampoos and body washes to adjust viscosity by interacting with the surfactant micelles. It has no meaningful toxicity concern at cosmetic use levels; the main practical downside is that too much can make a formula feel less mild.

The myth vs the evidence

Because "chloride" and "sodium" sound clinical on an ingredient list, salt sometimes gets lumped in with "chemical" fears. It is the same substance used in food and has no unusual hazard profile in rinse-off cosmetics.

Products with Sodium Chloride

References

Cosmetic information for general education, not medical advice. Concern is graded on cited evidence, never on hazard-score lists. See how we score.