Sodium Glutamate
AKA: Sodium L-glutamate, Monosodium L-glutamate, L-Monosodium glutamate, L-(+)Sodium glutamate, L-Glutamic acid Monosodium salt, 16177-21-2, Sodium (S)-2-amino-4-carboxybutanoate
Synthetic
Skin Conditioner
Hair Care
Amino Acid
Clean
One of the FLAVORING AGENTS used to impart a meat-like flavor.
Solubility Freely soluble in water; practically insoluble in ethanol or ether
Formula
C5H8NNaO4
Mol. Weight
169.11
CAS #
142-47-2, 6106-04-3, 16177-21-2, 32221-81-1
Form
Powder
State
White, practically odourless crystals or crystalline powder
Functions
Hair Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Locks in moisture
Traditional Use
The sodium salt of glutamic acid (an amino acid). Developed for use in cosmetics in the 20th century as a skin conditioning agent and humectant derived from plant-based sources.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Dryness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed2 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR