Sodium Chloride

Sodium chloride is just salt. You probably have it in your kitchen. In skincare, it shows up mostly as a thickener or filler, bumping up the texture and consistency of a formula without adding active ingredients. It can also mask flavors in toothpastes and mouthwashes, which is why you'll see it listed there. The amount matters a lot. A tiny pinch does almost nothing visible. Higher concentrations can actually draw water out of skin, which is why salt scrubs can feel drying if you overuse them. If you're sensitive to salt or prone to irritation, it's worth noting, but for most people it's just a neutral ingredient doing a structural job in the background.