Calcium Gluconate is the calcium salt of D-gluconic acid and is a multifunctional cosmetic ingredient used in personal-care and skin-care formulations. Its INCI name is CALCIUM GLUCONATE. Cosmetic ingredient references identify it primarily for chelating and skin-conditioning functions, with some cosmetic databases also listing humectant-related functionality.
Calcium Gluconate is generally available as a white crystalline powder, granules or fine crystalline material. It is water soluble, although its solubility is considerably lower than that of some other gluconate salts. The FCC describes it as white crystalline granules or powder and reports that approximately 1 g dissolves slowly in about 30 mL of water at 25°C.
The ingredient is particularly relevant to formulations where a calcium-containing gluconate salt is required together with water-compatible chelating and skin-conditioning functionality.
Calcium Gluconate has CAS Number 299-28-5 and EC Number 206-075-8. The anhydrous material has the molecular formula C₁₂H₂₂CaO₁₄ and molecular weight 430.37 g/mol.
Calcium Gluconate can exist in both anhydrous and monohydrate forms. The monohydrate is represented as C₁₂H₂₂CaO₁₄·H₂O and has a molecular weight of 448.39 g/mol. USP specifically recognizes both forms.
This distinction is important for cosmetic raw-material documentation because the hydration state affects molecular weight, water content, loss on drying and the appropriate assay basis. The exact form should therefore be identified on the product specification and Certificate of Analysis.
Calcium Gluconate is principally used as a chelating and skin-conditioning cosmetic ingredient. Its chelating functionality allows it to bind certain metal ions that may otherwise influence the stability or appearance of cosmetic formulations.
As a skin-conditioning ingredient, Calcium Gluconate can be incorporated into formulations intended to maintain the skin in good condition. It is found in different types of skin-care formulations, including creams, lotions, serums and other personal-care products.
Its gluconate structure also provides good compatibility with aqueous systems, although the relatively limited water solubility should be considered when selecting concentration and processing conditions.
Calcium Gluconate can be considered for a range of cosmetic and personal-care formulations, including skin-care creams, lotions, serums, toners, masks and cleansing formulations.
Its chelating functionality can be useful in formulations where trace metal ions need to be managed as part of the overall stability strategy. Its skin-conditioning functionality makes it relevant to products focused on maintaining desirable skin feel and condition.
Cosmetic ingredient databases also document its presence in skin-care products such as toners, serums, facial cleansers and moisturising formulations.
When used in an aqueous formulation, the relatively low room-temperature solubility should be taken into account. The FCC reports approximately 1 g dissolving slowly in 30 mL water at 25°C and approximately 1 g in 5 mL boiling water.
The hydration state is one of the most important technical considerations when working with Calcium Gluconate. USP defines the material as either anhydrous or containing one molecule of water of hydration.
For the anhydrous form, USP specifies 98.0–102.0% Calcium Gluconate on the dried basis. For the monohydrate form, USP specifies 99.0–101.0% for material labeled for preparation of injectable dosage forms and 98.5–102.0% for material labeled as not intended for injectable preparation. These are pharmacopeial specifications and should not automatically be treated as a cosmetic-grade COA specification.
USP also specifies loss on drying at 105°C for 16 hours: the anhydrous form is NMT 3.0%, while the monohydrate limits depend on its labeling and are NMT 1.0% or NMT 2.0% under the corresponding USP specifications.
The USP assay should not be entered into the CMS as “Assay (HPLC)” unless the actual cosmetic material is tested by HPLC. The pharmacopeial assay involves calcium determination, so the analytical method must be confirmed for the specific grade.
Calcium Gluconate is a specialty cosmetic ingredient suitable for manufacturers developing skin-care and personal-care formulations requiring gluconate-based chelating and skin-conditioning functionality.
For B2B cosmetic raw-material sourcing, the exact form—anhydrous or monohydrate—should be clearly specified together with assay basis, moisture, solubility, pH, elemental impurities and applicable analytical methods. This avoids transferring specifications between different hydration states.
As a Calcium Gluconate Cosmetic Ingredient Manufacturer in India, the focus is on controlled raw-material specifications, consistent physical characteristics and suitability for bulk cosmetic and personal-care ingredient requirements.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White or colourless crystals / white powder |
| Assay (HPLC) | 98.5–102.0% f |
| Loss on Drying | NMT 3.0% |
| Residue on Ignition | NMT 0.5% |
| Water Content | NMT 3.0% |