Citric Acid Monohydrate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient primarily adjusts and buffers formula pH, helping products land in a skin-appropriate acidity range. It can also lightly chelate metal ions, which supports preservative performance and formula stability.
What does Citric Acid Monohydrate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient primarily adjusts and buffers formula pH, helping products land in a skin-appropriate acidity range. It can also lightly chelate metal ions, which supports preservative performance and formula stability.
Is Citric Acid Monohydrate clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is widely accepted and not a common restricted-list issue. It is generally well tolerated in pH-balanced formulas, though low-pH products can cause temporary stinging on sensitive or compromised skin.
Is Citric Acid Monohydrate sustainable?
This ingredient is commonly produced by fermentation of carbohydrate feedstocks such as sugar or starch. It is readily biodegradable, water soluble, and not associated with environmental persistence or bioaccumulation concerns.
Is Citric Acid Monohydrate COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic standards when made through accepted production routes. Its profile fits Green Chemistry well because it can come from renewable fermentation feedstocks, biodegrades readily, and functions efficiently at low levels.
How does Citric Acid Monohydrate work chemically?
The molecule is a small, water-soluble tricarboxylic alpha-hydroxy acid supplied as a crystalline hydrate, giving it strong pH-adjusting capacity and modest metal-binding behavior. In finished products it is often used quantum satis for pH correction, commonly below 1%, while stronger acid-format formulas use higher levels and require careful pH control for skin feel and stability.
Last updated 2026-05-13