Citric Acid. *Organic ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily used as a pH adjuster and buffering agent, helping formulas reach the acidity range needed for skin feel, preservative performance, and product stability. It can also help bind trace metal ions that may affect color, odor, or oxidation.
What does Citric Acid. *Organic do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily used as a pH adjuster and buffering agent, helping formulas reach the acidity range needed for skin feel, preservative performance, and product stability. It can also help bind trace metal ions that may affect color, odor, or oxidation.
Is Citric Acid. *Organic clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is widely accepted, well understood, and not a typical restricted-list concern. At normal pH-adjustment levels it is usually well tolerated, though high levels or very low-pH formulas can cause stinging on sensitive skin.
Is Citric Acid. *Organic sustainable?
This material is commonly made by fermentation of plant-derived sugars and is readily biodegradable. Its sustainability profile is generally strong, with the main variables being agricultural feedstock and processing energy.
Is Citric Acid. *Organic COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic standards when sourced and processed according to the standard. It aligns well with Green Chemistry principles because it can come from renewable fermentation, performs at low use levels, and breaks down readily in the environment.
How does Citric Acid. *Organic work chemically?
The molecule is a small, water-soluble organic acid with three carboxyl groups and one hydroxyl group, which gives it buffering and metal-binding behavior. In personal care it is often used around 0.01% to 0.5% for pH adjustment, while higher levels may appear in low-pH exfoliating systems where total acid load and final pH drive skin feel.
Last updated 2026-05-13