Citric Acid. +/- Ultramarines

TL;DR. This entry is mainly used to adjust pH and support chelation, with optional color contribution when the pigment is present. It helps keep the finished formula in its target acidity range and can improve preservative performance indirectly.

What does Citric Acid. +/- Ultramarines do in a cosmetic formula?

This entry is mainly used to adjust pH and support chelation, with optional color contribution when the pigment is present. It helps keep the finished formula in its target acidity range and can improve preservative performance indirectly.

Is Citric Acid. +/- Ultramarines clean?

This material is generally well-tolerated at low use levels, though low-pH formulas can sting sensitive or compromised skin. The optional inorganic colorant is accepted by many clean standards when it meets purity specifications for trace metals.

Is Citric Acid. +/- Ultramarines sustainable?

The pH-adjusting component is commonly made by fermentation of plant-derived sugars and is readily biodegradable. The optional colorant is an inert inorganic solid, so it does not biodegrade, and responsible sourcing plus impurity control matter.

Is Citric Acid. +/- Ultramarines COSMOS-approved?

The pH-adjusting component is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic when made through accepted processes, and the optional pigment may be permitted as an approved inorganic colorant subject to purity and use limits. It aligns well with Green Chemistry on fermentation sourcing and biodegradability for the organic molecule, while the inorganic colorant is less aligned on biodegradability.

How does Citric Acid. +/- Ultramarines work chemically?

The molecule is a small, water-soluble tricarboxylic acid with pKa values around 3.1, 4.8, and 6.4, so it buffers best in acidic systems and is often used below 1% for pH adjustment. The optional colorant is an insoluble sodium aluminosilicate lattice containing sulfur species, stable in many anhydrous and neutral systems but prone to color shift in strongly acidic conditions.

Last updated 2026-05-13