Malic Acid. May Contain/Peut Contenir : CI 77891 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily a pH adjuster and alpha-hydroxy exfoliant. It helps lower formula pH, support acid-based exfoliation, and can contribute mild humectant behavior.
What does Malic Acid. May Contain/Peut Contenir : CI 77891 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily a pH adjuster and alpha-hydroxy exfoliant. It helps lower formula pH, support acid-based exfoliation, and can contribute mild humectant behavior.
Is Malic Acid. May Contain/Peut Contenir : CI 77891 clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is generally well accepted and not a common restricted-list concern. Like other low-pH exfoliating acids, it can be irritating if used at higher levels or in very acidic formulas.
Is Malic Acid. May Contain/Peut Contenir : CI 77891 sustainable?
This ingredient can be sourced from fruit-derived or fermentation-based routes, though synthetic production is also common. It is water-soluble and readily biodegradable, with low persistence concerns in rinse-off or leave-on use.
Is Malic Acid. May Contain/Peut Contenir : CI 77891 COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic when made from accepted feedstocks and processing routes. It aligns well with Green Chemistry when fermentation-derived, biodegradable, and formulated without unnecessary solvent burden.
How does Malic Acid. May Contain/Peut Contenir : CI 77891 work chemically?
The molecule is a small chiral dicarboxylic alpha-hydroxy acid with two acid dissociation steps, around pKa 3.4 and 5.1. It is typically used around 0.1 to 2% for pH adjustment and can appear at higher levels in exfoliating formulas, where final pH largely determines skin feel and potency.
Last updated 2026-05-13