MALTOBIONIC ACID ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a mild polyhydroxy acid used mainly for gentle exfoliation, humectancy, and pH adjustment. It helps smooth surface texture while binding water more readily than smaller exfoliating acids.
What does MALTOBIONIC ACID do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a mild polyhydroxy acid used mainly for gentle exfoliation, humectancy, and pH adjustment. It helps smooth surface texture while binding water more readily than smaller exfoliating acids.
Is MALTOBIONIC ACID clean?
Clean-beauty frameworks generally view it favorably because it is non-fragrant, low-sensitization, and not a common restricted-list concern. Like other exfoliating acids, it can cause temporary stinging at lower pH or higher use levels, especially on sensitized skin.
Is MALTOBIONIC ACID sustainable?
This ingredient is typically made from carbohydrate feedstocks such as maltose, often through oxidation or bioprocessing routes. It is water-soluble and expected to be readily biodegradable, with fewer persistence concerns than many silicone or fluorinated materials.
Is MALTOBIONIC ACID COSMOS-approved?
It can be permitted in COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic products when the feedstock and manufacturing chemistry meet the standard’s allowed-process rules. Its renewable sugar origin, water solubility, and biodegradability fit well with Green Chemistry principles.
How does MALTOBIONIC ACID work chemically?
The molecule is a disaccharide-derived aldonic acid with multiple hydroxyl groups, which explains its water binding, mild acidity, and larger molecular size versus smaller alpha hydroxy acids. It is commonly formulated in acidic products around pH 3.5 to 5, with levels varying by product type and with buffering used to balance exfoliation, comfort, and stability.
Last updated 2026-05-13