Non-GMO Citric Acid ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily used as a pH adjuster and buffering aid in skin care, hair care, and cleansing formulas. It can also support mild chelation by binding trace metal ions that may affect stability.
What does Non-GMO Citric Acid do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily used as a pH adjuster and buffering aid in skin care, hair care, and cleansing formulas. It can also support mild chelation by binding trace metal ions that may affect stability.
Is Non-GMO Citric Acid clean?
This ingredient is broadly accepted in clean-beauty frameworks and is generally well tolerated at normal formulation levels. Sensory stinging can occur when formulas are very acidic or use higher acid levels, especially on compromised skin.
Is Non-GMO Citric Acid sustainable?
This material is commonly produced by fermenting plant-derived sugars, often from corn or sugarcane, and this grade signals controlled non-engineered sourcing. It is readily biodegradable and has a low persistence profile in water systems.
Is Non-GMO Citric Acid COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic standards when made through accepted fermentation or allowed processing routes. It aligns well with Green Chemistry because it can come from renewable feedstocks, is water soluble, and biodegrades readily.
How does Non-GMO Citric Acid work chemically?
The molecule is a small, water-soluble tricarboxylic alpha-hydroxy acid with three acid groups, which explains its strong pH-adjusting and metal-binding behavior. Typical use is about 0.05 to 0.5% for pH adjustment, with higher levels in acid-focused formulas, and it is stable in water across normal cosmetic processing conditions.
Last updated 2026-05-13