The ones people ask about
Citric Acid
Citric acid is the acid of lemons and limes. Cosmetic citric acid is usually made by fermenting sugar.
- On a list as
- Citric Acid
- What it does
- pH adjuster
- Where it comes from
- Usually made by fermentation
- Vegan?
- Yes
Why it’s in a formula
In small amounts it adjusts a formula's pH and helps other ingredients stay stable. Only at much higher strengths, in low-pH peels and toners, does it act as an exfoliating acid.
- Where it sits on the list is a clue. Near the end, as on ours, it is there to set pH, not to exfoliate.
Where you’ll find it at Divina
Read from each piece’s published ingredient list. 2 pieces.
Questions
Does citric acid in skincare exfoliate?
Only in high amounts at a low pH. A small amount near the end of a list is there to balance pH.
Is citric acid safe on skin?
Yes, at the small amounts used to set pH. Strong citric acid peels can sting and irritate, but that isn't how it's used here.
How we know: every ingredient list on this site is the manufacturer’s own, read piece by piece and shade by shade, and the pieces above are worked out from those lists each time the site is built. Ingredient names and functions follow the EU’s CosIng database. This page describes cosmetic ingredients; it isn’t medical advice.
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