Citric Acid in Skincare

Roles: Buffering agent, Chelating agent, Fragrance ingredient, Masking

Effects: Antioxidants, Cleansing, Soothing, Lightening, Lifting, Hair growth stimulating

Citric Acid is one of the AHAs and it is a super useful component! It’s a great antioxidant. It acts as a soft peeling that removes dead cells and kills bacteria. It becomes even more effective if used with other cosmetic acids. Combined formulations are more active, but can irritate sensitive skin if used too often. The component can also whiten the skin and remove dark areas.

It can be an irritator due to its naturally lower pH level of 2.2. But manufacturers also use it as a pH adjuster so in most cases you will not have any issues.

Safety

CIR Safety Report

Safe in the present practices of use and concentration. Commonly used in a concentration of up to 4% in leave-on products and up to 10% in rinse-of products. Studies on animals show that it can be a slight irritator in high concentrations (over 30%).

http://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/citric032012FR.pdf

Comedogenicity: 0

It's an exfoliator, meaning it increases UV sensitivity of your skin. That's why it's very important to use sunscreen after it.