Ingredient glossary / pH adjuster
Citric acid
On the label: Citric Acid · pH adjuster
What it is
A fruit acid used in small amounts to set a formula's pH; at higher amounts a mild AHA.
pH adjusters: pH adjusters set the acidity of the formula so the actives work and the preservatives hold.
Wikidata: Weak organic acid. Q159683 →
In the research
445 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Structural Engineering of Bio-Alkaloid Ionic Liquid-Mesoporous Silica Nanohybrids for Optimized Transdermal Atopic Dermatitis Therapy · ACS applied materials & interfaces, 2026
- Supramolecular Tetrahydrocurcumin-Cyclodextrin for Enhanced Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, and Whitening Effects · ACS biomaterials science & engineering, 2026
- Recovery of Citric Acid from Fermentation Broth Using Supported Ionic Liquids · ACS omega, 2026
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Products whose label lists it
10 on the siteMatched from the ingredient list the supplier printed; the position in the list (first or thirtieth) is on each product page.
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USAOther ph adjusters
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