Citric Acid is vegan. In skincare, it is mostly derived from citrus fruit or made artificially. Citric Acid is a vegan skincare ingredient that belongs to the group of alpha-hydroxy acids.
The skincare component is a natural peeling agent. It has skin-renewal properties and it stimulates collagen and elastin production.
What Is Citric Acid And What Is Citric Acid Made Of?
Citric acid is a tricarboxylic acid that occurs in a crystal form. It is colorless and has a sour taste. Citric acid is mainly used in food, cosmetics, and skincare.
The acidic ingredient became known worldwide for the first time in the 18th century. When people saw that citric acid from lemon juice dissolved in water.
In particularly high levels, citric acid occurs naturally in citrus fruits. Such as lemons, grapefruit, limes, and oranges. But it can also be found in other types of fruit, berries, mushrooms, leaves, conifers as well as milk.
Nowadays, for industrial purposes, it is mostly produced artificially. By fermenting raw sugar-containing materials with the help of fungal cultures.
Citric Acid in skincare is always vegan. It is either made of plants or produced synthetically.
Why Is Citric Acid Used In Skincare?
Citric Acid is used in skincare because it is a natural skin-peeling agent and exfoliant. It helps with aging signs, acne, skin renewal, and glowy complexion.
Citric Acid exfoliates and helps to remove old skin cells. It stimulates cell division so that a new layer of skin could form. So, even small scars and pigment spots could fade over time when used consistently.
In addition, citric acid is helpful for acne. It evens out impurities and opens gently inflamed blackheads. The ingredient reduces existing acne scars as well. But once again, only with the regular use of citric acid products.
Moreover, citric acid also stimulates cell renewal and the formation of natural collagen and elastin. So it is capable of smoothing out small wrinkles and fine lines. It gives the skin more firmness and makes the skin more resilient. As a result, the complexion becomes younger-looking.
However, citric acid must be handled with care. Especially when used on the face for treating pigment spots, pimples, blackheads, or other skin concerns.
At high concentrations, the acid is quite aggressive and can damage sensitive skin. Ultimately making it more susceptible to inflammation and breakouts.
Further, citric acid makes the skin sensitive to the sun and makes it more likely to get a sunburn. Therefore, it is not recommended to stay in the sunlight right after use. Be sure to use sunscreen when using citric acid.
Over-the-counter products, such as scrubs, toners, and creams, contain concentrations of up to a maximum of 12%. Higher concentrations are only allowed to be used by professional beauticians or dermatologists.
FAQ About Citric Acid
Citric acid is a tricarboxylic acid that occurs in a crystal form. It is colorless and has a sour taste. Citric acid is mainly used in food, cosmetics, and skincare.
Citric acid occurs naturally in citrus fruits but it can also be found in other types of fruit, berries, mushrooms, leaves, conifers as well as milk. Nowadays, for industrial purposes, it is mostly produced artificially.
Yes. The citric acid in skincare is always vegan.
Summary
Citric Acid is a natural and vegan exfoliating agent which belongs to the group of alpha-hydroxy acids. It promotes younger-looking skin and a smoother complexion.
Depending on its concentration and skin sensitivity, it might be beneficial to the skin. However, in high concentrations, citric acid can be quite aggressive.
We recommend consulting a dermatologist before using citric acid products. Of course, so as not to burden the skin or cause additional problems.
Although citric acid in skincare is always vegan, other ingredients in the product may not be. To avoid unpleasant situations, we have put together 100% vegan brands you might fall in love with. You might also find inspiration from our list of best vegan exfoliators.
See also: Vegan Skincare Products
