Is Citric Acid safe in cosmetics?
Citric Acid has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 4 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Citric Acid
Also known as: 1,2,3-Propanetricarboxylic acid, 2-hydroxy-, 4-03-00-01272, BRN 0782061, Caswell No. 221C, Citric acid, anhydrous (+15 more)
INCI: CITRIC ACID
Citric Acid (CAS 77-92-9) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Tricarboxylic acid used primarily as pH adjuster, buffering agent, and. NOAEL 1000 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data.
Function
Tricarboxylic acid used primarily as pH adjuster, buffering agent, and chelating agent, with mild exfoliant contribution in combination peels. In triple-acid peel formulations (salicylic + citric + mandelic acids) demonstrated clinically significant reduction in inflammatory lesions and PIH in Fitzpatrick IV–V patients. Sodium citrate form used to buffer PHA (gluconolactone) formulations to prevent pH drift.
Editorial assessment
EXCELLENT
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
GRAS as direct food additive. CIR-assessed safe as used in cosmetics. Very low risk at typical formulation-aid levels. Photosensitivity advisory applies at exfoliating concentrations by AHA class analogy.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Citric Acid.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
4 study endpoints found for Citric Acid. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.
| Endpoint | Value | Route | Species | Study Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =250 mg/kg bw/day | injection | Rat | short-term | ECHA |
| NOAEL | =1000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Mouse | short-term | ECHA |
| NOAEL | =1200 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | chronic | ECHA |
| NOAEL | =4000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | short-term | ECHA |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract.
Long-term Exposure Effects
The substance may have effects on the teeth. This may result in erosion.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation and by ingestion.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Citric Acid across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Citric Acid, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
3-6%
Penetration Level
surface
Penetration Depth
stratum corneum
Molecular Weight
192.1 Da
Log P
-1.72
Systemic Absorption
minimal
Topical Bioavailability
2-4%
Safety Margin Factor
low
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation
Source: CIR Expert Panel
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
10 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LD50 | >2000 mg/kg | Rat | dermal | - | ECHA |
| NOAEL | =1200 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | chronic | ECHA |
| NOAEL | >=2500 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | - | ECHA |
| NOAEL | >=2500 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | - | ECHA |
| NOAEL | >=2500 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | - | ECHA |
| NOAEL | >=2500 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | - | ECHA |
| LOEL | =15 % | Rat | injection | acute | ECOTOX |
| LOEL | =15 % | Rat | injection | acute | ECOTOX |
| LOEL | =15 % | Rat | injection | acute | ECOTOX |
| LOEL | =15 % | Rat | injection | acute | ECOTOX |
EU CLP Annex VI Harmonized Classification
Legally binding harmonized classification per Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP) Annex VI.
Signal Word
Warning
Pictograms
Harmful / Irritant
Hazard Class and Category
STOT SE 3; Eye Irrit. 2
Hazard Statements
- H335 May cause respiratory irritation
- H319 Causes serious eye irritation
Inserted via ATP: ATP17
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
100,000 - 1,000,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE; GROUP
SVHC Candidate
No
Hazard classification: Restricted (Annex XVII)
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (2)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN | restricted | 6 | Rinse-off and leave-on products |
| AE | restricted | 10.0 | Leave-on products |
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | 0.05–1 | 10 | CIR Safety Assessment |
| Face Cream | 0.05–1 | 10 | CIR Expert Panel |
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Anti-scaling agent
Antioxidant
Biocide
Chelating agent
Chemical reaction regulator
Cleaning agent
Crystal growth modifiers (nucleating agents)
Deflocculant
Deodorizer
Flavouring and nutrient
Regulatory List Membership (6)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Consumer Product Chemical
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Citric Acid — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
natural-origin
chelating
ph-adjuster-primary
gras
combination-peel-synergist
triple-acid-peel-component
eu_children_restricted
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
jecfa_safe
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Citric Acid by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
4
Lowest NOAEL
250 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
4000 mg/kg bw/day
ECHA
Known Synonyms
1,2,3-Propanetricarboxylic acid, 2-hydroxy-
4-03-00-01272
BRN 0782061
Caswell No. 221C
Citric acid, anhydrous
EINECS 201-069-1
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 021801
FEMA No. 2306
FEMA Number 2306
2-Hydroxypropanetricarboxylic acid
2-Hydroxytricarballylic acid
Kyselina 2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propantrikarbonova
UNII-XF417D3PSL
2-Hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylate
2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid
3-Carboxy-3-hydroxypentane-1,5-dioate
Anhydrous citric acid
Citraclean
Citro
E 330
Chemical Function
Chelating agent
pH regulating agent
Regulatory Lists
drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical and food safety data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
CITRIC ACID
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1261
Max Phase
4
Adverse Event Associations
20
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
Citric acid
E Number
E330
ADI
NOT LIMITED mg/kg bw
Food Category
preservative
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Citric Acid allowed in the EU?
Citric Acid EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Citric Acid do in cosmetics?
Citric Acid functions as: Tricarboxylic acid used primarily as pH adjuster, buffering agent, and chelating agent, with mild exfoliant contribution in combination peels. In triple-acid peel formulations (salicylic + citric + mandelic acids) demonstrated clinically significant reduction in inflammatory lesions and PIH in Fitzpatrick IV–V patients. Sodium citrate form used to buffer PHA (gluconolactone) formulations to prevent pH drift.. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 77-92-9.
What is the NOAEL for Citric Acid?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Citric Acid is =250 mg/kg bw/day based on a short-term study via injection route in Rat. A total of 4 study endpoints are available. Source: ECHA.
Is Citric Acid used outside cosmetics?
Citric Acid also appears in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Citric Acid compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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