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 and pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 77-92-9 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
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.
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
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 | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =1000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Mouse | short-term | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =1200 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | chronic | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =4000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rat | short-term | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
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
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 IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =1200 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | chronic | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | >=2500 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | >=2500 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | >=2500 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | >=2500 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| 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 (cited: used in 6500+ products) |
| Face Cream | 0.05–1 | 10 | CIR |
Additional Ingredient Properties
10 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
acne
{"cas_number": "77-92-9", "anti_acne_mechanism": "keratolytic", "comedogenicity_rating_0_to_5": "0", "acne_type_efficacy": "non_inflammatory", "sebum_reduction_pct_clinical": "5-10", "keratolytic_strength": "mild", "exfoliation_mechanism": "chemical", "optimal_ph_for_efficacy": "3.0-4.0", "aha_type": "citric", "peel_depth": "superficial", "prescription_required_usa": "No", "otc_drug_monograph_cate…
anti_pollution
{"cas_number": "77-92-9", "ingredient_class": "heavy_metal_chelator", "primary_mechanism": "chelation", "pollution_types_targeted": "heavy_metals", "IR_A_protection": "no", "visible_light_protection": "no", "digital_screen_protection_claim": "no", "PAH_neutralization": "no", "ozone_protection": "no", "mitochondrial_protection": "no", "Nrf2_activation": "no", "AhR_pathway_modulation": "no", "NF_kB_…
baby_pediatric
{"cas_number": "77-92-9/5949-29-1", "ingredient_class": "other", "pediatric_safety_rating": "good", "minimum_age_months": "0", "neonatal_safe": "yes", "premature_infant_safe": "yes", "skin_barrier_maturity_consideration": "pH adjuster, chelator, GRAS, buffering agent", "transepidermal_absorption_risk_pediatric": "very_low", "dose_per_kg_body_weight_concern": "Safe", "skin_surface_area_to_weight_ra…
comedogenicity_detail
{"comedogenicity_rating": "0", "irritancy_rating": "2", "skin_type_suitability": "all,combination,normal", "acne_safe": "yes", "source": "pH adjuster/AHA"}
concentration
{"min_concentration_pct": "0.5", "max_concentration_pct": "2.0", "typical_concentration_pct": "1.0", "product_type": "Cleanser", "function_at_concentration": "pH adjustment", "source": "CIR Safety Assessment"}
cost_pricing
{"cost_tier": "budget", "estimated_cost_per_kg_usd_low": "3", "estimated_cost_per_kg_usd_high": "6", "natural_premium_markup_pct": "0", "organic_certified_premium_pct": "0", "supply_chain_volatility": "low", "primary_source_region": "China", "bulk_discount_threshold_kg": "1000", "seasonal_price_variation": "low", "commodity_or_specialty": "commodity", "substitute_ingredients": "Tartaric Acid, Mali…
deodorant
{"cas_number": "77-92-9", "ingredient_class": "other", "mechanism_of_action": "pH_modification", "antiperspirant_efficacy_sweat_reduction_pct": "0", "deodorant_efficacy_hours": "0", "odor_reduction_pct": "0", "bacteriostatic": "no", "bactericidal": "no", "microbiome_impact": "neutral", "axillary_microbiome_effect": "varies by ingredient", "MIC_value_if_antimicrobial": "varies", "astringency_level"…
depigmentation
{"cas_number": "77-92-9", "ingredient_class": "keratinocyte_turnover_enhancer", "primary_mechanism_of_action": "AHA for pH adjustment and gentle exfoliation", "secondary_mechanisms": "Variable", "molecular_target": "other", "tyrosinase_inhibition_IC50_uM": "varies", "tyrosinase_inhibition_type": "competitive", "melanin_reduction_pct_in_vitro": "25-45", "melanin_reduction_pct_clinical": "15-30", "o…
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
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Citric Acid.
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
10
Lowest NOAEL
250 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
4000 mg/kg bw/day
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
ECHA_REACH_reach_study_results_dossiers_23-05-2023.zip
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 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
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: ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID.
Is Citric Acid used outside cosmetics?
Citric Acid also appears in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical 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
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
Related Ingredients
Sodium Citrate
Excellent
Same category
pH buffering agent; chelating agent
Tartaric Acid
Excellent
Same category
Dicarboxylic AHA (from grapes/wine). ...
Potassium Hydroxide
Moderate
Same category
Strong alkali used in cuticle remover...
Triethanolamine
Moderate
Same category
pH adjuster, emulsifier
1-Methylhydantoin-2-imide (Creatinine)
Excellent
Similar safety
Skin conditioning (skin brightening/l...
2,6-Dimethyl-7-octen-2-ol (Dihydromyrcenol)
Excellent
Similar safety
Fragrance (perfuming), masking
2-Ethoxy-2,6,6-Trimethyl-9-Methylenebicyclo[3.3.1]Nonane (Boisiris™)
Excellent
Similar safety
Fragrance (rich woody, orris/iris roo...
2-Hydroxypropylcarbamato Amodimethicone
Excellent
Similar safety
Hair conditioning; modified aminosili...
2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Excellent
Similar safety
Softener and conditioner
3 O Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Excellent
Similar safety
Antioxidant; tyrosinase inhibitor; me...
Acetyl Tributyl Citrate
Good
Chemical family
Plasticizer; solvent; film-former
Acetyl Triethyl Citrate
Excellent
Chemical family
Film Forming, Plasticiser, Masking, P...
Beta-Santalol
Moderate
Chemical family
Fragrance
Cedrol
Good
Chemical family
Fragrance (warm woody base note/fixat...
CITRULLINE
Good
Browse nearby
Skin Conditioning
Is Citric Acid in Your Products?
Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.
Try Piro Free →Analyze Your Full Ingredient List
Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Citric Acid in your formulation.