Data: Good
Citric Acid
- Products with this ingredient are allowed for use in EWG VERIFIED but must meet use restrictions and warnings based on EWG review of company data.
- This ingredient's score is higher if used in product forms that are inhalable (e.g., sprays, powders) because of respiratory concerns. The score is lower if used in product forms that have lower risk of inhalation (e.g., solids, liquids)
- This ingredient's score is higher if used in products that may not meet industry safety guidelines or U.S. and international government requirements. The score will be lower if used in products that meet these safety guidelines and requirements.
Other Concerns
Use restrictions (moderate)SYNONYMS
Restricted
Restricted: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation
Citric acid is an alpha hydroxy acid used in personal care products to adjust the acidity or promote skin peeling and re-growth in the case of anti-aging products. Citric acid is naturally found in citric fruits and juices, providing the characteristic acidic taste.
Common concerns
See how this product scores for common concerns.
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LOWCancer
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LOWAllergies & Immunotoxicity
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LOWDevelopmental and Reproductive Toxicity
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MODERATEUse Restrictions
Ingredient concerns
- CONCERNS
- DATA SOURCES
Products with this Ingredient
acne treatment | 5 products |
after shave | 46 products |
after sun product | 34 products |
anti-aging | 131 products |
antiperspirant/deodorant | 112 products |
antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) | 24 products |
around-eye cream | 307 products |
Baby Bath Treatments, Tablets and Powders | 1 products |
baby bubble bath | 79 products |
Baby Hair Conditioner | 3 products |
baby lotion | 106 products |
baby oil | 5 products |
baby powder | 1 products |
baby shampoo | 316 products |
baby soap | 253 products |
baby sunscreen | 27 products |
baby toothpaste | 29 products |
baby wipes | 369 products |
bar soap | 218 products |
Bath and Body Wipes | 66 products |
bath oil/salts/soak | 1388 products |
BB cream | 44 products |
recreational sunscreen | 156 products |
beard care | 36 products |
beard cleanser | 43 products |
Beard Conditioners | 4 products |
beard oil | 4 products |
Beard Soaps | 4 products |
blush | 109 products |
body art | 1 products |
body firming lotion | 164 products |
body oil | 25 products |
body powder | 2 products |
body spray | 69 products |
body wash/cleanser | 3222 products |
bronzer/highlighter | 160 products |
brow liner | 234 products |
bubble bath | 335 products |
CC cream | 30 products |
concealer | 316 products |
conditioner | 2986 products |
cradle cap treatment | 1 products |
cuticle treatment | 6 products |
damaged skin treatment | 12 products |
Decollete and Neck Creams | 1 products |
Denture Care | 5 products |
depilatory | 5 products |
depilatory (men's) | 1 products |
detangler | 148 products |
diaper cream | 3 products |
Dry Shampoo and Hair Powders | 4 products |
exfoliant/scrub | 483 products |
Exfoliants | 16 products |
eye liner | 360 products |
eye makeup remover | 32 products |
eye shadow | 187 products |
Eye Shadow Primers | 2 products |
eyelash glue | 20 products |
Face Wipes | 8 products |
facial cleanser | 1297 products |
Facial Cleansing Water | 13 products |
facial moisturizer/treatment | 1245 products |
facial powder | 21 products |
Facial Sun Care | 12 products |
Flushable wipes | 1 products |
foot cleansing | 15 products |
foot moisturizer | 38 products |
foot odor control | 2 products |
foundation | 1049 products |
fragrance for men | 11 products |
fragrance for women | 52 products |
glitter | 5 products |
hair color and bleaching | 464 products |
hair relaxer | 14 products |
hair removal waxes | 6 products |
hair spray | 123 products |
hair styling aid | 565 products |
Hair Styling Gel | 11 products |
hair treatment/serum | 926 products |
hair-loss treatment | 56 products |
hand cream | 208 products |
hand sanitizer | 98 products |
lip balm | 445 products |
lip balm with SPF | 13 products |
lip gloss | 138 products |
lip liner | 69 products |
lip plumper | 7 products |
Lip Stain | 4 products |
lipstick | 436 products |
liquid hand soap | 2142 products |
lubricant | 1 products |
makeup primer | 135 products |
makeup remover | 285 products |
mascara | 143 products |
mask | 903 products |
moisturizer | 982 products |
daily use with SPF | 295 products |
Moisturizing Socks | 1 products |
mouthwash | 117 products |
muscle/joint soreness | 11 products |
nail glue | 2 products |
nail polish | 580 products |
nail treatment | 33 products |
oil controller | 8 products |
Oils & Serums | 47 products |
other eye makeup | 21 products |
Other Hair Care Preparations | 6 products |
personal cleansing | 6 products |
polish remover | 5 products |
pore strips | 1 products |
Preshave Preparations | 7 products |
serums & essences | 765 products |
setting powder/spray | 97 products |
shampoo | 4232 products |
shaving cream | 97 products |
shaving cream (men's) | 23 products |
skin fading/lightener | 22 products |
styling gel/lotion | 228 products |
styling mousse/foam | 112 products |
sunless tanning | 154 products |
tanning oil | 5 products |
toners/astringents | 371 products |
tooth whitening | 25 products |
toothpaste | 158 products |
Top Coats and Sealers | 1 products |
Under Eye Concealers | 7 products |
vapor rubs | 6 products |
Wipes | 28 products |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) |
Use restrictions
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics | Health Canada |
Data gaps
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported 'as used' concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product | Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) |
Informational
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - any | Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada |
Classified as a low human health priority | Environment Canada |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
Not suspected to be persistent | Environment Canada |
Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada |
Ecotoxicology
CONCERN | REFERENCE |
---|---|
Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada |
- US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Health Canada
- Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
- Environment Canada
Understanding scores
Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.
Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.
HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES
Hazard score
The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.
Data availability
The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.