MALIC ACID

📋 Quick facts

Description: MALIC ACID — AHA exfoliant, pH adjuster.

All Functions: AHA exfoliant, pH adjuster

Quick Facts:

• Category: active

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Malic acid is used in cosmetics primarily as a pH adjuster and fragrance ingredient at low concentrations
• A 1% malic acid spray improved dry mouth symptoms better than placebo in a 2-week study
• Malic acid is considered safe in cosmetics at current use levels and concentrations
• Pure malic acid can irritate skin and eyes in testing; irritation decreases at higher pH
• Malic acid is naturally present in your body as part of normal cellular energy production

⚗️ Chemical Overview

Malic acid is a 2-hydroxydicarboxylic acid that is succinic acid in which one of the hydrogens attached to a carbon is replaced by a hydroxy group. It has a role as a food acidity regulator and a fundamental metabolite. It is a 2-hydroxydicarboxylic acid and a C4-dicarboxylic acid. It is functionally related to a succinic acid. It is a conjugate acid of a malate(2-) and a malate. On the basis of the animal and clinical data included in this report, the CIR Expert Panel concludes that Malic Acid and Sodium Malate are safe for use as pH adjusters in cosmetic formulations. The Expert Panel determined that the data are insufficient to determine the safety of these ingredients for any other functions. Malic acid has been used in trials studying the treatment of Xerostomia, Depression, and Hypertension.

Source(s): DrugBank, ChEBI, Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Malic acid operates in skincare through a few distinct mechanisms. #1: As a pH adjuster, it’s used at low concentrations to balance the acidity of formulations (Int J Toxicol, 2001 & 2022). #2: When combined with choline in laboratory research, malic acid showed potential to help deliver hydrophilic (water-loving) molecules deeper into skin layers—approximately double the delivery compared to solution alone—without causing irritation or toxicity to skin cells over 24 hours (Int J Pharm, 2019). However, this choline-malic acid combination is experimental and not yet standard in consumer products. Regarding safety, the cosmetic ingredient panels concluded that malic acid and its sodium salt (sodium malate) are safe in cosmetics at present use and concentration levels (Int J Toxicol, 2022).

That said, pure malic acid itself can be irritating—it showed moderate to strong skin irritation and strong eye irritation in animal testing, with less irritation observed as the pH of the formulation increased (Int J Toxicol, 2001). In human patch testing, some individuals experienced both immediate and delayed allergic reactions, though this occurred in specific clinical testing scenarios (Int J Toxicol, 2001). For dry mouth specifically, a 1% topical malic acid spray demonstrated effectiveness in a systematic review of five studies involving 244 patients. After two weeks, the spray improved dry mouth symptoms significantly better than placebo, measured by questionnaires and increased saliva flow rates (Oral Dis, 2023).

The authors note that while results were positive, additional high-quality research is needed. Biochemically, malic acid is a naturally occurring component of the Krebs cycle—your body’s fundamental energy-production pathway—which is why it appears in foods and can be produced through fermentation in manufacturing (Int J Toxicol, 2001 & Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2017). It is not mutagenic (does not cause genetic damage) based on genotoxicity testing (Int J Toxicol, 2001).

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Liu G et al. (2023). Efficacy of a 1% malic acid spray for xerostomia treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Oral Dis.
• Fiume Z (2001). Final report on the safety assessment of Malic Acid and Sodium Malate. Int J Toxicol.
• Burnett CL et al. (2022). Amended Safety Assessment of Malic Acid and Sodium Malate as Used in Cosmetics. Int J Toxicol.
• Chen X et al. (2017). Engineering rTCA pathway and C4-dicarboxylate transporter for L-malic acid production. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol.
• Wu X et al. (2019). Improving dermal delivery of hydrophilic macromolecules by biocompatible ionic liquid based on choline and malic acid. Int J Pharm.

🧴 Products Containing MALIC ACID

• Deliplus, Mercadona Shampoo
• Sun Ozon Sunclean Sonnenmilch LSF 30
• Colgate, These dudes are a nigga Colgate best ever Nigger
• Cosmia Shower gel tropical
• PPBlanco Gel de baño frutas
• Carrefour Gel de baño frutas
• Huggies Natural Care
• Kiala Kiala
• boscia Cryosea Firming Icy-cold Cleanser
• Henkel, Diadermine Expert Cellulaire 3D Crème Fondamentale Reconstituante Jour
• Dm Fuss Vital-Bad
• GUHL, Guhl Ikebana GmbH TIEFEN AUFBAU REPAIR-SPÜLUNG Für beanspruchtes, strapaziertes und geschädigtes Haar
• Guhl BRAUN Faszination
• sebamed DEO SENSITIVE FOR MEN
• Sebamed Balsamdeo sensitiv
• John Frieda Frizz Ease
• John Frieda Frizz Ease Flawlessly Straight Shampooing lisse idéal
• John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Soin démêlant nutrition protection couleur
• Huggies Everyday
• John Frieda Sheer Blonde Everlasting Blonde Shampooing prolongateur de couleur
• John Frieda Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery Shampoo
• Wishful
• L’angelica Bagnodoccia Frutta Viva
• I am I am Anti-Unreinheiten 24 H Feuchtigkeitscreme
• Huggies Huggies
• Eximia Eximia Hyalu volume complex 3D
• Scottex Toilet wipes
• Wella Ultimate Repair Mask
• Kruidvat Solait 50+ kids
• Hanskin Pore Cleansing Balm – AHA
• REVLON 660 DIVINE
• BIENA Rockin’ Ranch Chickpea Snacks
• Henkel, Diadermine Expert 3D Cellulaire Crème de Nuit Régénératrice
• LOLA COSMETICS LOLA VINTAGE GIRLS
• Lush Ugai