Citric Acid – Let Us Get Personal
- Dec 7, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 9, 2025
Written by: Cassandra Wiley, Senior Level Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Scientists have made incredible discoveries over the centuries. These products are extremely useful and vital to our everyday lives. Carl Wilhelm Steele, a Swedish-German chemist, discovered citric acid in 1784. It is a naturally occurring substance in citrus fruits, and he isolated it from lemon juice. The production of citric acid is from fungus, specifically, Aspergillus niger, by sugar fermentation to meet production demands. Citric acid is an ingredient found in cosmetics, soaps, and other personal care products. It is known as 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid.
Source: File:Zitronensäure ‒ Citric acid.svg ‒ https://en.wikipedia.org
It comes in a form of a white powder and a liquid. It is soluble in water and solid at room temperature. Citric acid has countless benefits such as increasing the shelf life of products.
Production of Citric Acid from Aspergillus niger
In 1916, James Curry made this exciting discovery. He found that A. niger grew at a pH between 2 and 4. Citric acid production increased as the sugar concentration increased. There are scientists that used the fermentation of other fungi, like Penicillium glaucum, to produce citric acid. However, there were contamination issues and long fermentation times. With the production demands, a simpler process was necessary.
Citric Acid and Self-Care/Personal Care
Healthcare providers and health coaches oftentimes discuss self-care with their patients and clients. For a selection of people, self-care involves a spa visit or bringing the spa treatments to their home by using products that you find at a spa. There are self-care products that contain citric acid. You can also find citric acid present in personal care products such as toothpaste and deodorant.
Personal care has the same amount of importance as self-care if not more. When people look and smell good, they feel good. Cleanliness is next to godliness, they say. The health of your mouth affects the health of your entire body since the mouth starts the digestion process.
Face Masks and Skin Cleansers
People wear face masks daily as part of their job or for protection; however, these face masks refresh the skin. Citric acid helps to brighten the skin and unclog pores. This is especially useful for acne-prone skin. Skin prone to blemishes also may show signs of scarring; skin cleansers containing citric acid can help even the skin tone. Since citric acid is an antioxidant, it is also an ingredient in moisturizing masks to help soothe dry skin.
Soaps, Shampoos, and Bath Bombs
Currently, soapmaking is immensely popular; it is a relaxing hobby or a business. For others, it is for allergenic purposes. They want to use products that are safe to use for their family without the risk of an allergic reaction. Commercial soaps also contain citric acid. The citric acid promotes lathering. Citric acid is also a chelator, meaning that it treats hard water. It binds to the metals that are present and makes them soluble; therefore, this improves the effectiveness of soap and laundry detergent. Antibacterial hand washes also contain citric acid. This is a great alternative to hand sanitizers since they contain alcohol, which can be very drying for the hands.
For bath bombs, it enables the fizzing action when it reacts with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to release carbon dioxide. This is very relaxing to feel and watch. Homemade bath bombs are fun and easy to make for yourself and your kids. They contain the following ingredients: cornstarch, baking soda, an essential oil for fragrance, Epsom salt, a mold, food coloring, and of course, citric acid. When you evaluate the final product, be sure to use an adequate size container to avoid spillage.
For shampoos, citric acid helps remove coloring from the hair by lowering the pH of the shampoo and speeding up the bleaching process. It also promotes healthier hair and scalp. It stimulates the hair follicles and unclogs pores, which promotes hair growth. Citric acid also has antioxidant properties which reduce hair breakage and thinning.
Toothpaste and Mouthwash
Toothpaste containing citric acid help reduce the amount of tarter present on teeth. There are choices of “tartar-control” brands on the market. The purpose of citric acid in mouthwash is the adjust the pH balance of the product. Plague feeds on sugars and produces acids that can cause tooth decay if not addressed.
Household Cleaners
Citric acid makes a great household cleaner when mixed with warm water. This is simpler than buying a commercial household cleaner. It helps to break apart stains and acts as a bleaching agent to get rid of bacteria and fungi, specifically mold. In addition, it removes rust. Certain household cleaners are very caustic and can irritate the eyes, throat, and lungs and can lead to serious health issues like cancer and respiratory problems.
Tips when buying Citric Acid
Citric Acid is Kosher, non-GMO, and Vegan, which means that the purity is high. If you are evaluating this in the laboratory, a higher purity will mean little to no interference from impurities with the active ingredient. People that opt for a vegan or Kosher lifestyle opt for it in every area of their lives. Products that have not been genetically modified are healthier and better for your body.
Sustainability
With all the changes in the environment, businesses and consumers are talking about sustainability. The EPA considers citric acid safe to use. It breaks down quickly when it encounters naturally occurring organisms. There is evidence that citric acid is a useful product for self-care as well as personal care. It also occurs naturally. You either get it from citrus fruits or fermented sugar. Citric acid is a weak acid and soluble in water, which makes it safe to use in cosmetics and on the skin.
Today, there is a pleather of small wellness businesses that manufacture personal care and household products for those that prefer natural goods. The citric acid powder is food grade, Kosher, and certified by USP. It is also a best-seller. It is also available in a 50% solution. Please visit www.laballey.com for more information.
Learn more from Cassandra by visiting her website. Read more from Cassandra!
Cassandra Wiley, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Cassandra Wiley is a health coach and founder of Have Faith and Live Well with Chasadah LLC. She focuses primarily on chronic illnesses such as pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity. Her mission is to empower individuals to lose weight and teach a new healthier approach to food to live better lives. She was successful in reversing her pre-diabetes and high cholesterol diagnoses naturally. The weight loss was an added benefit. She has helped clients change their diets and “have faith” in themselves to meet their health and wellness goals.
