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Acetic Acid

What Acetic Acid is & what it does

Acetic Acid is a simple organic acid, the same compound that gives vinegar its characteristic smell and sourness. In cosmetic formulas it is used mainly as a pH adjuster and buffering agent, helping keep the product within a target acidity range. It can also serve as a mild antimicrobial and fragrance component, and it is typically present in small concentrations.

What does Acetic Acid do in skincare?

In skincare, Acetic Acid is used mainly as a pH adjuster and buffering agent, helping to keep a product at its intended acidity. It is the acid found in vinegar and can also act as a mild antimicrobial. It is typically present in small amounts to fine-tune the formula rather than as an active ingredient.

Is Acetic Acid safe?

Acetic Acid is a common, well-studied ingredient used at low concentrations in cosmetics, most often to adjust pH. At the levels used in finished products it is generally considered safe for topical use. Concentrated acetic acid is irritating, but the diluted amounts in cosmetic formulas are very different from undiluted acid.

Is Acetic Acid natural or synthetic?

Acetic Acid occurs naturally, for example as the acid in vinegar produced by fermentation, but it is also manufactured synthetically for industrial and cosmetic use. The molecule is identical regardless of source. The form used in a given product depends on the manufacturer.

Sunscreens with Acetic Acid

We rate 11 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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