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Phosphoric Acid

What Phosphoric Acid is & what it does

Phosphoric Acid is a mineral acid used in cosmetics chiefly as a pH adjuster. In skincare and sunscreen formulas it is added in small amounts to lower and fine-tune the pH of a product so it falls within the target range needed for stability and skin compatibility. It is a processing aid rather than an active ingredient, present only at trace levels in the finished formula.

What does Phosphoric Acid do in skincare?

Phosphoric Acid is used in skincare and sunscreen products mainly as a pH adjuster. It is added in small amounts to lower and fine-tune a formula's pH into the target range needed for stability and skin compatibility. It acts as a processing aid rather than an active ingredient.

Is Phosphoric Acid safe?

In cosmetics, phosphoric acid is used at trace levels and is neutralized within the formula to reach a skin-friendly final pH, so the finished product is not strongly acidic. While concentrated phosphoric acid is corrosive, the small buffering amounts in cosmetics are considered safe for that purpose. The relevant factor is the finished product's overall pH.

Is Phosphoric Acid natural or synthetic?

Phosphoric Acid is a mineral acid that is produced industrially for cosmetic and food use. It is generally classed as a synthetic or mineral-derived ingredient rather than a botanical one. In products it serves only as a small-amount pH adjuster.

Sunscreens with Phosphoric Acid

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

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