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Tris Citrate

What Tris Citrate is & what it does

Tris Citrate is a salt formed from tris (tromethamine) and citric acid, used as a buffering and chelating component in cosmetic formulas. In skincare and sunscreen products it helps keep the pH stable and can bind trace metal ions that might otherwise affect color or stability. It is a supporting ingredient rather than an active.

What does Tris Citrate do in skincare?

Tris Citrate is used as a buffering and chelating ingredient in cosmetic formulas. It helps keep a product's pH stable and can bind trace metal ions that might otherwise affect color or stability. It is a supporting ingredient that works in the background rather than an active.

Is Tris Citrate safe?

Tris Citrate is used in small amounts as a pH buffer and stabilizer and is generally considered well tolerated at cosmetic levels. It is a salt of tromethamine and citric acid that mainly supports the formula's stability. As with any product, sensitive users can patch test before regular use.

Is Tris Citrate natural or synthetic?

Tris Citrate is generally considered a synthetic ingredient, produced by combining tromethamine with citric acid. While citric acid can be derived from fermentation, the finished salt is made through chemical processing. It is a standard, lab-made buffering and chelating aid.

Sunscreens with Tris Citrate

We rate 19 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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