What is Citric acid ? Its sources and its benefits

We all have heard about citric acid and it is not new to anyone that it's applied to face too. This acid is commonly found in citric fruits like lime or lemons and that is why it has that sour taste to it. Citric acid is found in many others things like supplements, cleaning products, and even in some foods.

There is a reason that this wonderful acid is used in many products, especially skin products. This single acid has the power to exfoliate the skin and also improve the skin tone. But not many people know about its wonderful effects and today you are going to learn how you can add this to your skin care regimen.

What type of Acid is Citric Acid?

The first time that Citric acid was discovered was in the year 1784 by Swedish Researchers and is found in lemon juice. It is included in the member of exfoliating alpha hydroxy acid and it is found in fruits like oranges and lemons.

Because of its sour taste and acidic, it is used in many preserving agents and for flavoring as well, especially in soft drinks. Not only that it is used as a stabilizer and preserver for medicine also.

Why Citric acid is so famous for treating Skin Problem

Citric acid is one of the famous skin care products as it is well known for eliminating skin issues. The first thing to note is that it is effective for all skin types and can be used by any age group people. It is effective in exfoliating the skin, opening clogged pores, and removing age spots as well as blemishes.

One of the best ways is to use Citric Acid Powder which is more effective in removing dry patches as well as blackheads. It aids in repairing sun-damaged skin and bringing it back to health. Along with that citric acid is filled with many other antioxidants helping the skin to brighten up.

What are the Sources of Citric Acid?

Citric Acid In Lemon

One of the main sources of Citric acid is Lemon and Line juice both of them are concentrated with high citric acid. According to the studies and research in the year 2009 said that lemon juice or lime juice has a high concentration compared to any other citric-based juice.

itrus fruits have enough citric acid needed by the body as said by the International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences in the year 2015. Some of the common fruits that consist of citric acid are oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, and lines while there are many other fruits including:

Pomelos

Strawberries

Pineapple

Raspberry

Cherries

Tangerines

Tomatoes

Oranges

What are the benefits of Citric acid?

Citric acid has quite a lot of benefits and is easily available in the market as well as from our nature. Here are the advantages that your skiing can from Citrus acid includes.

Helping in Minimizing Fine Lines

Citric Acid Uses

Citric acid is quite useful for fine lines as the person starts to age the natural elastin as well as collagen starts to break down. That is why the skin does not feel bouncy as it used to be and this results in wrinkles as well as fine lines.

It is commonly seen around the forehead as well as around the eyes. Citric acid helps in the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans and it is the type of carbohydrate which is effective in hydrating the cells. This makes the skin thick and preventing from any kind of aging signs.

Maintaining Skin Tone

Citric Acid

Manufacturers usually add alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) to their skin products and AHA is the common form of citric acid. AHAs are helpful in removing the top layer which helps in revealing the layer under it.

With the aid of citric acid, anyone who has scars, dark spots, or hyperpigmentation can heal them with ease. Dark spots are caused due to the high production of melanin while cars are formed due to collagen fiber.

Everyone has a different texture of the skin and when you apply citric acid to the skin they peel it away in small layers. This makes it useful in removing the scats as well as hyperpigmentation and helping in achieving an even skin tone.

Brightening the Skin

Citric acid is well known for exfoliating the skin and removing the dead cells present on the skin. Many studies have shown that citric acid helps in protecting the skin and also DNA breakage caused due to external environment.

When citric acid is applied at a low concentration it helps in fighting the bad effects of the oxygen species resulting in skin aging and inflammation. Using citrus-based skin care products can be really helpful.

Soothing Acne

Skin that is prone to acne can have a really good effect with the help of citric acid. Chemicals packed in skin peels are really aggressive and can lead to breakouts.

They can take away that essential oil important for the skin and reduce the moisture level of the skin. Citric acid is wonderful for the skin and mixing it with water and milk could be very great for the skin.

Unclogging the Pores

Citric Acid Structure

Skin pores can easily get clogged through bacteria or through dirt present in the environment. These clogged pores can cause breakouts and most skin products are filled with harsh exfoliants. These exfoliate just scrape out the skin pores while citric acid is gentle on the skin and gently removes the dead skin.

Maintaining the pH level of the Skin

Citric acid is used to balance the skin care products which will help to maintain their alkalinity. The pH levels of this skin are mildly acidic ranging between 4 to 6 pH. While using skin products that are highly acidic can result in a burning sensation.

Rich in Antioxidants

The skin barrier is protected by antioxidants present in Citric acid as a result of everyday exposure to environmental contaminants. It helps in protecting the skin against toxins, pollution, and other things as well which could lead to early signs of aging.

As research shows that Citric acid can help in fighting free radicals which are harmful to the skin.

How to Use Citric acid as your Skin Care Routine?

Citric acid is simply a chemical exfoliator that helps in unclogging the pores and has great effects on the skin. Let's discuss citric acid and how to apply it on the daily basis.

Face Scrub:- Citric acid is available in the form of scrub and helps in naturally unclogging the pores. It improves the brightness of the skin and helps to lessen the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Lotions and Moisturizer:- Using citric acid-filled lotions or moisturizers can help in reducing the appearance of blemishes and along with hydrating the skin. Along with that, it makes skin glowy, beautiful, and youthful.

Toner:- Citric acid toner is beneficial for all skin types and it helps in brightening the skin and reducing those dark spots. It helps in removing those dead cells from the skin and making the skin brighter.

Serums:- Serums filled with Citric acid are useful as it helps in clearing the pores, removing skin cells, and providing the needed hydration to it. Daily application of serum will help the skin to appear more healthy and beautiful as well.

Take Aways

Citric acid is one of the natural ingredients present naturally in our hair as well as our skin. It is organic and naturally available which can easily treat wrinkles, dark spots, and even fine lines as well. A sedentary lifestyle and pollution from the environment are affecting our skin and Citric acid is one of the easy ways to protect the skin. There are many ways that you can add it to your skincare routine and above mentioned is one of them.