Citric Acid: what it is in skincare
⚡ Quick answer: A common acid that helps lightly exfoliate and is widely used to set a product's pH.
A common acid that helps lightly exfoliate and is widely used to set a product's pH.
What it does
Function: pH adjuster / exfoliant (AHA). Chemical exfoliants loosen dead surface cells for smoother, clearer-looking skin. K-beauty tends to favour low, gentle, gradual percentages.
Heads-up flags
- sensitive-skin-caution
How to spot it on a label
On a Korean product's INCI list, look for Citric Acid. Ingredients are listed high-to-low by amount, so its position hints at how much is in the formula. See all exfoliants (aha/bha/pha) →
Explore the full K-beauty hub →✍️ Written & reviewed by the KoreaPlus Editorial team — dermatologist-informed, cosmetic-science researched & source-cited. Last reviewed 2026-06-21.
General educational information using cosmetic structure-function wording — not medical advice. Always patch-test new actives. © KoreaPlus.