Citric Acid: What to Know

What I’ve learned:

➡️ not a black and white ingredient

➡️ sourcing matters A LOT

➡️ I’m more cautious with conventional / mass‑produced products

Quick overview.... full breakdown below ⬇️

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The thing about citric acid is that it is not a black and white ingredient when looking at a label.

Sure, it’s a little more black and white if you’re looking at a product from a conventionally mass‑produced brand BUT there are some companies that do go out of their way to use higher quality citric acid.

The Negative side in a nutshell: 

  • it’s derived by mold
  • It shows up in a lot of mass‑produced products

This is the citric acid you DO want to avoid

➡️ You can always reach out to a company and ask what their citric acid is derived from, but I would assume most larger, conventional companies are using this method.

The Positives side: 

  • some brands are more intentional and use citric acid sourced from non‑GMO cassava or actual citrus fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges

Again, this usually isn’t listed clearly on the label, so you have to dig a little: Check their FAQ’s or just reach out and ask

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I also broke this down over on Instagram if you want to see it visually HERE

If you’ve been going down the ingredient rabbit hole like I did, I’ve broken down a few others too.

Dimethicone → HERE
Fluoride → HERE
Hi, I’m Destiny. 

I break down ingredients and share low-tox swaps in a simple, no-overwhelm way. I personally check every ingredient list before I share anything, so you can feel confident in what you’re choosing. Mom of 3, so I keep things realistic.

If you want to see what I use and recommend, you can browse my Top Picks here →