Malic Acid
AKA “
E296
”
🦆
❤️
👻
Ingredient Facts
Malic acid
AKA: E296
Botanical-Derived Synthetic · Humectant · EWG: 4
WHAT IS IT?
Plant-Derived Synthetic
Humectant
Exfoliant
Skin Conditioner
Clean
Derived from apples, malic acid gently balances the pH of skincare formulas to keep them stable and effective on skin.
Formula
C4H6O5
Mol. Weight
134.09
CAS #
97-67-6
See origin →
WHAT'S IT DO?
Functions
pH Adjuster
Exfoliating
Removes dead skin cells so fresh ones can come through. Chemical exfoliants (acids) are generally gentler than physical scrubs.
Humectant
A moisture magnet. Pulls water from the air and deeper skin layers up to the surface to keep skin plump and hydrated.
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Buffering
Provides scent
Maintains optimal pH
Traditional Use
This is a quality assurance notation indicating compliance with Food Chemicals Codex standards, not an ingredient.
Skin Types
●
all-skin-types
Best For
General
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
IS IT SAFE?
EWG
4
CIR
Insufficient
Pregnancy
—
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
ewg-4
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USA
under review
CANADA
✔ permitted
Regulatory Agencies
EWG
CIR
FDA
Health Canada
WHAT'S IT IN?
(8)
Double Polishing Peel
Alpyn Beauty
→
The Radiance Ritual
Alpyn Beauty
→
Squalane Facial Oil Home & Travel Duo
Indie Lee
→
Daily Acid Toner
Josh Rosebrook
→
Black Tulip Facial Treatment
Bloom Effects
→
Royal Tulip Cleansing Jelly
Bloom Effects
→
Botanical Boosting Oil
Indie Lee
→
The Necessary Eyeshadow Palette
ILIA Beauty
→
WHAT'S THE PROOF?
Amended Safety Assessment of Malic Acid and Sodium Malate as Used in Cosmetics.
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2022
→
Amended Safety Assessment of Malic Acid and Sodium Malate as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Malic Acid and Sodium Malate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Malic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Malic Acid [Fruit Acid]
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Malic Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Verified Feb 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR