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A powerhouse ingredient for smoother skin.

Iryna Veklich/Getty Images

Citric acid gets nowhere near the accolades it deserves.

serum surrounded by orange slices on a yellow background

Photo:Iryna Veklich/Getty Images

Read on to find out.

What Is Citric Acid?

Citric acid is naturally found in citric fruits such as lemons, grapefruits, limes, and oranges.

In higher concentrations, however, it is used as an exfoliant.

Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, bisabolol, and allantoin.

Citric Acid Side Effects

Citric acid, although considered gentle, is still an acid.

That means that it has the potential to cause or worsen skin irritation.

According to Dr. Graf, other factors include the concentration used and the pH of the product.

It should never be applied to skin which is broken or irritated, warns Dr. Graf.

Twice a week is plenty to reap the benefits of a chemical peel, says Dr. Yadav.

Best Skin Care Products With Citric Acid

1.Dr.

The citric acid paired with the antioxidants leaves the skin bouncy with a healthy-looking glow.

4.Face Reality Skincare Antioxidant Scrub

Hernandez recommends the Antioxidant Scrub from Face Reality to her clients.

Because this has a bunch of acids in it, you definitely will want to apply sunscreen after use.

7.Murad Essential-C Toner

You should expect brightened, glowing skin after using this pick from Murad regularly.