Tartaric acid (Aha Fruit Acid)
AKA “3-Dihydroxybutanedioic acid, GlyTouCan:G35198MQ, DL-Tartaric acid, Racemic acid, Uvic acid”
Acid
Ingredient Facts
Tartaric acid (Aha Fruit Acid)
AKA: 3-Dihydroxybutanedioic acid, GlyTouCan:G35198MQ, DL-Tartaric acid, Racemic acid, Uvic acid
Acid · Buffer · EWG: 4
Plant-Derived
Fragrance
Chemical Exfoliant
Acid
Clean
A natural fruit acid that gently exfoliates to brighten and smooth skin texture while balancing product pH.
Plant Part
Fruit
CAS #
133-37-9 / 147-71-7 / 87-69-4
Form
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Buffer
Fragrance
Added for scent. Can be natural or synthetic. Common irritant and allergen — one of the top reasons people react to products.
Buffering
Antioxidant
Protects skin from free radical damage caused by UV, pollution, and stress
Anti-Inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Maintains optimal pH
Traditional Use
Occurs naturally in grapes and tamarinds, known since ancient times. First isolated in pure form in the 17th century; its use in skincare as an exfoliating alpha hydroxy acid became popular in the 1990s after scientific studies on chemical peels.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Uneven Texture
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
Tartaric Acid [AHA Fruit Acid]
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
The effects of L-tartaric acid on diabetic cataracts thro...
Shengyu Wang, Li Meng, Hengmin Yang
BMC ophthalmology, 2025
The effects of L-tartaric acid on diabetic cataracts thro...
Shengyu Wang, Li Meng, Hengmin Yang
BMC ophthalmology, 2025
Verified Feb 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR