Cosmetic ingredients: What effect does malic acid have on the skin?

Some people may not be familiar with the cosmetic ingredient malic acid. However, it is often included in the following cosmetics.

• Acne Skin Care
• Anti-aging cosmetics
• shampoo
• Body Lotion
• Nail care products

Malic acid is a type of fruit acid known as an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) .

AHAs prevent skin cells from sticking together, encouraging the keratin to peel off. In other words, they have a peeling effect. This is why they are said to be effective in brightening dull skin and treating acne.

Benefits of Malic Acid on Skin

Specifically, malic acid is said to have the following effects:

• Moisturizing the skin
• Removal of dead skin cells
• Smoothes the skin
• Tone Up
• Reduces wrinkles

It brightens the skin and improves the texture. It is also effective against blemishes and wrinkles, so it is often included in anti-aging creams.

The relationship between skin and stress

A study published in 2014 showed that chronic stress can affect the condition of the skin. It was shown that severe stress can have a negative effect on the skin, including eczema, acne, and accelerated aging.

Of course, to improve rough skin, it is important to eliminate stress , which is the root cause. However, when that is difficult, skin care using malic acid may be an effective solution.

Does malic acid increase the moisturizing effect of hyaluronic acid?

Malic acid isn't a moisturizing ingredient on its own, but it may help skin retain moisture: A 2020 study suggests that malic acid improves the penetration of hyaluronic acid into the skin.

Hyaluronic acid is a substance that retains moisture in the skin. By promoting its penetration, it increases the amount of moisture in the skin and prevents it from evaporating. If you use it in combination with malic acid, it may be possible that the function of hyaluronic acid will be more effective.

Anti-aging effect by improving turnover

AHA fruit acids, including malic acid, promote skin turnover. This means that skin cells are regenerated more quickly. If your skin's turnover is disrupted due to aging, taking in malic acid may improve your skin in the following ways:

• Reduction of fine lines
• Even out skin tones
• Improves skin texture
• Reduces dark spots

If you read this far, malic acid seems like a pretty interesting ingredient.

However, there is one thing I would like to point out here.
That means that AHAs such as malic acid can be too strong for people with dry or sensitive skin , and can cause redness and irritation, so you need to be careful.

Malic acid produces collagen

A 1998 study showed that high concentrations of malic acid can help form new collagen.

Collagen is a protein that helps create and repair cells. It is an important tissue that gives skin firmness and flexibility and prevents sagging.

However, collagen production slows down with age. This decrease in collagen is one of the reasons why skin loses elasticity and firmness with age. This is why taking in malic acid can help firm your skin.

Acne prevention

Malic acid also has the effect of removing dead skin cells that have built up on the skin.

When old dead skin cells and sebum get clogged in the pores, they become blackheads. An imbalance in the bacteria and mites present on the skin can also cause acne and breakouts.

Malic acid breaks down the "glue" that holds dead skin cells together on the surface of the skin, causing the dead skin cells to fall off. Removing the dead skin cells removes dullness and clogged pores. As a result, acne is less likely to develop and you no longer have to worry about rough skin.

However, exfoliating too much can dry out your skin, so it's best to limit your use of malic acid face washes and peels to 2-3 times a week, rather than daily.

Things to keep in mind when using malic acid in your skin care routine

Malic acid is expected to have various effects on the skin, but there are some things you should be careful of when incorporating it into your skin care routine.

Malic acid is said to be less irritating to the skin than other AHAs. However, there have been some reported cases of the following symptoms:

• Redness
• Itching and tingling
• Swelling and skin feeling hot

It cannot be denied that it may also make the skin more susceptible to the effects of ultraviolet rays. These side effects are particularly likely to occur around the eyes or when used in high concentrations for long periods of time.

Special care for sensitive and dry skin

As mentioned above, malic acid has the effect of promoting skin turnover. However, people with sensitive or dry skin already have a faster-than-normal skin turnover rate. Taking in AHAs such as malic acid in this situation will promote excessive turnover.
This can lead to a vicious cycle of healthy skin peeling off before it can form, which can lead to further dryness. If you feel that your skin is sensitive, you may want to be careful when using it.