Is MALIC ACID safe to use in EU cosmetics?

MALIC ACID is listed in the EU CosIng ingredient inventory with no direct annex restriction records linked at this time. Always verify against the current official CosIng database before formulating.

What other records share CAS 97-67-6?

CAS 97-67-6 may appear across multiple EU annex records. The CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.

How do I check if my formula contains MALIC ACID?

Use the INCI Checker to screen a full ingredient list across selected markets, or use the substance market comparison to review this identity across all supported market datasets.

InventoryRef 3513615/10/2010

MALIC ACID

Butenedioic acid, hydroxy-, (2S)-

MALIC ACID is listed in the EU CosIng inventory, but no direct annex records are linked on this page yet.

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Regulatory evidence by market

No rule for this ingredient has been imported for any of the 13 markets tracked here.

That describes this inventory, not the law. No imported rule is not evidence that an ingredient is permitted: a rule may exist under another name or identifier, or in a dataset not yet imported here.

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Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 97-67-6

CAS 97-67-6PubChem CID 222656

L-Malic Acid

(S)-malic acid is an optically active form of malic acid having (S)-configuration. It has a role as a geroprotector. It is a conjugate acid of a (S)-malate(2-). It is an enantiomer of a (R)-malic acid. — ChEBI

IUPAC name: (2S)-2-hydroxybutanedioic acid

Molecular formula: C4H6O5
Molecular weight: 134.09 g/mol
Exact mass: 134.02152329 Da
XLogP3: -1.3
Topological polar surface area: 94.8 Å²
Hydrogen-bond donors: 3
Hydrogen-bond acceptors: 5
Covalent units: 1
Defined stereocentres: 1

Also known as

(-)-Malic acid(-)-Hydroxysuccinic acidS-(-)-Malic acidMalic acid, L-Malic acid L-(-)-formHydroxysuccinnic acid (-)Butanedioic acid, 2-hydroxy-, (2S)-Hydroxybutanedioic acid, (S)-

16 more reported names

J3TZF807X5NSC92322-Hydroxybutanedioic acid, (S)-NSC 9232EINECS 202-601-5L-MALIC ACID [FHFI]L-MALIC ACID [WHO-DD]MALIC ACID L-(-)-FORM [MI]MALIC ACID, L-(II)MALIC ACID, L-[II]RefChem:796817(-)-Hydroxybutanedioic Acidhydron;(2S)-2-hydroxybutanedioate202-601-5L-(-)-Malic acid(S)-2-hydroxysuccinic acid

Open full PubChem record PubChem annotations 3D structure image

External database identifiers

ChEBI:CHEBI:30797
ChEMBL:CHEMBL1234046
EPA DTXSID:DTXSID30273987
PubMed:22762370
PubMed:22569531
PubMed:22563326
PubMed:22394308
PubMed:20975839
PubMed:20003296
PubMed:19653890
PubMed:19555779
PubMed:18081344
PubMed:17910757
PubMed:17764195
PubMed:17349037

Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-08-31 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.

Inventory details for MALIC ACID

INCI name

MALIC ACID

Description

Butenedioic acid, hydroxy-, (2S)-

Record provenance

Inventory reference: 35136
Imported identity: MALIC ACID
Source update: 15/10/2010

European Commission CosIng source notes

Annex records for MALIC ACID

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Key data

CAS

97-67-6

202-601-5

Restriction

—

Function

BUFFERING: Stabilising the pH of an aqueous medium in a narrow range even if an acid or base is added. Altering and/or maintaining a cosmetic product's pH at the desired level.

Official EU ingredient-name evidence

The ingredient name exactly matches the official 2025 EU glossary of common ingredient names.

#15878 · MALIC ACID

Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions

MAGNESIUM HYDROXIDEABSORBENT, BUFFERING

MAGNESIUM LACTATEBUFFERING, KERATOLYTIC, SKIN CONDITIONING

MAGNESIUM OXIDEABSORBENT, BUFFERING, OPACIFYING

MALEIC ACIDBUFFERING

MALONIC ACIDBUFFERING

MALTOBIONIC ACIDBUFFERING

MEA-BORATEBUFFERING

METAPHOSPHORIC ACIDBUFFERING, CHELATING

Additional official and scientific sources

11 external databases to check this identity in

Each link searches that source for this identity. What each source is, and its legal weight

ECHA CHEM / Information on chemicals PubChem PUG REST EU Safety Gate cosmetic product alerts ECHA CHEM US EPA CompTox Cosmetic Ingredient Review safety assessments FDA Global Substance Registration System ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards Japan NITE-CHRIP NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards OECD eChemPortal

How MALIC ACID appears in the CosIng inventory

The CosIng inventory lists MALIC ACID as a cosmetic ingredient and this page links it to 0 annex records. The inventory entry captures names and identifiers, while the annex records show where the substance is prohibited, restricted or positively listed in EU cosmetics law.

MALIC ACID is also tagged with 1 cosmetic function in the official data. Function labels describe intended use, but they do not replace regulatory review of linked annex records before formulation or labelling work.

Frequently asked questions

MALIC ACID is listed in the EU CosIng ingredient inventory with no direct annex restriction records linked at this time. Absence of an annex link does not guarantee unrestricted use — always verify against the current official CosIng database before formulating.

According to the EU CosIng inventory, MALIC ACID carries the following function designation(s):

BUFFERING

CAS 97-67-6 may appear across multiple EU annex records. Viewing the CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, which is useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.

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Source note for MALIC ACID

This page reproduces the CosIng inventory entry for MALIC ACID from public European Commission cosmetic ingredient materials and shows linked identifiers even when no direct annex match is currently attached.

Use this inventory page to research MALIC ACID and compare linked records, but verify restrictions and legal status against the current official source text and law before making regulatory decisions.

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Tools & next steps

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