6 Key Benefits of Malic Acid for Skin Care

The name malic acid hardly sounds like a chemical you would like to add to your skincare routine, but malic acid has the potential to improve skin texture and appearance. Personal care chemical supplier Bell Chem ensures malic acid is on hand to ship to you today.

As its backstory, malic acid’s name is derived from the Latin word malum, or “apple.” It’s the tart flavor imparted when you crunch into a juicy apple or drink a slightly acidic wine. Malic acid is a member of the alpha hydroxy-acid (AHA) family, which is renowned for its exfoliation ability.

Exfoliation

As an AHA, malic acid breaks the connection between cells on the epidermis. This relaxation between dead skin cells and their living neighbors stimulates exfoliation. As the dead skin cells flake away, newer – and more radiant – skin shines through.

Acne prevention

Acne is caused by the blockage of dead skin cells inside the skin’s pores. As the pores fill with sebum, the sebum is not able to be naturally released. This causes blackheads and bacterial infections, which can exacerbate breakouts. The exfoliating function of malic acid lifts away the dead skin cells and releases the underlying sebum so it can properly protect the epidermis.

As a humectant

Malic acid has the ability to attract water from deeper layers of the body’s skin or directly from the atmosphere. As water is drawn toward the epidermis, the overall feeling of dryness disappears and the skin feels rejuvenated.

Patients diagnosed with eczema or other skin disorders may find malic acid a simple treatment, not only because it is a humectant, but also because it retains moisture within the skin. This leads to less itchy and irritated skin.

pH balance

Many chemicals used in cosmetics only react under specific pH controls. If the product is too basic, the addition of malic acid balances the compound to allow the chemicals to react properly

Collagen rejuvenation

Dr. Annie Chiu, founder of the Derm Institute in California, states that higher concentrations of malic acid penetrate the dermis and stimulate collagen production. This vital protein is responsible for the creation and repair of cells, including skin cells. As the body ages, the amount of collagen decreases. Adding malic acid to the skin routine can strengthen skin texture, removing fine lines and wrinkles.

Gentle enough for all skin types

Although it is an acid, malic acid is so gentle almost any skin type can safely utilize it. The molecular size of malic acid is larger than other AHAs, which means it is less likely to penetrate deeply beneath the surface.

Bell Chem is your personal care chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including malic acid. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

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Malic Acid and its Potential Benefits

Malic acid may be, as the name applies, acidic as well as sour, but these properties add to its charm. With benefits ranging from skin care to dry mouth assistance, your USP ingredient supplier Bell Chem knows this ingredient should be a staple in your business.

Cosmetics

Malic acid works wonders on your complexion as it sloughs away dead skin cells on the surface of the epidermis by breaking the bonds between cells. This makes it ideal for many individuals who suffer with acne or older folks who wish to revitalize their skin. Your cells are built and maintained by the protein collagen, which gives skin more support and flexibility. As we age, collagen is not as abundant, which causes wrinkles and loss of elasticity. Malic acid stimulates collagen production.

It has also shown to help those with skin disorders. Melasma is a disorder characterized by areas of more darkly pigmented skin. A 2013 study determined repeated applications of vitamin C and malic acid lightened areas of melasma as long as the regimen lasted. However, the benefits go beyond anti-aging and skin healing properties. Malic acid is often an ingredient in shampoos, nail treatments, and lotions since it acts as a humectant by keeping skin, nails, and hair hydrated and supple.

Medicine

Medical professionals often prescribe malic acid as a spray or lozenge since its pungent flavor activates taste buds, causing salivation in those patients who suffer from dry mouth. For patients with a propensity to kidney stones, malic acid is often prescribed since it is the precursor to citrate, which may prevent the formation and growth of kidney stones as it increases the pH of urine. Malic acid also catalyzes important minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. When the mineral and malic acid are attached, the mineral is more easily absorbed.

Energy levels may also be improved with the addition of malic acid in the diet, since it is a key component in the Krebs cycle, a body process that creates energy. Athletes likewise benefit from malic acid as they train since it increases energy endurance levels. Creatine, long associated with elite athletic training, is more quickly absorbed by the body’s tissues when taken with malic acid. A 2015 study noted sprinters taking the malic acid/creatine supplements had increased peak power, body composition, growth hormone levels, and total work while long distance runners increased overall distance run.

Foods and Beverages

The tangy kick of malic acid is frequently used as a food flavoring, especially in extremely sour candies. As an acid, malic acid prevents the oxidation of foods, maintaining their fresh appearance longer. Malic acid’s acidity also proves to be antimicrobial. Both these factors increase the shelf life of products.

The secret ingredient in low-calorie beverages is malic acid since the intense fruity flavor stimulates the brain into believing the drink is sweeter than it truly is. In fact, 51% of all malic acid used industry wide is in beverages.

Bell Chem is a sanitation chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including malic acid. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

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Benefits of Using Malic Acid in Food Production

Bite into a tart apple, and the flavor you perceive is most likely malic acid. As a matter of fact, chemist Antoine Lavoisier named this product acide malique — malique being the French derivation of Latin’s “malum” (apple) — because of its similarity to a sour apple flavor. This organic, dicarboxylic acid with molecular formula C4H6O5 is created by all living organisms and presents as a white, crystalline grain or powder when processed.

Advantages Over Other Acids

Bell Chem, your industrial chemical supplier, stocks malic acid as an ingredient in foods and beverages, where it is renowned not only for its lingering sour or tart flavor, but also as an acid, a pH controller, and a preservative. When compared to other organic acids, malic acid proves to have myriad advantages. Here are a few:

The melting point is lower to incorporate high-temperature confections, which defers the addition of water. In many foods, excess water increases the moisture level, leading to a contracted shelf life.
The sour tanginess increases at lower pH levels. Acidic foods with malic acid will have a more pungent tang.
It dissolves more rapidly, making it highly prized in powdered mixes.
The solubility of products containing malic acid increases.
Colors in foods and beverages are more uniform when malic acid is an ingredient.
Metal ions easily chelate with malic acid, removing them from foods and beverages.

Taste Advantages

Much like salt, malic acid intensifies flavor, which manufacturers find advantageous since it means fewer flavorings are necessary. This also leads to its addition to low-calorie products since less sugar is necessary for the same taste. Malic acid also melds different flavors within one product to create a more rounded taste experience; this leads to its inclusion into savory products such as spicy foods, cheeses, and coatings for snack crackers and chips. While some confections or salty snacks leave an overly memorable aftertaste, malic acid masks that flavor for a more pleasant experience.

Working with Other Acids

In sour candies and gums, many acids work together to increase the longevity of flavor. Initially, citric acid is enjoyed as a sour flavor before malic acid makes its appearance to continue where citric acid ended. Finally, fumaric acid sustains the tart flavor. Blending multiple acids known for their tart flavors allows for a pleasant, long-lasting taste experience.

Foods that Contain Malic Acid

Malic acid abounds in a wide variety of foods and beverages, including carbonated beverages, canned and fresh fruits and vegetables, jams and jellies, dairy products, fruit and sports drinks, sweeteners, oils and oil emulsions, meat and fish, cereal, egg products, and packaged foods and desserts.

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Malic Acid and Its Many Uses

Malic acid, an organic compound made by all living organisms as part of the citric acid cycle, is crystalline in structure, water soluble, and colorless. Malic acid was first isolated from apple juice in 1785 by Carl Wilhelm Scheele, a Swedish chemist. This chemical gets its name from this event, as the Latin word for apple is malum. Malic acid plays an important role in giving foods, specifically fruits, their pleasant sour taste. Malic acid is commonly used as a food additive in foods like potato chips and candy. Instead of using citric acid to create the sour taste, candies that require a more intense sour flavor use malic acid. Salt and vinegar flavored chips use malic acid to produce that appealing tart taste.

One of the major health benefits that malic acid offers the human body is that it boosts your metabolism and the ability for your body to produce energy. Without sufficient levels of malic acid in your body, you would age quicker because your body loses its ability to produce energy efficiently. This chemical also helps muscle soreness and prevents muscle fatigue. For this reason, malic acid is used to treat the intense muscle pain caused by fibromyalgia.

In addition, malic acid is found in many hygiene and skin care products. In mouthwash, this chemical aids in dental hygiene by acting as an oral antiseptic and encouraging saliva production. When applied to skin, malic acid tightens pores, reduces wrinkles, and evens tone.

As a leading chemical supply company in Orlando, Bell Chem offers fast delivery of hundreds of chemical products including many food and reagent-grade products like malic acid. With an abundance of world-class seaports within just a few short hours, our Orlando chemical supply company is positioned as the “go to” supplier on a national, as well as international level. Give us a call today at 407-339-BELL (2355) to place an order!