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Tributyl Citrate
AKA “77-94-1, Butyl citrate, tributyl 2-hydroxypropane-1, 2, 3-tricarboxylate, Tri-n-butyl citrate, Citroflex 4, Citric acid, tributyl ester, 1, 3-Propanetricarboxylic acid, 2-hydroxy-, Citric Acid Tributyl Ester, Morflex tbc”
Ingredient
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Ingredient Facts
Tributyl citrate
AKA: 77-94-1, Tributyl 2-hydroxypropane-1, 2, 3-tricarboxylate, Tri-n-butyl citrate, Citroflex 4, Citric acid, Tributyl ester, 1, 3-Propanetricarboxylic acid, 2-hydroxy-, Citric Acid Tributyl Ester, Morflex tbc
Ingredient · Film Forming · EWG: 1
Synthetic
Occlusive
Solvent
Chemical Exfoliant
Clean
Tributyl citrate has been reported in Artemisia baldshuanica, Lonicera caerulea, and Calophyllum inophyllum with data available.
Formula
C18H32O7
Mol. Weight
360.40
CAS #
77-94-1
Form
Liquid
State
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Film Forming
Creates a physical seal on skin to lock moisture in and keep irritants out. The "slugging" ingredient — barrier protection.
Plasticiser
Solvent
Dissolves other ingredients so they distribute evenly in the formula. Often the invisible "base" everything else is mixed into.
Antioxidant
Anti-Inflammatory
Creates protective layer
Adds flexibility
Dissolves other ingredients
Traditional Use
Developed as a synthetic plasticizer and solvent in the 20th century. Adopted by the cosmetics industry as a humectant and texture enhancer, particularly in nail polishes and fragrances.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
1
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU⚠ restricted
JAPAN⚠ restricted
CANADA⚠ restricted
Citric acid from Aspergillus niger: a comprehensive overv...
Bikash Chandra Behera
Critical reviews in microbiology, 2020
→
Citric acid from Aspergillus niger: a comprehensive overv...
Bikash Chandra Behera
Critical reviews in microbiology, 2020
→
Citric acid from Aspergillus niger: a comprehensive overv...
Bikash Chandra Behera
Critical reviews in microbiology, 2020
→
Citric acid from Aspergillus niger: a comprehensive overview.
Behera BC
Critical reviews in microbiology, 2020
→
Citric acid from Aspergillus niger: a comprehensive overview.
Behera BC
Critical reviews in microbiology, 2020
→
Citric acid from Aspergillus niger: a comprehensive overview.
Behera BC
Critical reviews in microbiology, 2020
→
Citric acid from Aspergillus niger: a comprehensive overview.
Behera BC
Critical reviews in microbiology, 2020
→
Citric acid from Aspergillus niger: a comprehensive overview.
Behera BC
Critical reviews in microbiology, 2020
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Acetyl Triethyl Citrate, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Acetyl Trihexyl Citrate, and Acetyl Trioctyl Citrate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Safety Assessment of Citric Acid, Inorganic Citrate Salts, and Alkyl Citrate Esters as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Acetyl Tributyl Citrate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Citric Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Tributyl Citrate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Acetyl Tributyl Citrate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Citric Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Tributyl Citrate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Safety Assessment of Citric Acid, Inorganic Citrate Salts, and Alkyl Citrate Esters as Used in Cosmetics.
Fiume MM, Heldreth BA, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2014
→
Safety Assessment of Citric Acid, Inorganic Citrate Salts, and Alkyl Citrate Esters as Used in Cosmetics.
Fiume MM, Heldreth BA, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2014
→
Safety Assessment of Citric Acid, Inorganic Citrate Salts, and Alkyl Citrate Esters as Used in Cosmetics.
Fiume MM, Heldreth BA, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2014
→
Safety Assessment of Citric Acid, Inorganic Citrate Salts, and Alkyl Citrate Esters as Used in Cosmetics.
Fiume MM, Heldreth BA, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2014
→
The mechanisms of environmental pollutant acetyl tributyl citrate induced oral squamous cell carcinoma using network toxicology, molecular docking and
Guo Y, Liu Y, Chen Y, Du S, Zheng Y et al.
International journal of surgery (London, England), 2025
→
The mechanisms of environmental pollutant acetyl tributyl citrate induced oral squamous cell carcinoma using network toxicology, molecular docking and
Guo Y, Liu Y, Chen Y, Du S, Zheng Y et al.
International journal of surgery (London, England), 2025
→
Citric acid
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
→
Final report on the safety assessment of acetyl triethyl citrate, acetyl tributyl citrate, acetyl trihexyl citrate, and acetyl trioctyl citrate.
Johnson W Jr
International journal of toxicology, 2002
→
Final report on the safety assessment of acetyl triethyl citrate, acetyl tributyl citrate, acetyl trihexyl citrate, and acetyl trioctyl citrate.
Johnson W Jr
International journal of toxicology, 2002
→
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR