Common Name(s): Titanium citrate,titanium citrate,organic titanium chelate,uv filter precursor skin active
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides photoprotective and antioxidant activity from the titanium ion's redox chemistry, delivers skin conditioning from the citrate ligand's polycarboxylate chemistry, and offers a water-soluble titanium source for transparent uv-protective formulations.
Why It's Used: Water-soluble titanium chelates provide uv protection without the opacity and heavy texture of titanium dioxide particle-based sunscreens — enabling clear, lightweight uv-protective serums where tio₂ mineral particles would create unacceptable whitening.
How It Works: Titanium(iv) citrate provides ti4+ ions chelated by citrate's three carboxylate groups (stability constant logk ~15). ti4+ absorbs uv radiation through ligand-to-metal charge transfer transitions with the citrate ligand, providing uv protection without the band-gap absorption mechanism of tio₂ particles.
Typically Found In: Uv protection,anti-aging,transparent sunscreens
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient – mineral
Secondary Functions: Mineral support,skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%–2%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes – mineral
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Mineral-derived or synthetically produced.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Generally non-irritating at cosmetic use levels.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Ceramides,humectants,skin actives
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Titanium citrate regulatory status as a uv filter requires verification in each target market — unlike tio₂ which is approved in eu/us cosmetics, soluble titanium chelate uv filters require specific approval as novel uv-filtering ingredients.
Last Verified: 2026-03-22
Primary Sources: Cosing database,titanium citrate soluble uv active review