Alphabetical Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary from Paula Begoun, the Cosmetics Cop
| Rating | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| Good |
macadamia nut oilUsed in cosmetics as an emollient for dry skin.
Categories:
Plant Extracts,
Emollients
|
| Best |
madecassosideOne of four principal bioactive compounds in the plant extract Centella asiatica.
Categories:
Antioxidants,
Plant Extracts
|
| Good |
magnesiumEarth mineral that has strong absorbent properties and some disinfecting properties…
Categories:
Absorbent
|
| Good |
magnesium aluminum silicatePowdery, dry-feeling, white solid that is used as a thickening agent and powder in cosmetics.
Categories:
Thickeners/Emulsifiers
|
| Good |
magnesium ascorbyl palmitateFatty acid-based derivative of vitamin C that can be an effective antioxidant. There is some...
Categories:
Antioxidants,
Vitamins
|
| Best |
magnesium ascorbyl phosphateForm of vitamin C that is considered stable and an effective antioxidant for skin (Sources:...
Categories:
Antioxidants,
Vitamins
|
| Good |
magnesium aspartateMagnesium aspartate is the magnesium salt of aspartic acid that plays a role in maintaining proteins in skin.
Categories:
Skin-Softening,
Hydration
|
| Good |
magnesium carbonateInorganic mineral salt used as an absorbent, opacifying agent, coloring agent, or to adjust the pH...
Categories:
Absorbent
|
| Good |
magnesium hydroxideActive ingredient in milk of magnesia. It is an absorbent and has disinfectant properties for skin.
Categories:
Absorbent,
Miscellaneous
|
| Good |
magnesium laureth sulfateMild detergent cleansing agent.
Categories:
Cleansing Agents
|
| Good |
magnesium oleth sulfateMild detergent cleansing agent.
Categories:
Cleansing Agents
|
| Good |
magnesium stearateUsed as a thickening agent in cosmetics.
Categories:
Thickeners/Emulsifiers,
Texture Enhancer
|
| Good |
magnesium sulfateCommonly known as Epsom salt, a magnesium salt used as a texture enhancer.
Categories:
Texture Enhancer
|
| Best |
malic acidAn AHA ingredient derived from unripe fruit that also occurs naturally in the human body…
Categories:
Exfoliant
|
| Best |
mallowCan be used as a texture enhancer in cosmetics and may have soothing... |
| Best |
Malpighia emarginata (acerola) fruit extractAcerola fruit extract is a potent source of antioxidants and hydrating polysaccharides.
Categories:
Plant Extracts,
Antioxidants
|
| Good |
maltodextrinA plant-based sugar created by hydrolyzing a saccharide with starch from corn, potato, or rice. |
| Good |
maltooligosyl glucoside
A carbohydrate polysaccharide that’s naturally-derived and then combined... |
| Average |
malvaceae extractExtract from plants of the Malvaceae family, which includes over 1,000 species, found in tropical...
Categories:
Plant Extracts
|
| Good |
Malva sylvestris extractExtract from the blue mallow flower, it may have some soothing properties for... |
| Poor |
mandarin orange oil or extractPrimarily used as a fragrance; it can be a skin sensitizer. There is no research showing it has any... |
| Good |
mandelic acidA type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), also known as amygdalic acid. There’s some research showing mandelic acid is an effective exfoliant, although it’s not as effective as glycolic acid due to its larger size...
Categories:
Exfoliant
|
| Average |
manganese gluconateMineral found in trace amounts in tissues of the body. While manganese plays a vital role in the...
Categories:
Antioxidants
|
| Good |
manganese violetColoring agent/additive permanently listed (as of 1976) by the FDA for use in cosmetic products,...
Categories:
Coloring Agents/Pigments
|
| Best |
Mangifera indica (mango) seed butterMore commonly known as mango butter, this ingredient is a very good plant-based... |
| Good |
Mangifera indica rootExtract derived from the mango tree; it can have antioxidant properties (Source: Journal of...
Categories:
Antioxidants,
Plant Extracts
|
| Good |
mannitolMannitol is a plant-derived or lab-made sugar that works in skin care to bind moisture and condition.
Categories:
Antioxidants,
Plant Extracts
|
| Good |
manuka oilExtract derived from the New Zealand tea tree; the oil is similar to that of the Australian tea...
Categories:
Plant Extracts,
Antioxidants
|
| Good |
marigold |
| Good |
marionberryFruit that has potent antioxidant properties.
Categories:
Antioxidants,
Plant Extracts
|
| Poor |
marjoramHerb with a fragrant component used in cosmetics; can be a skin sensitizer… |
| Best |
marshmallowA flowering plant native to Africa that has soothing effects... |
| Good |
Mastocarpus stellatus |
| Best |
mate extract |
| Best |
matricaria oil
Categories:
Antioxidants,
Plant Extracts
|
| Average |
MEAAbbreviation for monoethanolamine.
Categories:
Thickeners/Emulsifiers
|
| Good |
meadowfoam seed oilNon-fragrant, edible plant oil originally developed as an agricultural crop in the 1950s. It...
Categories:
Plant Extracts,
Emollients
|
| Best |
meadowsweet extractExtract that can have skin-soothing properties...
Categories:
Skin-Soothing,
Plant Extracts
|
| Best |
Medicago sativa
Categories:
Antioxidants,
Plant Extracts
|
| Good |
Melaleuca alternifolia
Categories:
Plant Extracts,
Antioxidants
|
| Poor |
Melaleuca cajeputi oilThere is no research showing that this oil, which is derived from a plant in the same family as the...
Categories:
Plant Extracts,
Sensitizing
|
| Best |
Melia azadirachta (chinaberry) leaf extractLatin term for the extract from the leaf of the neem plant.
Categories:
Plant Extracts,
Antioxidants
|
| Best |
Melia azadirachta extractThe chinaberry is a popular plant throughout India, where use of every part of the plant can be seen in the practice of Ayurvedic medicine.
Categories:
Antioxidants,
Plant Extracts
|
| Poor |
Melia azadirachta oil
Categories:
Sensitizing
|
| Good |
melibioseSaccharide that can have good water-binding properties.
Categories:
Skin-Replenishing
|
| Poor |
Melissa officinalis |
| Poor |
Mentha arvensis
Categories:
Plant Extracts,
Sensitizing
|
| Poor |
Mentha piperita |
| Poor |
Mentha spicata |
| Poor |
Mentha viridis |
| Poor |
mentholDerived from peppermint; menthol can have the same sensitizing effect as peppermint on skin… |
| Poor |
menthoneMajor constituent of peppermint. |
| Poor |
menthoxypropanediolSynthetic derivative of menthol. It is known to produce effects that are twice as strong as... |
| Best |
menthyl anthranilateAlso known as meradimate, this is a synthetic sunscreen active is a partially effective UVA...
Categories:
Sunscreen Actives
|
| Poor |
menthyl lactateUsed as a cooling agent and fragrance in cosmetics. It is a derivative of menthol and is supposed... |
| Best |
meradmiate
Categories:
Sunscreen Actives
|
| Poor |
methanol
Categories:
Sensitizing
|
| Good |
methiconeOne of the simpler silicones due to its less complex molecular structure. |
| Good |
methionine
Categories:
Antioxidants,
Skin-Replenishing
|
| Poor |
methylchloroisothiazolinoneIn combination with methylisothiazolinone, it goes by the trade name Kathon CG (among others)....
Categories:
Preservatives,
Sensitizing
|
| Poor |
methyldibromo glutaronitrileFormaldehyde-releasing preservative...
Categories:
Preservatives
|
| Poor |
methyldihydrojasmonateSynthetic fragrant component.
Categories:
Fragrance: Synthetic and Fragrant Plant Extracts
|
| Good |
methyl gluceth-20Liquid that functions as a water-binding and skin-conditioning agent.
Categories:
Skin-Softening
|
| Good |
methyl gluceth-20 benzoate
A synthetic ester and emollient used to improve product spreadability. Methyl...
Categories:
Texture Enhancer,
Emollients
|
| Good |
methyl glucose sesquistearateA mixure of the diesters of methyl glucoside and stearic acid. Functions as a skin-conditioning...
Categories:
Emollients,
Skin-Softening
|
| Good |
methylglucoside phosphateA type of monosaccharide (simple sugar) derived from glucose, it serves as a skin-conditioning agent...
Categories:
Skin-Softening
|
| Poor |
methylisothiazolinonePreservative that’s generally recommended for use only in rinse-off products such as cleansers or...
Categories:
Preservatives,
Sensitizing
|
| Good |
methylparaben
Parabens are a group of controversial preservatives that include butylparaben...
Categories:
Preservatives
|
| Good |
methylpropanediolGlycol that functions as a solvent. Methylpropanediol can enhance ingredients such as salicylic acid.
Categories:
Miscellaneous,
Hydration
|
| Good |
methylsilanol mannuronate |
| Good |
methylsilanol PEG-7 glyceryl cocoateA glyceryl ester used as an emollient and texture enhancer in cosmetics. |
| Good |
methylsufonylsulfate
Categories:
Antioxidants
|
| Good |
methyl trimethicone |
| Best |
Mexoryl SX
Categories:
Uncategorized
|
| Good |
micaEarth mineral included in products to give them sparkle and shine.
Categories:
Coloring Agents/Pigments
|
| Good |
microcrystalline waxPlastic-type, highly refined wax derived from petroleum. Used as a thickener and to give products a...
Categories:
Thickeners/Emulsifiers,
Texture Enhancer
|
| Good |
Microcystis aeruginosaLatin name for spirulina. |
| Good |
milk protein
Categories:
Emollients,
Skin-Replenishing
|
| Good |
milk vetch rootRoot with potential antioxidant properties, although there isn't conclusive research that it functions that way when applied topically.
Categories:
Antioxidants,
Plant Extracts
|
| Average |
millet seed extractExtract from a cereal grain that has no established benefit for skin, but is added to cosmetic...
Categories:
Plant Extracts,
Skin-Softening
|
| Poor |
mimosa oil or extractExtract used as a fragrance in cosmetics. |
| good |
mineral oilClear, odorless oil derived from petroleum that is widely used in cosmetics because it rarely...
Categories:
Emollients
|
| Poor |
mintCan be a skin sensitizer… |
| Good |
mixed fruit extracts
Categories:
Plant Extracts
|
| Good |
montan waxA type of natural wax derived from lignite, which is a type of coal that’s made from wood. Most...
Categories:
Texture Enhancer
|
| Good |
montmorilloniteA type of clay that is a mix of bentonite and fuller's earth, with the latter being a white to brown substance found in sediment...
Categories:
Absorbent
|
| Good |
Morinda citrifolia |
| Best |
Moringa oleifera seed oilMoringa oil is a non-fragrant plant oil that contains several antioxidants and vitamins. |
| Good |
Morus alba root extractLatin name for mulberry.
Categories:
Antioxidants,
Plant Extracts
|
| Good |
Morus bombycis root extract
Categories:
Plant Extracts
|
| Good |
Morus nigra root extract
Categories:
Plant Extracts
|
| Best |
mucopolysaccharideAlso known as glycosaminoglycans. This is a large class of ingredients that includes hyaluronic...
Categories:
Skin-Replenishing
|
| Average |
Mucor miehei extractExtract of a type of mold whose enzymes are used as a food additive and flavor enhancer in cheeses....
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
| Average |
mugwort extractThere is no research showing this extract has any benefit for skin (Sources:...
Categories:
Plant Extracts
|
| Good |
mulberry extractNon-fragrant plant extract (Latin name is Morus alba) whose various parts such as the leaf and root, have shown potential to brighten and improve the look...
Categories:
Plant Extracts,
Antioxidants
|
| Good |
murumuru seed butter
Categories:
Emollients,
Plant Extracts
|
| Best |
Myrciaria dubia (camu camu) fruit extractCamu camu is a small berry that, especially when fully ripe, possesses strong antioxidant capacity due to its levels of vitamin C.
Categories:
Antioxidants,
Plant Extracts
|
| Good |
myristamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphatemyristamidopropyl PG-dimonium chloride phosphate |
| Good |
myristic acidCleansing agent that also creates foam and can be drying.
Categories:
Cleansing Agents
|
| Best |
myristoyl hexapeptide-16Myristoyl hexapeptide-16 is a synthetic, fatty acid-linked peptide known to improve skin’s resilience, visibly calm, and help skin look and feel smoother.
Categories:
Skin-Restoring
|
| Best |
myristoyl pentapeptide-17Myristoyl pentapeptide-17 is a synthetic peptide known to increase skin's hydration and resilience.
Categories:
Skin-Restoring
|
| Best |
myristoyl tripeptide-31A synthetic peptide made from combining the fatty acid myristic acid with tripeptide-31. This peptide is believed to have a retinol-like effect on skin’s appearance.
Categories:
Skin-Restoring
|
| Good |
myristyl alcoholA lighter-weight fatty alcohol that functions as a thickener, emulsion stabilizer, and emollient.
Categories:
Emollients,
Thickeners/Emulsifiers
|
| Good |
myristyl myristateUsed in cosmetics as a texture enhancer and emollient.
Categories:
Texture Enhancer,
Emollients
|
| Best |
myristyl nicotinateA derivative of nicotinic acid, a component of vitamin B3 (niacin) that isn’t the same ingredient...
Categories:
Miscellaneous
|
| Poor |
myrrhFragrant gum resin that can be a skin sensitizer. There is little research showing it has any benefit... |
| Poor |
myrtle extractContains volatile oil and tannins... |
| Poor |
Myrtus communis extract |
About the Experts
Paula Begoun is the best-selling author of 20 books about skincare and makeup. She is known worldwide as The Cosmetics Cop and creator of Paula’s Choice Skincare. Paula’s expertise has led to hundreds of appearances on national and international radio, print, and television including:
The Paula's Choice Research Team is dedicated to busting beauty myths and providing expert advice that solves your skincare frustrations so you can have the best skin of your life!