Ingredient library
Every ingredient SkinAtlas knows about — all 2178 of them. What each one does, what it works well with, and what to watch for.
An inorganic magnesium salt used as a skin-conditioning agent and viscosity modifier in cosmetic formulas.
Magnesium salt of citric acid. Used in cosmetics as a skin-conditioning agent and electrolyte replenisher. Commonly included in amino acid/NMF complex formulations. A functional excipient at typical use levels.
The magnesium salt of gluconic acid, used as a skin-conditioning agent to deliver magnesium ions that support enzymatic skin processes.
The magnesium salt of stearic acid used as a lubricant, anticaking agent, and texture enhancer in creams and powder formulations.
An inorganic magnesium salt used to modify viscosity and improve the feel and stability of cosmetic formulas.
A starch-derived polysaccharide used in cosmetics to improve texture, absorb moisture, and encapsulate fragrance or active ingredients.
The manganese salt of gluconic acid, used as a skin-conditioning agent to deliver trace manganese ions that support superoxide dismutase activity.
Starch derived from cassava (Manihot utilissima / esculenta) root, used as a thickener and absorbent to improve texture and provide a silky skin feel.
Extract from the leaves of Manilkara multinervis, a tropical tree; appears in complex Korean multi-ferment ampoule formulas as a supporting botanical.
Menadione (Vitamin K3) is a synthetic 1,4-naphthoquinone — the unsubstituted quinone core of the vitamin K family. Unlike K1 and K2, it lacks the side chain required for biological coagulation activity. Its primary cosmetic function per EU CosIng is 'masking'; no SCCS or CIR safety opinion validates cosmetic skin benefits. It is a confirmed GHS Category 1 skin sensitizer (H317) and a redox-cycling pro-oxidant that generates reactive oxygen species. The Menadione + Ascorbic Acid combination is cytotoxic via ROS amplification (used in oncology as Apatone) and should not appear together in skincare.
A synthetic menthol derivative (propanediol ether of menthol) that provides a prolonged cooling sensation with lower volatility and reduced irritation compared to pure menthol.
Methoxy PEG-114/Polyepsilon Caprolactone is an amphiphilic graft copolymer composed of a polyethylene glycol (PEG-114) backbone with pendant polycaprolactone chains, capped at one end with a methoxy group. The hydrophilic PEG segment and hydrophobic caprolactone segments give it surface-active, emulsification, and rheology-modifying properties. Used in premium Korean skincare (notably Sulwhasoo's ginseng-based formulas) as a texture enhancer that imparts a silky, non-greasy finish.
A cellulose ether derivative used as a rheology modifier; provides thickening and film-forming properties in gel-format masks and cleansers.
A crosslinked acrylic polymer used as a film-former and texture agent that provides a soft, skin-blurring finish and helps control shine in sunscreens and makeup.
A naturally occurring mineral used as a colorant, pearlescent pigment, and texture enhancer to add shimmer and luminosity to cosmetic products.
A purified, partially depolymerized cellulose used as a thickener and texture enhancer that improves the body and stability of cosmetic formulas.
A generic INCI term for mineral-rich salts (often sea salt or Himalayan pink salt). Used in pore-refining and toning formulas at low concentrations for mild astringency and mineral supplementation. The trace mineral complex may support skin barrier enzyme activity.
Nephrite Powder is finely milled nephrite jade, a fibrous calcium magnesium iron silicate mineral [Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2] prized in East Asian culture. In cosmetics, it appears in ultra-premium formulas (such as Sulwhasoo's Timetreasure line) as a mineral powder contributing softness, light diffusion, and mild oil absorption to the formula's sensory profile. Its cosmetic efficacy beyond physical texture effects is largely positioning-driven, though the mineral's chemical inertness and fine particle size make it a well-tolerated ingredient.
An inert gas used in cosmetics as a propellant in aerosol products or as a blanketing gas during manufacturing to prevent oxidation of oxygen-sensitive ingredients.
An extract from the roots of Nuphar japonicum (Japanese spatterdock/pond lily) containing nuphar alkaloids; used as a skin conditioning agent in Korean luxury formulas with traditional herbal roots.
A synthetic polyamide (nylon) powder used as a film-former and texture agent that imparts a smooth, soft-focus finish and helps control shine in sunscreens and color cosmetics.
Onsen-Sui (温泉水) is the INCI-listed name for Japanese hot spring (onsen) water used as an ingredient in cosmetics. Onsens are geothermal mineral springs found throughout Japan, and their water carries dissolved minerals that vary by location and geological source. In cosmetics it is used as a mineral-enriched water alternative, replacing or supplementing regular purified water for marketing differentiation and the trace mineral benefits the water's source provides.
Ornithine (L-ornithine) is a non-proteinogenic amino acid and key intermediate in the urea cycle. In skin biology, it serves as a precursor to proline and hydroxyproline (essential amino acids in collagen) and contributes to the natural moisturizing factor of the stratum corneum. In cosmetics it is used as a skin-conditioning humectant, typically at low concentrations in premium formulas alongside other amino acids and actives.
The hydrochloride salt of ornithine, a non-essential amino acid naturally involved in the urea cycle. Included in Filorga Time-Filler 5-XP's NCEF (New Cellular Encapsulated Factor) complex alongside a full suite of amino acids, vitamins, and coenzymes.