Magnesium Chloride
Reviewed by Emma · Last updated 18 Aug 2026
Also known as: Magnesium, Magnesium Carbonate, Magnesium Stearate, Magnesium Sulfate
Mineral-derived salt use to enhance product texture | Often used with other texture enhancers to thicken and stabilise formulas
Addresses
EWG Safety Score
What Is Magnesium Chloride?
Magnesium chloride is a salt byproduct used to enhance texture of cosmetic products, often combined with guar-based, cellulose, or gum-based thickeners. Along with magnesium, it’s good source of other trace minerals for skin, such as copper, potassium and selenium.
Older research established that magnesium chloride plays a role with calcium in helping skin’s barrier recover from damage.
This ingredient is also used in foods to help improve texture and allow soy to coagulate to form tofu.
The standard usage level of magnesium chloride in cosmetics is 0.2–1%, depending on formulary needs. Fun fact: magnesium is the primary mineral in Dead Sea water used for numerous therapeutic purposes. Interestingly, magnesium chloride has poor skin penetration in water-based solution since it cannot get through skin’s lipids. Magnesium chloride is considered safe as used in cosmetics.
Clinical Evidence & References
Published Research
-
Nutrients, August 2017, pages 1–8 [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5579607/]
-
https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/magnesium%20sulfate.pdf [https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/magnesium%20sulfate.pdf]
-
International Journal of Dermatology, February 2005, pages 151–157 [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-4632.2005.02079.x]
-
Archives of Dermatological Research, October 1999, pages 560–563 [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s004030050454]
Frequently Asked Questions
From the Clinic
Not sure what your skin actually needs?
Two minutes, a few questions, and we’ll point you at what matters — no guesswork.
Take the skin quizRelated Ingredients
Macrocystis Pyrifera
A brown seaweed extract with potential soothing and skin-soothing properties
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Derived from naturally occurring clay minerals
Magnesium Aspartate
A magnesium salt of amino acid aspartic acid
Magnesium Myristate
A mineral salt that helps control texture and opacity in skincare formulations
Magnesium Phosphate
A stabilising mineral compound with emerging potential in skin-comforting applications
Magnesium Silicate
A naturally derived mineral that absorbs oil and stabilises formulations
Learn More About Skincare Ingredients
Explore our comprehensive ingredient glossary to understand what's in your products.
Browse All IngredientsShop Our Products
Find professional skincare solutions at Skintique.