max-factor Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara

Ingredients overview

Label order. Colour is our internal rating: green routine, yellow restricted or worth a look, red prohibited or high-risk, grey not yet decoded.

Ingredients are listed in label order; the order reflects the label only, not exact concentrations.

1. Aqua
2. Acrylates Copolymer
3. Glyceryl Stearate
4. Disteardimonium Hectorite
5. Propylene Glycol
6. Stearic Acid
7. Copernicia Cerifera Cera
8. Triethanolamine
9. Lecithin
10. Propylene Carbonate
11. Polyvinyl Alcohol
12. Synthetic Wax
13. Oleic Acid
14. Alcohol Denat
15. Glycerin
16. Tocopherol
17. Ascorbyl Palmitate
18. Panthenol
19. Polyethylene
20. Glycine Soja Oil
21. Xanthan Gum
22. Glyceryl Oleate
23. Dimethicone
24. Methylcellulose
25. Silica Dimethicone Silylate
26. Trisodium EDTA
27. Tetrasodium EDTA
28. Benzyl Alcohol
29. Phenoxyethanol
30. Potassium Sorbate
31. Propylparaben
32. Methylparaben
33. Ethylparaben
34. Benzoic Acid
35. Sorbic Acid
36. Sodium Laureth Sulfate
37. Ammonium Hydroxide
38. Sulfuric Acid
39. Denatonium Benzoate
40. T-Butyl Alcohol
41. Ci 77499
42. Ci 77491
43. Ci 77492

Highlights

Free of mineral oilFree of essential oilsFree of formaldehyde releasersContains fragranceContains alcoholContains animal-derivedContains siliconesContains EU-26 allergensContains parabensContains sulfates

Formulation view A water-based mascara using acrylates copolymer and PVA for film formation, carnauba and synthetic waxes with stearic acid for structure, and disteardimonium hectorite for rheology; triethanolamine saponifies the stearate. An unusually stacked preservative list—parabens, phenoxyethanol, sorbates—addresses high contamination risk from repeated wand use. Panthenol and vitamin E derivatives add conditioning claims. Note: the layered preservatives reflect conservative eye-area microbial control.

Key ingredients

SOLVENT

Aqua

ANTISTATIC

Acrylates Copolymer

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Glyceryl StearateCopernicia Cerifera Cera

LIGHT STABILIZER

Disteardimonium Hectorite

HUMECTANT

Propylene Glycol

CLEANSING

Stearic Acid

BUFFERING

Triethanolamine

Other ingredients

LecithinPropylene CarbonatePolyvinyl AlcoholSynthetic WaxOleic AcidAlcohol DenatGlycerinTocopherolAscorbyl PalmitatePanthenolPolyethyleneGlycine Soja OilXanthan GumGlyceryl OleateDimethiconeMethylcelluloseSilica Dimethicone SilylateTrisodium EDTATetrasodium EDTABenzyl AlcoholPhenoxyethanolPotassium SorbatePropylparabenMethylparabenEthylparabenBenzoic AcidSorbic AcidSodium Laureth SulfateAmmonium HydroxideSulfuric AcidDenatonium BenzoateT-Butyl AlcoholCi 77499Ci 77491Ci 77492

Skim through

Ingredients explained

Aqua

Solvent, main base; microbial control is critical

Acrylates Copolymer

Acrylate synthetic polymer for film forming and antistatic; breathable film, control dosage carefully

Glyceryl Stearate

Emulsifier at 1-3%; may require acid to prevent saponification

Disteardimonium Hectorite

Inorganic ionic clay thickener at 0.25-1%; water/oil/solvent systems, rheology control, avoid strong acids, may affect active release.

Propylene Glycol

Polyol humectant at 3-10%; hygroscopic, slight tackiness, mild irritation at high conc., verify preservative efficacy, no allergen.

Stearic Acid

Fatty acid emulsifier, white waxy solid; adds slip feel

Copernicia Cerifera Cera

Carnauba wax, viscosity and film; high melt point, heat-stable, for creams.

Triethanolamine

Triethanolamine for buffering; restricted, limit concentration to avoid high pH and irritation

Lecithin

Phospholipid emulsifier at 1-5%; biocompatible, moisturizing/antioxidant, prone to oxidation (add TBHQ), mild for sensitive skin.

Propylene Carbonate

Inert solvent and viscosity modifier; often used as penetration enhancer, mild at low levels

Polyvinyl Alcohol

Film/viscosity agent for masks/cleansers; water-soluble, forms flexible film

Synthetic Wax

Waxy solidifier for hardness and gloss; complex mixture, not a single molecule.

Oleic Acid

Oleic acid for emolliency/emulsification; high levels may increase skin penetration

Alcohol Denat

Denatured ethanol; solvent, penetration enhancer, and quick-dry agent; high % may compromise barrier in dry skin.

Glycerin

Workhorse humectant at 3–10%; tacky at high levels, pair with occlusives

Tocopherol

Natural antioxidant (vitamin E) at 0.1–1%; prone to oxidation, store protected from light

Ascorbyl Palmitate

Ascorbyl palmitate, lipophilic Vit C ester, antioxidant; oxidizes, needs light/air protection.

Panthenol

Panthenol (vitamin B5) at 1–5%; moisturizing and reparative, supports barrier recovery

Polyethylene

Plastic polymer particles for abrasion or film; check EU ban on microplastics in rinse-off products, flush-off only

Glycine Soja Oil

Soybean oil emollient; prone to oxidation, needs antioxidants; suitable for dry skin

Xanthan Gum

Natural thickener at 0.1–1%; provides gel texture, pH-stable, requires full hydration

Glyceryl Oleate

Glyceride-based emulsifier and emolient with mild perfuming properties.

Dimethicone

Silicone occlusive at 1–5%; provides smooth feel, non-penetrating, suitable for sensitive skin

Methylcellulose

Not decoded yet

Silica Dimethicone Silylate

Silanized silica providing matte and moisturizing feel. Excellent for oil absorption in primers and powders.

Trisodium EDTA

Metal chelator improving formula stability and synergizing preservatives; used at very low levels (<0.1%), control heavy metals.

Tetrasodium EDTA

Chelator removing metal ions to enhance antioxidant and preservative efficacy; very low usage, typically 0.05-0.1%, no direct skincare function.

Benzyl Alcohol

Mild preservative/solvent at 0.5-1.0%; EU allergen (labeling required), irritation risk if concentrated, avoid in infant/highly sensitive skin.

Phenoxyethanol

Broad-spectrum preservative at ≤1%; may irritate sensitive eye areas, often paired with ethylhexylglycerin

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative effective below pH 6; combinable with sodium benzoate

Propylparaben

Medium-chain preservative; restricted use, pH-sensitive efficacy.

Methylparaben

Preservative, narrow spectrum; often combined, check allergen risk and regulatory limits.

Ethylparaben

Paraben preservative; EU restricted, watch total load and sensitive skin reactions

Benzoic Acid

Preservative and pH adjuster at 0.1–0.5%; low water solubility, best in acidic media, irritant at high levels.

Sorbic Acid

Preservative effective at low pH, often combined with sorbate salts; check regulatory limits

Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Common anionic surfactant, strong foam but drying; check cationic compatibility, high eye irritation

Ammonium Hydroxide

Strong alkaline pH adjuster; use in low concentrations to neutralize acids, avoid direct mixing with strong acids.

Sulfuric Acid

Not decoded yet

Denatonium Benzoate

Industrial denaturant to alter scent and prevent ingestion; not intended for cosmetic use, verify source compliance.

T-Butyl Alcohol

Fast-evaporating solvent; sharp odor and potential irritation at high levels, limit usage

Ci 77499

Inorganic colorant manganese dioxide used in cosmetics; restricted use component subject to regulatory limits.

Ci 77491

Iron oxides red; physical pigment. Coloring and photo-protective, stable and non-irritating.

Ci 77492

Iron oxide red; stable inorganic pigment, non-toxic; ensure dispersion to prevent sedimentation.

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