Database/Buffering/Magnesium Glycinate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Magnesium Glycinate natural?

It depends. The magnesium counter-ion is mineral; whether the glycine half is natural depends on the supplier's glycine source.

INCI nameMagnesium Glycinate
CAS14783-68-7
FunctionBuffering
Feedstockmagnesium salt of glycine (fermentation or synthetic).

Why the score varies

This ingredient is made commercially by more than one route, and ISO 16128 scores the feedstock actually used. Without a supplier certificate of origin the value cannot be claimed.

RouteFeedstockNOIShareNotes
natural-origin glycineglycine from fermentation or protein hydrolysis chelated with magnesium (mineral)1.00minorityevery atom natural or mineral origin
synthetic glycineglycine from chloroacetic acid + ammonia (petrochemical) chelated with magnesium (mineral)0.14majorityonly the magnesium 24.3 Da of 172.4 Da is natural origin; 24.3/172.4 = 0.14
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Glycine is route-dependent on this site (see Glycine). Magnesium glycinate 172.4 Da = magnesium 24.3 Da (mineral, natural) + two glycinate residues (route-dependent). Natural glycine: 1.0; synthetic glycine: 24.3/172.4 = 0.14.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

magnesium salt of glycine (fermentation or synthetic).

In plain English

A magnesium salt of the amino acid glycine. Used to buffer formula pH and supply magnesium to skincare products.

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Structure

2D structure of Magnesium Glycinate

PubChem CID 84645 ↗

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2Magnesium Glycinate. PubChem CID 84645. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3MAGNESIUM GLYCINATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4MAGNESIUM GLYCINATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=MAGNESIUM%20GLYCINATE