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Ingredient · INCI reference

Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)

INCI name: Polymethyl Methacrylate

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is a spherical polymer powder used to blur skin and give a smooth, soft-focus finish.

Ingredient illustration

Editorial ingredient illustration for Polymethyl Methacrylate

An editorial illustration of this ingredient.

What it is

PMMA is supplied as tiny smooth microspheres that roll across the skin, filling fine lines and scattering light for a soft-focus, blurring effect. It improves slip and gives a silky, powdery finish in sunscreens and makeup.

Safety & warnings

As an inert solid polymer it sits on the skin surface and is generally non-irritating.

Origin & sourcing

Synthetic acrylic polymer.

Questions everyone asks

What does PMMA do in cosmetics?

Its smooth microspheres blur the look of pores and lines and add a silky, soft-focus finish.

Does it absorb into skin?

No, it is an inert powder that stays on the surface.

Sources & references

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