What is it?
Rhodochrosite is a mineral made mostly of manganese carbonate. Rhodochrosite extract is an extract of that mineral, which the EU cosmetic ingredient database lists as an antioxidant, skin-conditioning and skin-protecting ingredient. The official definition says only that it is “an extract of Rhodochrosite.” It does not say how the extract is made or how much manganese it contains, and we found no published information that does.
Key information
- Rhodochrosite is a mineral made mostly of manganese carbonate; how the extract is made and what it contains are not defined.
- We found no safety review, safety studies or published reports of reactions for rhodochrosite extract.
- Manganese is an essential nutrient, and the U.S. ATSDR calls skin contact a minor route of exposure.
- Breathing in high levels of manganese dust or fumes at work can cause a permanent nervous-system disorder called manganism.
More information
Manganese carbonate occurs in nature as rhodochrosite and is also used as a pigment, an animal feed additive and a fertilizer ingredient. The EU lists both rhodochrosite and rhodochrosite extract as cosmetic ingredients with no restrictions. Neither the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) nor the EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has assessed them. We found no safety studies, use-level data or published reports of skin reactions for the extract, so there is little to go on beyond what is known about manganese itself.
Manganese is an essential nutrient, and food is most people’s main source. The U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) calls skin contact a minor route of exposure. The well-documented harm comes from breathing it: workers who inhale manganese dust or fumes, in welding or steelmaking for example, can develop manganism, a permanent nervous-system disorder with tremors and difficulty walking. The ATSDR also notes that a manganese pigment, manganese violet, is already used in cosmetics. In notifications to the EU chemicals agency, more than half of company reports say manganese carbonate does not meet hazard criteria, while the most common classification among the rest is organ damage through prolonged or repeated exposure.
Reality check: we found no evidence that rhodochrosite extract harms skin, and no published studies showing a benefit either. Manganese is a real concern when inhaled, not a known problem in skin care, but without data on how the extract is made or how much is used, its safety has simply not been shown. If you prefer to avoid ingredients with no safety data, look for rhodochrosite or rhodochrosite extract on labels.
Sources: European Commission CosIng: Rhodochrosite Extract; European Commission CosIng: Rhodochrosite; PubChem: Manganese carbonate; ATSDR: ToxGuide for Manganese (2012)
