Meguiar's M205 Mirror Glaze Ultra Finishing Polish

Three or four dime-sized drops on a soft foam or microfiber pad, DA at 4,500 OPM, two slow passes per panel section — the residue wipes off clean and the finish that's left holds up to an IPA wipe-down without holograms or filler-mask. Community consensus across Auto Geek, Detailing World, and r/AutoDetailing is that M205 is the polish other finishing polishes get compared against; it runs cleanly across Lake Country, Buff and Shine, and Rupes pad ecosystems with the same result. Working time is generous and dusting is minimal under typical garage conditions — short flash windows are reported only above 90°F.

Anyone running a two-step paint correction (M105 or M101 compound followed by M205) — this is the de facto reference partner. Also a strong stand-alone finishing polish for lightly defected paint where you want to refine without cutting more clear coat than necessary. Skip it if your paint has 2000-grit-or-deeper scratches that need real cut — start with a compound. Skip it if you have a documented MIT/CMIT (isothiazolinone) skin allergy — the preservative is at trace levels but is the H317 driver.

The REACH SDS (rev. May 2020) classifies M205 as Skin Sensitization Category 1A (H317) with signal word WARNING — the H317 traces to the MIT/CMIT biocidal preservative at less than 0.002% by weight. SDS Section 8 explicitly states no chemical-resistant gloves and no respirator are required for normal use. Section 11 reports no known inhalation health effects. The flash point is 93°C — well above any realistic application temperature. Aluminum oxide is the abrasive (an inert mineral), and the petroleum-distillate carrier system contributes the bulk of the formula's VOC. No Prop 65 warning, no PFAS. Polish residue ends up in laundry wastewater via the wipe-off towel rather than direct stormwater discharge.