Althea Officinalis Extract

TL;DR. This ingredient is used as a skin-conditioning botanical extract, mainly for soothing feel, light humectancy, and a soft film on skin or hair. Its polysaccharide-rich fraction helps reduce tightness and supports slip in water-based formulas.

What does Althea Officinalis Extract do in a cosmetic formula?

This ingredient is used as a skin-conditioning botanical extract, mainly for soothing feel, light humectancy, and a soft film on skin or hair. Its polysaccharide-rich fraction helps reduce tightness and supports slip in water-based formulas.

Is Althea Officinalis Extract clean?

From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is generally well tolerated and not a common restricted-list concern. As with many botanical extracts, sensitivity is more likely in reactive skin or when the extract carries residual fragrance compounds or preservation systems from the supplier blend.

Is Althea Officinalis Extract sustainable?

This material is plant-derived and its water-soluble components are expected to be readily biodegradable. Sustainability depends mostly on agricultural practices, extraction solvent choice, and whether the supplier uses water, glycerin, or other lower-impact carriers.

Is Althea Officinalis Extract COSMOS-approved?

It is typically permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic when sourced and processed according to the standard, including approved extraction solvents and compliant preservatives. It fits Green Chemistry well when made with renewable plant material, water or glycerin extraction, and minimal purification steps.

How does Althea Officinalis Extract work chemically?

The molecule profile is a complex mixture rather than a single compound, with polysaccharides, flavonoids, phenolic acids, sugars, and minerals contributing to its sensory and conditioning effect. Typical use is often around 0.1% to 5% as supplied extract, and aqueous versions require preservation and are usually easiest to formulate in mildly acidic to neutral pH systems.

Last updated 2026-05-15