Althaea Officinalis Root Extract

Althaea officinalis (marshmallow) root extract is primarily a soothing, film-forming humectant rich in mucilage/polysaccharides and is typically used at low percentages in leave-on products. Clinical experience and patch-test data generally show low irritancy, but as a botanical extract it carries a small, non-zero risk of irritation or allergy from residual plant proteins/impurities—particularly in eczema-prone or highly reactive patients—so it is not scored as fully inert. Safety Notes: In mass-market leave-on lotions, toners, and cleansers, Althaea officinalis (marshmallow) root extract is commonly used as a soothing botanical at very low levels (often around 0.001–0.1%), reflecting typical supplier-recommended use rates for standardized extracts and blends. Higher-end “herbal/soothing” serums, barrier creams, and mask products marketed around mucilage/comfort benefits can use it at 1–5% as the neat extract (or equivalent in a solvent carrier), which is near the upper end seen in OTC products due to viscosity, odor/color, and stability constraints; rinse-off formulas tend to sit toward the lower end while leave-on soothing products trend higher. There is no specific FDA/EU maximum for this INCI beyond general cosmetic safety, so the observed market ceiling is driven primarily by formulation practicality and supplier specifications.