Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Root Extract

Glycyrrhiza uralensis (licorice) root extract is primarily a soothing/anti-inflammatory botanical used at low concentrations (typically well under a few percent) and is generally well-tolerated in sensitive-skin products, including those aimed at redness and eczema-prone users. Clinical experience and patch-test data suggest a low overall irritation rate, but as a complex plant extract it carries a small, real risk of irritant or allergic contact dermatitis in highly reactive individuals, so it cannot be scored as inert. Safety Notes: In mass-market leave-on products (lotions, toners, cleansers) Glycyrrhiza uralensis root extract is often used as a supporting soothing/brightening botanical at very low levels (≈0.01–0.1%), especially when it appears mid-to-late INCI and is part of a multi-extract blend. Dedicated brightening/anti-redness serums and creams sold OTC commonly use ~0.5–2% of the extract, while a small number of high-strength consumer products and ampoules list licorice root extract at ~3–5% (typically standardized extracts; higher levels are uncommon due to odor/color, potential tack, and batch-to-batch variability). Rinse-off products generally sit toward the low end because contact time is short, whereas leave-on formulas more often reach the upper end of the observed range.