Trigonella Foenum-Graecum Seed Extract

Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seed extract is primarily used as a soothing/antioxidant or conditioning botanical at low concentrations, but as a plant extract it contains multiple bioactive compounds that can act as irritants or allergens in reactive skin. Clinical patch-test literature and case reports with botanicals show occasional allergic contact dermatitis and irritation even when products are marketed as gentle, particularly in eczema-prone populations. Given the unpredictable composition of extracts and the need to err on patient safety for severely sensitive skin, this warrants a mild irritancy score. Safety Notes: In commercial skincare, Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seed extract is most often used as a minor botanical support/soothing claim ingredient in leave-on creams/serums and rinse-off cleansers around 0.01–0.5%, reflecting typical supplier use-level guidance and cost/odor/color constraints. Higher-strength consumer products (especially “botanical/ayurvedic” masks, scalp/hair-skin hybrids, and concentrated serum-ampoules) use it in the ~1–5% range when formulated as a standardized glycerin/propylene glycol extract; above this it commonly becomes limited by sensorial issues and stability/compatibility rather than regulation. No specific EU/FDA maximum applies to this INCI in cosmetics, so observed market highs are primarily formulation-driven.