Tropaeolum Majus Extract

Tropaeolum majus (nasturtium) extract is a botanical antioxidant/conditioning ingredient typically used at low concentrations, but plant extracts contain complex mixtures that can include sensitizing compounds and vary by source and processing. While it is not a classic high-risk fragrance/essential oil, clinical patch testing data for this specific extract is limited, and eczema-prone patients can react to botanicals even when marketed as “soothing.” Given the uncertainty and the real-world risk of idiosyncratic irritation/sensitization in reactive skin, I score it as mild rather than gentle. Safety Notes: In mass-market leave-on skincare, Tropaeolum majus (nasturtium) extract is typically a minor botanical supporting ingredient, often used around 0.001–0.1% (especially when supplied as a diluted extract in glycerin/propylene glycol/water) to support “radiance/anti-pollution” or conditioning claims. More premium “botanical active” serums/creams and scalp/hair density products sometimes dose the supplier’s active extract at ~0.5–2%, with the highest consumer-available products reaching ~5% when the INCI corresponds to a standardized extract used as a featured active; rinse-off products generally sit toward the lower end due to short contact time.