Cosmetic ingredient

COLEUS FORSKOHLII ROOT EXTRACT

Coleus forskohlii root extract is made from the roots of a plant in the mint family. This is the name that may appear on a cosmetic label; botanical literature also refers to the species as Plectranthus barbatus. The root, rather than the leaf, is the plant material specified by this ingredient.

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COLEUS FORSKOHLII ROOT EXTRACT: what it is

Coleus forskohlii root extract is made from the roots of a plant in the mint family. This is the name that may appear on a cosmetic label; botanical literature also refers to the species as Plectranthus barbatus. The root, rather than the leaf, is the plant material specified by this ingredient.

The plant is known for forskolin in cork cells of its roots, but the extract is not the same thing as isolated forskolin. An extract brings together multiple soluble constituents from the plant material, and its composition can change with cultivation and extraction method. It should therefore not be confused with the plant's essential oil or with a product made only with forskolin.

COLEUS FORSKOHLII ROOT EXTRACT: what it does in cosmetics

In skin-care cosmetics, Coleus forskohlii root extract can be used as an emollient and humectant. In everyday terms, those roles aim to leave the surface feeling softer and less rough while helping a formula retain water at the skin's outer layer. In oral-care products, it can contribute to the sensory character of the composition without being a dental treatment.

Research on the plant highlights forskolin found in the root, but it does not show that a cosmetic root extract applied to skin treats acne, dark spots, wrinkles, or wounds. Findings on isolated compounds, oral use, or other preparations of the plant cannot predict the result of a cosmetic containing this extract; its plausible cosmetic contribution is support for the formula's feel and softness.

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