Ingredient
What does Panax Ginseng Root Extract mean on a label, and what has a safety panel said about it?
Korean ginseng is Panax ginseng, usually listed as Panax Ginseng Root Extract or a related root name. In 2012 the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel concluded that 13 Panax root-derived ingredients are safe in the practices of use and concentrations it reviewed.
What the 2012 conclusion covers
The review grouped names such as Panax Ginseng Root, Root Powder, Root Water and Hydrolyzed Ginseng Root, plus American and other Panax species, which mostly serve as skin-conditioning agents, humectants, emollients, astringents or fragrance. At the time, the root extract was reported at up to 0.5% in leave-on products; use levels may have changed since. The panel also asked industry to limit impurities such as pesticide residues and heavy metals.
Try this
- Check the INCI list for Panax Ginseng Root Extract or a related Panax name.
- Read the 2012 conclusion as covering reviewed uses and levels, not every formula.
- Test a new product on a small area, as with any ingredient.
A common mistake
Taking ginseng on the front of a pack as proof of anti-aging or energizing effects, when the safety assessment addresses only safety at reviewed uses.