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Houttuynia Cordata Extract

Heartleaf

Well toleratedBotanicalsoothingantioxidantskin conditioning

No meaningful concern for most people; irritation is possible but rare.

Also written as: Houttuynia Cordata Leaf Extract · Heartleaf · Fish Mint · Eosinophil

What it is

Houttuynia cordata is a leafy herb used in Korean, Japanese and Chinese traditional medicine, sometimes called heartleaf or fish mint. Cosmetic extracts contain flavonoids such as quercitrin and are used for their soothing and antioxidant properties in toners, ampoules and sheet masks.

What it does well

  • Helps calm the look of redness in reactive skin

    Laboratory work shows anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity from its flavonoids, and it is a staple of Korean products for sensitised skin, but controlled human trials on the cosmetic extract are scarce.

    Limited evidence

Worth knowing

  • Rare plant contact allergy

    As with any botanical extract, sensitisation is possible, though reports are uncommon.

    Matters most toPeople who react easily to plant-heavy formulas.

Where the EU stands

No specific restriction

Not listed in any Annex of the EU Cosmetics Regulation, so there is no specific concentration limit; it is still covered by the general safety assessment every cosmetic product must pass before sale.

Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 - no annex entry · source ↗

Masks that contain Houttuynia Cordata Extract