Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower Extract

What Is It?

Malva sylvestris is the scientific name for mallow, also called common mallow or high mallow. Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Extract is the extract of the whole plant. The plant part(s) used to make the other ingredients made from Malva sylvestris are stated in the ingredient names (Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower/Leaf Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower Powder, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Leaf Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Leaf Powder, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Leaf Water). In cosmetics and personal care products, ingredients made from Malva sylvestris may be used in many product types including aftershave lotions, baby products, bath products, soaps and detergents, cleansing products, makeup, eye makeup, hair care products and skin care products.

Why Is It Used?

The ingredients made from Malva sylvestris are used as skin conditioning agents – miscellaneous.

Scientific Facts

Malva sylvestris is an herbaceous plant that generally grows 3 to 5 feet tall. It is native to Africa, Asia and Europe, and has been cultivated and naturalized elsewhere.

Safety Information

Botanical and botanically derived ingredients used in the formulation of cosmetics are generally mild and safe. Prior to marketing the finished cosmetic product, the safety of each ingredient must be substantiated in accordance with 21 CFR 740.10. Safety substantiation of cosmetic ingredients may include tests for ocular and skin irritation as well as allergenicity, phototoxicity, photoallergenicity and mutagenicity, depending on the application or intended use. There is a considerable body of information about the safety of botanical ingredients and a well established history of use. These resources are consulted to ensure the safety of these materials as they are used in cosmetics.

The ingredients made from Malva sylvestris may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European Union.

Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_packaging/co0013_en.htm

In selecting plant-derived ingredients for cosmetics and personal care products, formulators rely on the extensive history of their preparation and use. Such materials have been used for a long time and, based upon this experience, extensive knowledge of their safety has been gained. In the situation of newly identified botanicals in the cosmetic industry, appropriate ocular and skin safety studies are conducted prior to release into general commerce. There are many different references that describe the isolation, use and safety of botanical preparations.

More information about botanicals.

More Scientific Information

Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower/Leaf Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower Powder, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Leaf Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Leaf Powder and Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Leaf Water belong to a large and diverse class of materials that are not defined chemically. The majority of the materials in this class are mixtures derived from plants (herbs, roots, flowers, fruits, or seeds). In naming plants, botanists use a scientific name (also called Latin name) made up of the genus and species of the plant. For example, under this system the plant, mallow is known as Malva sylvestris L., where “L” stands for Linneaus, who first described the type of plant specimen. Plants are also known by a common name that has been handed down through generations. These common names may vary from country to country. Therefore, scientific names, which are more likely to be recognized in many countries, are frequently used on the label of a product to identify an ingredient made from plants.

Resources

Cross Reference for Common Names and Latin names for Botanical ingredient: http://www.personalcarecouncil.org/botanicals-cross-reference-latin-bino…

Find out more about the history of using plants to obtain beneficial materials:

Search the Code of Federal Regulations http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm

EU Cosmetics Inventory http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/