What is “Gossypium herbaceum (cotton) seed extract” and what is its use?

Cotton is the plant fiber that encases the seeds of the cotton plant, a shrub in the Malvaceae family. This fiber consists of cellulose, which is spun into thread to make fabric. The cotton plant is a shrub cultivated in arid tropical and subtropical regions. It can reach ten meters in height when exposed to optimal sunlight.

There are several species and varieties of cotton:

• The Gossypium arboreum and the Gossypium herbaceum, the most common short-fiber species used in skin care;

• The Gossypium barbadense is a variety native to Peru, introduced to Egypt, and cultivated worldwide. It is valued for its fiber length and quality;

• TheGossypium hirsutumoriginates in South America.

In skincare, cotton is used in three main forms:plant oil (Gossypium Herbaceum Seed Oil),cellular extract or native plant cells (Gossypium Arboreum Leaf Cell Extract), and botanical extract (Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Extract), which this article covers.

Seed extract from cotton is obtained by maceration of the seeds in water and glycerin followed by a microwave extraction, a filtration, a pH adjustment with a potassium sorbate solution (potassium salt of sorbic acid) and a final filtration.

Dark yellow in color, cottonseed extract is a source of active compounds, with fatty acids and flavonoids as its main constituents. It also contains glycosides, steroids, saponins, resins, carbohydrates, proteins, phenolic compounds, and tannins. This plant-based ingredient is water-soluble.

Suitable for all skin types, cotton plant extract is known for its softening, soothing, smoothing, and regenerating properties.