Services

Torn between two services?A project manager will guide you

Catalog

Explore the full catalog1,000+ formulas ready to carry your brand

Face careFull range

Serums, creams and targeted care, formulated with your actives.

Body careFull range

Moisturizing, nourishing and shower care: cream, butter or oil.

Specialty careFull range

Sun care, lips, intimate care and oral care.

Men, baby, makeupFull range

Shaving and beard, baby and mom, makeup.

Industries

All solutions by industryFormulas and formats for your business

Our brands

Our own brands, developed and made in our laboratory.

Become a distributor of our brandsPharmacies, spas, shops and wholesalers

Laboratory

Cosmetics manufacturing room with a row of stainless-steel mixers and an operator in white workwearOur factory in Aït MelloulISO 22716 and ISO 9001, visits by appointmentDiscover the factory

Resources

Ginseng extract (Panax ginseng)

Ginseng (Panax ginseng), an Araliaceae, provides root extracts declared in cosmetics as skin conditioning, protecting and tonic agents1. The CIR panel judges them safe as used4. Trials on human skin are rare: a cream with a modified extract6, a red ginseng hydrogel7. The other data come from the lab910.

Dried ginseng roots in macro view on a sage green ceramic surface

Ginseng at a glance

Entry from our cosmetic ingredient glossary. Regulatory data from the European Commission's CosIng database1, restrictions under Regulation (EC) 1223/20092, safety according to the CIR expert panel4. Copy the identifiers in one click for your files.

INCI name
PANAX GINSENG ROOT EXTRACTCosIng describes an extract of the roots of Panax ginseng, Araliaceae. Dozens of neighboring entries exist: root juice, culture cells, hydrolyzed or fermented extracts1
Other names
Ginseng, Asian ginseng, red ginsengRed ginseng is a preparation of the root, cited in several trials789
CAS number
84650-12-4
EC number
283-493-7
Botanical origin
Panax ginseng, Araliaceae (root)Root extract for this CosIng entry1
Compounds of interest
GinsenosidesRg1, Rf, Rb1, Re and Rd studied on fibroblasts10; gintonin is another component mentioned5
CosIng function
Skin conditioning (emollient), hair conditioning, skin protecting, tonicDeclared functions of the root extract1
Standardization
Varies with the extractThe content of major ginsenosides varies with the extraction method, supercritical CO₂ or ethanol10: the grade is set in the raw material specification
EU status
No restrictionAbsent from the annexes of the consolidated text of Regulation (EC) 1223/2009 as of 1 May 2025 (search for "Panax" and "ginseng" in the text)2
Allergen to declare
Not listedAbsent from the fragrance allergen list of Regulation (EU) 2023/15453
Safety
Judged safe as usedCIR panel 2015: 13 ingredients derived from Panax roots, 4 species, safe in the practices and concentrations of use described. Point addressed: pulegone, a constituent of these ingredients4

What the research says

Each result shows the protocol and the level of evidence. The higher the level, the better the result carries over to a finished formula.

Clinical trialReview or consensusLaboratory

SkinSkincare

A modified ginseng cream reduces roughness around the eyes

Clinical trial
Cream with enzyme-modified ginseng extract23 volunteersDouble blind, placebo controlledEye area wrinkles

Significant reduction of the global photodamage score and of roughness (R1, R4, R5) compared with placebo. Participants rated the cream as more moisturizing and softening; no adverse effect was reported. The extract is enzyme-modified: it is not a simple root extract6.

A red ginseng hydrogel and the facial microbiome

Clinical trial
Hydrogel with a red ginseng formula20 womenFace, split-face comparison

Application decreased C. acnes in all participants and increased S. epidermidis in those who had little. The authors conclude it helps maintain skin balance. Formula containing 1,2-hexanediol, studied on few subjects7.

Oral intake improves wrinkles, with no effect on hydration

Clinical trial
Red ginseng + Torilus fructus + Corni fructus, 3 g/day24 weeks82 women over 40Oral route, placebo controlled

Facial wrinkles are significantly improved and type I procollagen expression increases. No change in elasticity, epidermal hydration, redness or pigmentation. A blend of three plants taken orally: it does not transfer to a cream8.

Collagen and barrier markers in culture

Laboratory
Whole micro-granulated red ginseng in a gelHuman fibroblasts and keratinocytesUV, comparison with the aqueous extract

The gel reduced UV-induced MMPs and increased type I collagen in fibroblasts. In keratinocytes, it raised AQP3, HAS2, SPT, CerS3 and filaggrin, more than the aqueous extract. Lab study9.

Ginsenosides act differently on fibroblasts

Laboratory
Tissue-cultured ginsengHuman dermal fibroblastsTNF-α stimulation

Rg1 and Re curbed MMP-1 secretion, while Rb1 and Rd increased COL1A1 collagen. Extracts obtained with supercritical CO₂ contained more major ginsenosides. Lab study10.

A main active component that is not clearly identified

Review
2024 reviewExtracts, ginsenosides, gintonin, byproducts

The review describes in vitro and in vivo skin studies. It specifies that it is not yet known which component directly contributes to skin health or to preventing skin aging5.

SafetyExpert assessment

Judged safe by the CIR panel

Expert assessment
CIR panel 201513 Panax root ingredients, 4 species

Safe in the practices of use and the concentrations described. The panel addressed the question of pulegone, a constituent of these ingredients as well as of peppermint oil4.

This page summarizes published literature on a cosmetic ingredient. It does not describe the effect of a finished product, which depends on its formula, and it is not medical advice. Ginseng is also a supplement and a medicinal plant: only the cosmetic aspects are covered here. Trials on human skin concern specific formulas, not a standard extract.

Which products can use ginseng?

No formula in our white label catalog features ginseng yet. Our formulation lab can add it to a custom formula or to a catalog formula. Its common uses:

Face

Common uses: face creams and serums, notably for mature skin.

Body

Common uses: body creams and lotions.

Hair

Common uses: shampoos, masks and hair care, a hair conditioning function being declared in CosIng[1].

Frequently asked questions about ginseng

What is ginseng?
It is a plant of the Araliaceae family, Panax ginseng, whose root is used1. In cosmetics, the extract is declared PANAX GINSENG ROOT EXTRACT, with skin conditioning, protecting and tonic functions1.
What are the benefits of ginseng for skin?
Few trials exist on human skin. A cream with a modified extract reduced roughness around the eyes in 23 volunteers6, and a red ginseng hydrogel changed the facial microbiome of 20 women7. The rest comes from cell cultures910. The 2024 review notes that it is not known which component acts5.
What percentage of ginseng should you use?
The cited studies give no usable root extract concentration. The oral trial at 3 g per day does not transfer to a cream8. The dose is set with the formulator, based on the raw material specification.
What should you pair ginseng with?
We have no catalog formula with ginseng: the combination is built as a custom formula. The cited trials study it with 1,2-hexanediol in a hydrogel7 or as whole red ginseng gel9. The stability of the final formula is checked with laboratory tests.
Does ginseng carry any risks?
The CIR panel judges ingredients derived from Panax roots safe as used4, and no restriction appears in the European cosmetics regulation2. No adverse effect was reported in the eye area trial6. A tolerance test on the finished product remains the rule.
Can you use ginseng during pregnancy?
This page describes the cosmetic use of a root extract, not food supplements. For a skincare product, as for any product during pregnancy, a healthcare professional's advice remains the rule.
Can you manufacture a ginseng skincare product for my brand?
Yes. Our ISO 22716 certified lab develops a custom formula with ginseng, or customizes a cream or serum formula from our catalog. Free samples are included.

Sources

Peer-reviewed studies and official regulatory sources, checked on November 3, 2026.

  1. European Commission. CosIng, entry PANAX GINSENG ROOT EXTRACT (CAS 84650-12-4, EC 283-493-7). ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing
  2. European Parliament and Council. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, consolidated text of 1 May 2025 (Annexes II to VI). EUR-Lex. eur-lex.europa.eu
  3. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 of 26 July 2023 amending Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards labelling of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products (Annex III). eur-lex.europa.eu
  4. Becker LC, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, et al. Safety Assessment of Panax spp Root-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics. Int J Toxicol. 2015;34(3 Suppl):5S-42S. doi:10.1177/1091581815610508
  5. Kim JH, Lee R, Hwang SH, et al. Ginseng and ginseng byproducts for skincare and skin health. J Ginseng Res. 2024;48(6):525-534. doi:10.1016/j.jgr.2024.09.006
  6. Hwang E, Park SY, Jo H, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Enzyme-Modified Panax ginseng for Anti-Wrinkle Therapy in Healthy Skin: A Single-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Rejuvenation Res. 2015;18(5):449-457. doi:10.1089/rej.2015.1660
  7. Hou JH, Shin H, Shin H, et al. Influence of Panax ginseng formulation on skin microbiota: A randomized, split face comparative clinical study. J Ginseng Res. 2022;46(2):296-303. doi:10.1016/j.jgr.2021.12.002
  8. Cho S, Won CH, Lee DH, et al. Red ginseng root extract mixed with Torilus fructus and Corni fructus improves facial wrinkles and increases type I procollagen synthesis in human skin: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Med Food. 2009;12(6):1252-1259. doi:10.1089/jmf.2008.1390
  9. Kim YH, Park HR, Cha SY, et al. Effect of red ginseng NaturalGEL on skin aging. J Ginseng Res. 2020;44(1):115-122. doi:10.1016/j.jgr.2018.09.006SK Bioland (fabricant de cosmétiques)
  10. Kim J, Phung HM, Lee S, et al. Anti-skin-aging effects of tissue-cultured mountain-grown ginseng and quantitative HPLC/ELSD analysis of major ginsenosides. J Nat Med. 2022;76(4):811-820. doi:10.1007/s11418-022-01633-2
Carmel Cosmetics Labs product specialist with a brand founder

Tell us about your project

A product specialist reviews your request and gets back to you on the channel you prefer.

Lead EN – Demande de devis
Tell us about your project. A product specialist will get back to you shortly.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name
PROJECT INFORMATION
Which cosmetics category interests you most?

By submitting this form, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

No obligation. Your information stays confidential and is used only to prepare your quote.