Cosmetics · Marine ingredients
Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
オキナワモズクエキス (Okinawa mozuku ekisu)
Also known as: Mozuku Extract, Okinawa Mozuku Extract
At a glance
| Category | Cosmetics |
|---|---|
| INCI name | Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract |
| Japanese labeling name | モズクエキス |
| Common Japanese notations | モズクエキス, オキナワモズクエキス |
| Origin | Marine (Cladosiphon okamuranus, Okinawa mozuku) |
| Typical functions | Skin conditioning, Moisturizing, Functional food ingredient (fucoidan source) |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Cosmetic ingredient listed in the JSCI labeling name dictionary. The seaweed itself is a designated food product of Okinawa and is widely consumed in Japan. |
Mozuku — specifically Cladosiphon okamuranus — is a brown seaweed cultivated in the warm waters around Okinawa. It is the primary Japanese source of high-fucoidan seaweed, and Okinawa supplies the overwhelming majority of commercial mozuku consumed in Japan. In cosmetics and supplements, mozuku-derived fucoidan has become a category of its own.
Classification
Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.
Product applications
Functions
Regulatory tags
Origin
Used in (typical product categories)
Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.
- Face masks and essences
- Marine-positioned skincare
- Fucoidan supplements
- Okinawan cuisine
What it is
Cladosiphon okamuranus extract is produced by water or hydro-alcoholic extraction of Cladosiphon okamuranus fronds. The extract is a particularly rich source of fucoidan, the sulfated polysaccharide that has driven much of mozuku's functional positioning.
Isolated fucoidan is sometimes supplied as a separate ingredient with its own specification. The whole-mozuku extract and isolated fucoidan are distinct materials with distinct use profiles.
Typical uses in Japanese products
In cosmetics, mozuku extract appears in face masks, essences, and moisturizing body products. Supplier narratives frequently emphasize the Okinawan marine provenance.
In supplements, fucoidan derived from mozuku is sold globally, often with Okinawan-origin marketing.
In food, mozuku is eaten in rice vinegar (mozuku-su) and served as a soup ingredient, especially in Okinawan cuisine.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Listed in the JSCI Japanese Cosmetic Ingredient Codex under モズクエキス and permitted as a cosmetic ingredient.
Fucoidan (specifically Okinawa mozuku-derived fucoidan) has been notified as a functional food ingredient under some Foods with Function Claims submissions.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract is listed in CosIng. Permitted for cosmetic use. |
|---|---|
| USA | INCI recognized by PCPC. Fucoidan is used in both cosmetic and supplement products. |
| China | Permitted per IECIC listings. |
| Korea | Permitted as a cosmetic ingredient under the KFDA / MFDS system. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after each product's current full ingredient list has been verified. Okinawan-origin branding varies by supplier and should be documented at the product level.
All brand names and product names referenced anywhere on this site are the property of their respective owners. Example entries are provided for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement.
Related ingredients
References
- JSCI labeling name directory — モズクエキス
- EU CosIng entry: Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Last updated: 2026-04-22. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.