Cosmetics · Marine ingredients
Saccharina Japonica Extract
コンブエキス (Konbu ekisu)
Also known as: Kombu Extract, Japanese Kelp Extract
At a glance
| Category | Cosmetics |
|---|---|
| INCI name | Saccharina Japonica Extract / Laminaria Japonica Extract |
| Japanese labeling name | コンブエキス |
| Common Japanese notations | コンブエキス, 昆布エキス |
| Origin | Marine (Saccharina japonica, kombu) |
| Typical functions | Skin conditioning, Moisturizing, Food flavoring (umami source) |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Cosmetic ingredient listed in the JSCI labeling name dictionary. The whole seaweed is also a foundational food ingredient for dashi. |
Kombu — Saccharina japonica — is the foundational kelp of Japanese cuisine, the primary source of dashi umami, and one of the most economically important seaweed crops in Japan. As a cosmetic ingredient, kombu extract brings mineral-rich marine storytelling to skincare lines.
Classification
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Product applications
Regulatory tags
Origin
Used in (typical product categories)
Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.
- Face toners and essences
- Body and hair products
- Dashi and culinary applications
What it is
Saccharina japonica extract is produced by water or hydro-alcoholic extraction of dried Saccharina japonica blades. The extract contains polysaccharides including alginates and laminarin, minerals, free amino acids including glutamic acid, and fucoidan at trace-to-moderate levels.
The species was previously classified under Laminaria; older INCI entries using Laminaria Japonica Extract refer to the same species.
Typical uses in Japanese products
In Japanese cosmetics, kombu extract appears in facial toners, essences, body washes, and hair products. The ingredient carries marine and coastal-Hokkaido storytelling — Hokkaido being the primary kombu production region.
In food applications, dried kombu is the essential dashi ingredient, used alongside katsuobushi (bonito flakes) in the base stock of Japanese cuisine. Food-grade kombu is regulated separately from cosmetic-grade extracts.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Listed in the JSCI Japanese Cosmetic Ingredient Codex under コンブエキス and permitted as a cosmetic ingredient.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Listed in CosIng under Saccharina Japonica Extract and the previous name Laminaria Japonica Extract. Permitted for cosmetic use. |
|---|---|
| USA | INCI recognized by PCPC. |
| 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.
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Related ingredients
References
- JSCI labeling name directory — コンブエキス
- EU CosIng entry: Saccharina Japonica Extract
Last updated: 2026-04-22. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.