Cosmetics · Plant extracts
Perilla Frutescens (Red) Leaf Extract
赤シソ葉エキス (Akajiso-ha ekisu)
Also known as: Red Shiso Extract, Akajiso Extract
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| Category | Cosmetics |
|---|---|
| INCI name | Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract↗ |
| Japanese labeling name | シソ葉エキス |
| Common Japanese notations | 赤シソ葉エキス, アカジソエキス |
| Origin | Plant-derived (Perilla frutescens var. crispa, red variety) |
| Typical functions | Skin conditioning, Antioxidant, Soothing |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Cosmetic ingredient listed in the JSCI (Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association) labeling name dictionary. Also a widely-used food colorant for pickled products. |
Red shiso — akajiso — is the red-leaved variety of Perilla frutescens, notable for its anthocyanin content that gives umeboshi and shibazuke their characteristic red-purple color. Cosmetic-grade red shiso extract concentrates the anthocyanin-rich water-soluble fraction along with rosmarinic acid and related polyphenols.
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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
Common OEM product categories
Finished-product categories where Japanese OEM manufacturers commonly formulate with this ingredient.
- Sensitive skin formulations
- Face masks and toners
- Food colorant (umeboshi, shibazuke)
Ingredient profile
Perilla frutescens red leaf extract is produced by water or hydro-alcoholic extraction of red-leaved Perilla frutescens. Unlike green shiso extract, it contains substantial shisonin — the anthocyanin responsible for the red color — along with rosmarinic acid and luteolin.
On INCI labels, the red and green varieties often share the entry Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract; distinction between varieties appears on the supplier specification rather than in the INCI name.
OEM applications
In cosmetics, red shiso extract appears in sensitive-skin toners, face masks, and scalp products — often in lines positioning around spring seasonal skincare and anti-pollen-season reactivity.
As a food colorant, red shiso leaves are the traditional colorant for umeboshi (giving the ume its pink-red color) and shibazuke pickles.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Cosmetic use is permitted under the JSCI dictionary. Food use as a natural colorant is regulated under the Food Sanitation Act.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Listed in CosIng under Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract. Permitted. |
|---|---|
| USA | INCI recognized by PCPC. |
| China | Permitted per IECIC listings. |
| Korea | Permitted under KFDA / MFDS. |
Market reference formulations
Example finished products will be added after each product's current full ingredient list has been verified.
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.
Alternative ingredients
Related ingredients commonly evaluated as substitutes.
Quick answers
- What is Perilla Frutescens (Red) Leaf Extract?
- Red shiso — akajiso — is the red-leaved variety of Perilla frutescens, notable for its anthocyanin content that gives umeboshi and shibazuke their characteristic red-purple color. Cosmetic-grade red shiso extract concentrates the anthocyanin-rich water-soluble fraction along with rosmarinic acid and related polyphenols.
- What is the regulatory status of Perilla Frutescens (Red) Leaf Extract in Japan?
- Cosmetic ingredient listed in the JSCI (Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association) labeling name dictionary. Also a widely-used food colorant for pickled products.
- What products typically use Perilla Frutescens (Red) Leaf Extract?
- Sensitive skin formulations / Face masks and toners / Food colorant (umeboshi, shibazuke)
- Where does Perilla Frutescens (Red) Leaf Extract come from?
- Plant-derived (Perilla frutescens var. crispa, red variety)
- What is the INCI / JSCI labeling name for Perilla Frutescens (Red) Leaf Extract?
- INCI: Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract / JSCI: シソ葉エキス
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From the same origin
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Regulatory guidance
Take the next step
FAQ for OEM buyers
Q. What INCI name covers red shiso leaf extract?
Both red and green shiso are covered by the INCI name 'Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract' under the same species classification. Red-leaf-specific positioning depends on supplier specification documentation (cultivar, harvest, color marker compounds).
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
- CosIng database — INCI: Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
Q. Are anti-allergy / anti-pollen-season claims allowed for cosmetic shiso products?
No — therapeutic anti-allergy claims fall outside cosmetic claim scope under the PMD Act. Cosmetic positioning can reference 'sensitive-skin care' or 'skin in seasonal-stress conditions,' but cannot make allergy-treatment claims.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
- 厚生労働省 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) — Cosmetic Claim Guidelines (Pharmaceutical Affairs Act)
Q. Is the same shiso extract regulated differently for food and cosmetic use?
Yes — food shiso (used as garnish, umeboshi colorant, beverages) is regulated under the Food Sanitation Act, while cosmetic-grade extract follows PMD Act standards. COAs for cosmetic use should specify cosmetic-grade processing and microbial limits.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
- Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act (PMD Act)
- Food Sanitation Act of Japan
Q. What anthocyanin/marker compound documentation should buyers request?
Red shiso owes its color and some functional positioning to anthocyanins (notably shisonin); buyers wanting differentiated positioning should request quantitative anthocyanin or polyphenol marker data on the COA. Color stability in finished cosmetic formulations needs separate testing.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
- PubChem — Shisonin entry
Use cases
Sensitive-skin facial toner
- Positioning
- Spring/seasonal-care line for reactive skin
- Typical usage level
- 0.5–3%
Sources
- Industry knowledge — Japanese sensitive-skin segment
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Sheet mask
- Positioning
- Calming mask line, often spring/pollen-season seasonal positioning
Sources
- Industry knowledge — Japanese mask market
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Scalp tonic
- Positioning
- Soothing-scalp tonic for sensitive-scalp lines
Sources
- Industry knowledge — Japanese scalp-care market
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
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Official regulatory databases
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References
- JSCI (Japanese Cosmetic Industry Association) labeling name directory — シソ葉エキス
- EU CosIng entry: Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract
Last updated: 2026-04-22. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.