Cosmetics · Marine ingredients
Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
ワカメエキス (Wakame ekisu)
Also known as: Wakame Extract
At a glance
| Category | Cosmetics |
|---|---|
| INCI name | Undaria Pinnatifida Extract |
| Japanese labeling name | ワカメエキス |
| Common Japanese notations | ワカメエキス, 若芽エキス |
| Origin | Marine (Undaria pinnatifida, wakame) |
| Typical functions | Skin conditioning, Moisturizing, Food ingredient |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Cosmetic ingredient listed in the JSCI labeling name dictionary. Widely consumed as a food. |
Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) is one of Japan's most widely eaten seaweeds, familiar worldwide through its standard role in miso soup and seaweed salads. As a cosmetic ingredient, wakame extract is used in marine-positioned skincare and hair care.
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 masks and essences
- Body and hair products
- Miso soup and Japanese cuisine
What it is
Undaria pinnatifida extract is produced by water or hydro-alcoholic extraction of Undaria pinnatifida — typically the fronds harvested in late winter to early spring. The extract contains fucoidan-family polysaccharides, alginates, minerals, amino acids, and trace fucoxanthin.
The mekabu fraction (sporophyll, a separate anatomical part of the same seaweed) is sometimes marketed as a distinct cosmetic ingredient with its own specification.
Typical uses in Japanese products
In cosmetics, wakame extract appears in face masks, essences, body products, and hair care. Marine-positioning storytelling drives much of the use-case narrative.
In food, wakame is a staple vegetable in Japanese cuisine — miso soup, seaweed salad, sunomono, and various dried preparations.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Listed in the JSCI Japanese Cosmetic Ingredient Codex under ワカメエキス and permitted as a cosmetic ingredient.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Listed in CosIng under the INCI name Undaria Pinnatifida Extract. Permitted for cosmetic use. Note: Undaria pinnatifida is classified as an invasive species in some European coastal regions; cultivation for cosmetic extraction should follow local regulations. |
|---|---|
| USA | INCI recognized by PCPC. |
| China | Permitted per IECIC listings. |
| Korea | Widely used in Korean cosmetics. Permitted 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 — ワカメエキス
- EU CosIng entry: Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
Last updated: 2026-04-22. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.