What it is
Alcea rosea flower extract is derived from the flowers of the hollyhock, a mallow-family plant. Like other mallow botanicals it contributes mucilaginous, water-soluble components that give a conditioning and softening feel to the skin. In sunscreens it is used as a supporting botanical rather than as an active sun filter.
Safety & warnings
Botanical flower extracts are generally well tolerated at the low levels used in cosmetics, but any plant-derived ingredient can occasionally provoke sensitivity in individuals allergic to the source plant or to related mallow-family botanicals. Patch testing is reasonable for those with reactive skin.
Origin & sourcing
Natural; extracted from the flowers of the hollyhock plant, Alcea rosea.
Questions everyone asks
What is alcea rosea flower extract?
It is an extract from hollyhock flowers, included as a botanical conditioning and soothing ingredient rather than a UV filter.
What does it do in a sunscreen?
It provides skin-conditioning, softening botanical components that support the overall feel of the formula.