Categories: Texture Agent, Active Ingredient, Antioxidant, Plant Extract

Ingredient Description

Also known as Blessed Milk Thistle and Mary Thistle, Milk Thistle is native to southern Europe.

The plant was used by ancient Greeks and Romans, to treat liver and bile disorders. Nowadays, Milk Thistle has gained popularity in the cosmetics industry due to its antioxidant properties.

Its composition of fatty acid triglycerides, phenolic compounds (mainly flavonoids, including Sylimarin), ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), and other compounds give it replenishing and reparative properties when applied to the skin.

Milk Thistle has over 50% linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid from the omega-6 family) which happens to also be naturally present in the composition of the skin barrier. This ingredient can help reinforce and protect the skin barrier from damage that could compromise its composition and structure, leading to obstruction of the skin’s key functions. It protects from loss of water, drying, chemical stressors, etc.

This ethyl ester of the fatty acids is derived from the oil of the Milk Thistle.

Besides great barrier protection and replenishing properties, this ingredient works as a naturalalternative to silicone. Therefore offering a unique and sumptuous touch and feel to cosmetic formulations, while enhancing the stability and finesse of emulsions.