INCI: Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Holy basil leaf extract. Used as an adaptogen in Ayurveda. Contains eugenol and rosmarinic acid; in vitro antioxidant potential on skin.
Topical application
DVery weak or conflicting data.
Traditional Ayurvedic ingredient. Topical RCTs are limited. Eugenol is a known contact allergen.
Tulsi Leaf Extract (Ocimum sanctum, holy basil) is an extract from a plant used in Indian Ayurveda for a thousand years as an adaptogen and anti-inflammatory. It entered cosmetics with the wave of Ayurvedic trends in the 2010s. Composition. Contains eugenol, rosmarinic acid, ursolic acid, flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin). Eugenol and rosmarinic acid are the main bearers of in vitro activity – antioxidant and mildly anti-inflammatory. Where applied. Ayurvedic and Indian cosmetic brands (Forest Essentials, Kama Ayurveda), European clean-beauty lines with botanical positioning. In Spain it appears in niche Ayurvedic-leaning brands; rare in mass retail. Evidence base. The Pattanayak 2010 review describes anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects of tulsi in vitro, in cell cultures, and in animal models. No clinical RCTs with topical use on human skin exist. Oral tulsi in patients with metabolic syndrome showed moderate effects on glycaemia (Jamshidi 2017), but that is a different context. Safety. The eugenol content is a known skin allergen requiring labelling. In patients sensitive to Lamiaceae essential oils (basil, thyme, oregano), cross-reactivity is possible. Pregnancy – use with caution. Eugenol has antiplatelet activity in vitro and oral tulsi in high doses in rat models reduced fertility. Topical use at cosmetic concentrations is minimally risky, but pregnant women with bleeding risk (post-IVF, on anticoagulants) should avoid it. Realistic expectations. A marketing-driven Ayurvedic ingredient with moderate in vitro activity. Not part of first-line routines for acne, rosacea, or age-related changes.
Irritation potential
LowAllergen risk
ModeratePregnancy
CautionThe Evigrade extension adds an evidence panel to Wildberries, Goldapple, Letu, iHerb, Sephora and 12 more stores. This ingredient and every other one in the product show evidence-tier, allergen risk and pregnancy/lactation flags at a glance.
Tulsi Leaf Extract should be used with caution during pregnancy. Consulting a dermatologist or OB-GYN is advisable.
Tulsi Leaf Extract suits: normal, oily, combination. Use with caution in: sensitive.
Holy basil leaf extract.
The INCI name is Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract. It may also appear as: Tulsi Leaf Extract, Holy Basil Leaf Extract.
Published: · updated:
Suitable for
Use with caution