PEONIFLORIN

Also known as: Peoniflorin

INCI: PEONIFLORIN | Function: Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory | Type: Botanical active (paeoniflorin from Paeonia lactiflora root)

What Is PEONIFLORIN?

Peoniflorin (also called paeoniflorin) is the primary bioactive compound extracted from the root of Paeonia lactiflora (Chinese peony/白芍). It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and is increasingly used in modern skincare for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin-brightening properties.

Key Skin Benefits

+ Potent antioxidant — protects against oxidative stress
+ Anti-inflammatory — soothes redness and irritation
+ Skin brightening — inhibits melanin production
+ Traditional use backed by modern research

Pros

+ Natural botanical active
+ Multi-functional — antioxidant + anti-inflammatory + brightening
+ Growing body of scientific research
+ Good safety profile from traditional use

Cons

− Limited cosmetic-specific safety data (mostly pharmacological studies)
− Can be expensive as a purified extract
− May cause sensitivity in very rare cases
− Stability depends on formulation pH and antioxidants

Specifications

Property	Value
Usage Areas	Face, Eye, Body
Product Type	Leave-On
Source	Plant
Natural Level	Natural

Safety Ratings

Metric	Rating
Skin Sensitivity	1/5 (very low)
Comedogenic Rating	0/5
EWG Score	1/10

Regional Regulatory Limits

Region	Leave-on %	Rinse-off %	Status
EU (CosIng)	No limit	No limit	Allowed
US (CIR/FDA)	No limit	No limit	Allowed
Japan (MHLW)	No limit	No limit	Allowed
ASEAN	No limit	No limit	Allowed
China (NMPA)	No limit	No limit	Allowed

Typical Usage % by Product Type

Product Type	Typical %
Brightening serum	0.1 - 1%
Soothing cream	0.05 - 0.5%
Antioxidant essence	0.05 - 0.5%

References

PubMed — Paeoniflorin anti-inflammatory effects. PMID: 27018153
PubMed — Paeoniflorin melanogenesis inhibition. PMID: 29115659
EU CosIng Database — Listed as antioxidant/skin conditioning.

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