Quillaja saponaria (Soapbark) bark extract
AKA: Soapbark bark extract
Plant-Derived
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Skin Conditioner
Extract
Clean
quillaja saponaria (soapbark) bark extract is a cosmetic ingredient used as antidandruff, cleansing, emulsifying. Rated low hazard by EWG.
Family
Quillajaceae
Plant Part
Bark
Lifeform
Shrub or tree
Climate
Subtropical
CAS #
68990-67-0
Form
Liquid
Functions
Antidandruff
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Emulsifying
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Foaming
Masking
Moisturising
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Surfactant
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Locks In Moisture
Traditional Use
Used by indigenous South American cultures for centuries as a natural cleanser and foaming agent due to its high saponin content. Spanish colonists adopted it for textile cleaning and subsequently for cosmetic preparations.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types, gentle
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed1 review →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: Kew POWO · CosIng · EWG · CIR