Clematis Apiifolia Extract: What Is It, Cosmetic Uses, Benefits & Side Effects

Curious about this ingredient? In this article we're explaining exactly what it is and why it's used within cosmetic formulations.
Updated on: June 24, 2025
Share:
Inside this article:

All information on this page is verified using publicly available nomenclature standards and reference materials from The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and the European Commission's CosIng database. Our analyses are based on technical data from these sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.

What Is Clematis Apiifolia Extract?

Clematis Apiifolia Extract comes from the entire Clematis apiifolia plant, a flowering vine in the buttercup family. The plant grows across East Asia and has long appeared in folk preparations for soothing the skin. Modern cosmetic labs take freshly harvested stems, leaves and flowers, dry them gently, then soak them in a mix of water and safe solvents to pull out the helpful compounds. The resulting liquid is filtered and concentrated into a stable extract that blends easily into creams and serums.

Chemically, the extract carries a mix of flavonoids, saponins and simple sugars that help the skin hold water and feel supple. Its mild botanical scent and lightweight texture make it popular with formulators who want natural sounding labels without sacrificing performance. You will often see Clematis Apiifolia Extract in hydrating sheet masks, daily moisturizers, calming after-sun gels, eye creams and many K-beauty style essences.

Clematis Apiifolia Extract’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses

In skin care formulas Clematis Apiifolia Extract is prized for one core role: skin conditioning. It helps soften the surface, supports a healthy moisture balance and leaves the complexion feeling smooth and refreshed.

Who Can Use Clematis Apiifolia Extract

Clematis Apiifolia Extract is gentle enough for most skin types, including dry, normal, combination and oily. Its water-binding sugars and soothing flavonoids make it especially welcome on dehydrated or easily irritated skin. Because it is lightweight and non-greasy it will not weigh down oily or acne-prone complexions. Those with very reactive or highly sensitised skin should still monitor how their skin feels when trying any new botanical, as plant compounds can sometimes trigger unexpected redness in ultra-sensitive individuals.

The extract is plant derived with no animal inputs, so products that rely on it as a key ingredient are generally suitable for both vegans and vegetarians. As always, double-check the full ingredient list to be sure the final formula stays free of beeswax, lanolin or other animal additives.

No specific warnings flag Clematis Apiifolia Extract for pregnant or breastfeeding users. The plant has no known hormone-like activity and is used at low cosmetic concentrations. That said, this is not medical advice and anyone who is expecting or nursing should take the safe route and run all skincare choices past a qualified healthcare provider.

The extract does not heighten skin sensitivity to sunlight so there is no need for extra sun precautions beyond your normal daily SPF routine.

Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions

Responses to topical Clematis Apiifolia Extract vary from person to person. The effects listed below are only potential outcomes and, assuming the ingredient has been properly processed and incorporated, most users will not notice any problems.

  • Mild redness or warmth if you are allergic to members of the buttercup family
  • Temporary stinging on broken or freshly exfoliated skin due to natural plant acids
  • Contact dermatitis in extremely sensitive individuals
  • Eye irritation if the product migrates into the eyes from creams applied too close to the lash line
  • Interaction with other strong actives such as high-level retinoids or exfoliating acids could increase overall skin sensitivity

If any of these reactions occur stop using the product and consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Comedogenic Rating

Rating: 1/5

The extract is mostly water based with light, non greasy plant compounds so it does not form the heavy film that typically blocks pores. Because it contains no dense oils, butters or waxes it earns a low score of 1.

This makes Clematis Apiifolia Extract well suited to skin that is prone to acne or breakouts.

Keep in mind the final product’s pore clogging risk depends on the full formula, not just this single botanical.

Summary

Clematis Apiifolia Extract conditions skin by boosting surface hydration, softening texture and calming mild irritation through its natural sugars, flavonoids and saponins.

It has a quiet but growing fan base, appearing most often in Korean and Japanese products and gradually popping up in Western botanical lines as brands seek fresh green ingredients.

The extract is considered safe at cosmetic levels with little chance of irritation or clogging. Even so it is smart to patch test any new product that lists Clematis Apiifolia Extract, just to be sure your skin stays happy.

Was this article helpful?
More from Glooshi:
ADVERTISEMENT
Get all our top headlines in beauty.
Delivered right to your inbox each week. Zero spam, all goodness, opt-out at anytime.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Get the latest beauty news, top product recommendations & brand-exclusive discount codes direct to your inbox.
Send good feedback:

All feedback is greatly appreciated, anonymous, and will be used to improve the quality of our articles.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Send bad feedback:

All feedback is greatly appreciated, anonymous, and will be used to improve the quality of our articles.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Search