MENTHA PIPERITA EXTRACT

📋 Quick facts

Description: MENTHA PIPERITA EXTRACT — cooling, refreshing (Peppermint; can irritate sensitive skin).

All Functions: cooling, refreshing (Peppermint; can irritate sensitive skin)

Quick Facts:

• Category: active

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Mentha piperita extract comes from peppermint plants and has been studied for various potential health applications
• Research suggests it may have antioxidant properties and neuroprotective potential in animal models
• Some studies show antibacterial and antifungal activity against specific bacteria and fungi
• One human trial found it may help reduce nausea and loss of appetite in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy
• Most research is preliminary; human studies are limited

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Mentha piperita extract—the concentrated form of compounds from peppermint plants—has been investigated in several research areas, though the evidence varies in strength and applicability to skincare consumers. #1: Antioxidant and neuroprotective potential. In a 2024 mouse study published in PLoS One, an ethanolic extract of Mentha piperita demonstrated what researchers call “neuroprotective capacities, possibly through antioxidant capacities.” The extract modulated multiple antioxidant markers in brain tissue (lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, glutathione-s-transferase, and catalase activities) and partially maintained dopamine levels in mice treated with rotenone, a chemical that mimics Parkinson’s disease features. However, this is animal research only; no human trials for neuroprotection are cited in these sources.

#2: Antibacterial and biofilm-inhibitory properties. A 2025 study in Iran Journal of Pharmaceutical Research found that peppermint extract effectively inhibited biofilm formation by Acinetobacter baumannii (a hospital-acquired bacterium) with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 1.5 to 6 mg/mL. A 2024 Life (Basel) study also demonstrated that Mentha piperita-based nanobiopesticides showed antibacterial activity against two plant-pathogenic bacteria (Clavibacter michiganensis and Pseudomonas syringae) and antifungal efficacy against Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum, though these were agricultural/environmental applications rather than skincare contexts. #3: Symptom relief in chemotherapy patients. A 2020 randomized controlled trial published in Integrative Cancer Therapy tested peppermint extract (40 drops in water, three times daily) in 84 breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

The study found statistically significant differences between the peppermint extract group and control group at 24 and 48 hours after chemotherapy, with lower severity scores for nausea, vomiting, and anorexia in the peppermint group. The authors concluded that peppermint “may improve nausea, vomiting, and anorexia” but noted that further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up are needed. Importantly, none of these sources directly address skincare applications, skin barrier function, aging, or cosmetic benefits. The antioxidant and antibacterial findings come from medical/agricultural contexts, not dermatology studies. Any claims about skin health benefits would require additional research specifically designed for that purpose.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Anjum R et al. (2024). Neuroprotective potential of Mentha piperita extract prevents motor dysfunctions in mouse model of Parkinson’s disease through anti-oxidant capacities. PLoS One.
• Klekotko M et al. (2015). Bio-mediated synthesis, characterization and cytotoxicity of gold nanoparticles. Phys Chem Chem Phys.
• Jahan N et al. (2024). Formulation of Mentha piperita-Based Nanobiopesticides and Assessment of the Pesticidal and Antimicrobial Potential. Life (Basel).
• Majidi Fard Z et al. (2025). Investigation of Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Extract on the Inhibition of Biofilm Formation by Acinetobacter baumannii Strains Isolated from Clinical Samples. Iran J Pharm Res.
• Jafarimanesh H et al. (2020). The Effect of Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Extract on the Severity of Nausea, Vomiting and Anorexia in Patients with Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Integr Cancer Ther.

🧴 Products Containing MENTHA PIPERITA EXTRACT

• Byly Spain
• l-oreal, l-oreal-consumer-products, l-oreal-paris, L’Oréal Men Expert BarberClub Nettoyant 3 en 1 Barbe + Visage + Cheveux
• L’OREAL NORGE AS Men Expert Pure Charcoal Clean 100ml
• Netto Shampooing doux aux plantes Cheveux gras
• Cattier Paris Dentargile Propolis – 75 ML
• cattier masque argile
• Cattier Masque Argile rose
• Cattier Gel nettoyant purifiant Menthe Tea tree
• Cattier Cattier Bain de bouche fraîcheur
• Cattier Masque Argile – Argile verte Menthe
• Cattier Masque Argile – Argile jaune Hamamélis
• L’OREAL NORGE AS Men Expert After Shave Balsam 100ml
• l-oreal, L’Oréal Men Expert Hydro Energetic Soin Hydratant Anti-Fatigue 24H
• L’Oréal, L’Oréal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Bille glacée Yeux anti-poches + anti-cernes
• L’Oréal, L’Oréal Men Expert Men Expert Pure Power Gel Ultra-Purifiant Anti-Spots
• L’Oréal, L’Oréal Men Expert Cool Power Gel Douche Cryo-Caps™ -4°C (Format XL)
• l-oreal, l-oreal-consumer-products, l-oreal-paris, L’Oréal Men Expert Stop Rides Soin Hydratant Anti-rides d’expression Boswelox
• L’Oréal, L’Oréal Men Expert Hydra Sensitive Soin Hydratant Peaux Sensibles
• L’Oréal, Men Expert Hydra Energetic Gel purifiant charbon magnétique
• l-oreal, l-oreal-consumer-products, l-oreal-paris, L’Oréal Men Expert Gel nettoyant au charbon multi-purifiant Pure Power 5 en 1
• L’Oréal, L’Oreal Consumer products, L’Oréal Paris, L’Oréal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Gel douche Taurine 100mg
• l-oreal, l-oreal-consumer-products, l-oreal-paris, L’Oréal Men Expert Hydra Sensitive Gel douche sève de Bouleau (format XL)
• L’OREAL NORGE AS Men Expert Barber Club Wash 200ml
• L’OREAL NORGE AS Men Expert Barber Club Care 50ml
• L’Oreal Men Expert L’Oreal Men Expert, Hydra Energetic Wake-up Effect Face Wash, 100 ml
• Dark and Lovely, Softsheen Carson Laboratories Braids’n Weaves S.O.S Hairline
• Lavera Naturkosmetik Complete care
• Labell Men Gel à raser
• Biolage Scalp Sync
• L’Oréal, L’Oreal Consumer products, L’Oréal Paris, L’Oréal Men Expert Pur & Mat Gel désincrustant anti-pores encrassés
• L’Oréal, L’Oréal Men Expert Gel douche Eau des Montagnes Hydra Power 24H
• L’Oréal, L’Oreal Consumer products, L’Oréal Paris, L’Oréal Men Expert Gel douche Total Clean 5 en 1 (format XL)
• L’Oréal Men Expert Gel douche Hydra Power Eau des Montagnes