Buddleja Officinalis Flower Extract

_Buddleja officinalis_ flower extract is the extract of the flower of a shrub native to the Hubei, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces of China. The plant is also known as butterfly bush and mi meng hua. It has long been used in traditional Chinese and Korean medicine, mostly internally, but research is unveiling the impact it can have when applied to skin as well. Studies demonstrate that in addition to the antioxidant properties that nearly all plant extracts have, _Buddleja officinalis_ flower extract is also rich in a type of antioxidant known as polyphenols, specifically verbascoside and echinacoside. These polyphenols have been shown to inhibit factors within skin that lead to visible signs of sun damage. This includes damage caused by UV rays as well as exposure to blue light. Some studies even point to this extract’s ability to counter redness and improve the look of discolorations. Usage levels of _Buddleja officinalis_ flower extract range from 0.5-2% when blended in a water base with a glycol ingredient such as propanediol.