Wild yam (Dioscorea Villosa) extract
AKA “Dioscorea Villosa Extract
Extract
Ingredient Facts
Wild yam (Dioscorea Villosa) extract
AKA: Dioscorea Villosa Extract
Extract · Skin Conditioning · EWG: 4
Plant-Derived
Skin Conditioner
Extract
Not Clean
Wild Yam (Dioscorea Villosa) Extract is a cosmetic ingredient. Assessed as safe by the CIR.
Family
Dioscoreaceae
Plant Part
Root
Form
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Anti Sebum
Antioxidant Protection
Skin Protecting
Anti-Aging Benefits
Locks In Moisture
Fights free radical damage
Shields skin from damage
Reduces excess sebum
Traditional Use
Used in traditional Chinese medicine and Native American herbalism for centuries to support hormonal balance and reduce inflammation. Historical use also included treatment of rheumatism and digestive complaints.
Skin Types
all-skin-types
Best For
Dryness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USApermitted
EUrestricted
JAPANrestricted
CANADArestricted
Dioscorea Villosa (Wild Yam) Extract
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Amended Safety Assessment of Dioscorea Villosa (Wild Yam) Root Extract (amended - first report not published)
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Wild Yam (Dioscorea Villosa) Extract
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Dioscorea Villosa (Wild Yam) Root Extract
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Dioscorea Villosa (Wild Yam) Root Extract
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Dioscorea Villosa (Wild Yam) Root Extract.
Raj PS, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2023
Dioscorea Villosa (Wild Yam) Root Extract.
Raj PS, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Cohen DE, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2023
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR