WHAT DO ALL THE INGREDIENTS ON THE LABEL OF COSMETICS MEAN?

Thanks to the ingredients listed on the labels of cosmetics, we can understand the quality of the product as well as identify certain ingredients we are allergic to.

Typically, the ingredients are arranged according to the amount contained and the most important ones are the first 4/5. This description of components follow the international standard INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients), that could be European (INCI EU) or American (INCI USA). For this reason, in many products there is a double description, such as “Aqua (Water)”. Only plant substances are expressed with their Latin botanical name ("borado officinalis seed oil" ), while those that have undergone a chemical process are indicated in English (“sodium laureth sulfate”). 

 Also we can differentiate ingredients by being careful about the name itself. Here a little explanation:

  • PERFUMES AND FLAVOURINGS are indicated on the label with the terms "Parfum" or "Aroma". 

Nowadays there is also a list of 26 POTENTIALLY ALLERGENIC SUBSTANCES that must be indicated on the label, usually they are found especially in perfumes.

  • BOTANICAL SUBSTANCES OR PLANTS DERIVATIVES are indicated on the label with the botanical name (genus and species) followed by the indication in English of the part of the plant and the type of derivative:

Example: lavender essential oil " Lavandula Angustifolia Oil " / aloe juice " Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice"

  • the same applies to PLANT EXTRACTS, example: glyceric extract of Calendula flowers "Glycerin (solvent), Aqua (solvent), Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract (name of the plant)"

Here follows some examples: (source: naturaequa.com )

INCI NOMENCLATURE ENGLISH NAME COSMETIC PROPERTIES
     
Aqua (water) Water The basis of most formulations
Glycerin Glycerine Surface moisturizer, humectant
Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) butter Shea butter Elasticizing, nourishing and emollient, it is a solid oil
Argania Spinosa (Kernel) oil Argan oil Skin conditioning, nourishing, it is a light oil
Mel (honey) Honey Moisturizing, humectant
Prunus dulcis (sweet almond) oil Sweet almond oil Emollient, elasticizing, very skin-friendly oil
Aloe Arborescens leaf extract Aloe arborescens leaf extract Soothing, protective, moisturizing
Ocimum Basilicum (basil) leaf extract Basil leaf extract Basil leaf extract
Olive glycerides oil Glycerides from olive oil Emollient Elasticizing
  • NANOMATERIALS ingredients must be clearly indicated on the label followed by the word "nano" in brackets → Example: titanium dioxide (nano)
  • COLORANTS other than those intended to color hair areas may be listed in any order after the other cosmetic ingredients and are identified according to the Colour Index (CI) number.

Example: Titanium dioxide, when used as a colorant, will be listed as CI 77891

  • ETHYL ALCOHOL: denatured ethyl alcohol is indicated by the INCI "Alcohol Denat.", non-denatured ethyl alcohol by the INCI "Alcohol".

If you are interested in knowing more about the cosmetics’ ingredients when you buy them, you can also check the Cosmile Europe database .