Short answer: INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) is the global, standardised system for naming ingredients in cosmetics. Ingredients are listed in descending quantity down to 1%, after that in any order. Plants are given by their Latin name, and the most common fragrance allergens must be declared separately.
1. The order tells you a lot
Ingredients are listed by quantity, largest first — down to 1%. What comes first (often Aqua/water or a base oil) is what there is most of. Active ingredients are often used in low concentrations and therefore appear further down, which is entirely normal.
2. Latin plant names
All plant ingredients are given in Latin, the same worldwide. Examples:
- Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil — hemp seed oil (see what does it mean?)
- Butyrospermum Parkii — shea butter
- Olea Europaea — olive oil
- Calendula Officinalis — marigold
- Arnica Montana — arnica
3. "Parfum" and fragrance allergens
Fragrances are listed as Parfum. The 26 most common allergenic fragrance compounds (e.g. Linalool, Limonene, Citral) must additionally be listed separately when they exceed a certain level. Their presence does not mean the product is "dangerous" — it is transparency that helps allergy-prone people choose well.
4. Cannabinoids — how to tell the difference
"Seed" in a hemp name = from the seed = free of cannabinoids. Cannabidiol (CBD) is the isolated cannabinoid. Hemp seed oil contains neither CBD nor THC. More: does CBD skincare contain THC?
5. "Free from" claims
Labelling like "free from …" is regulated in the EU and may not denigrate legal ingredients or be misleading. Read it with common sense — a long INCI list is not worse than a short one; it depends on what is on it.
Frequently asked questions
What does INCI mean?
International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients — the global standard system for ingredient names, mandatory in the EU.
In what order are the ingredients listed?
In descending quantity down to 1%, after that in any order.
Is a short INCI list better?
Not necessarily. What matters is which ingredients are present and in what amount, not the number.
Why are fragrances listed as "Parfum" and sometimes separate names?
Parfum is the umbrella name; the 26 most common allergens are listed separately above a certain level, for transparency.
Why Latin names for the plants?
So the name is unambiguous and the same worldwide, regardless of language.