INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) is the standardised global naming system for cosmetic ingredients. It’s why glycerin is “Glycerin” on a Pakistani label, a Korean label, and a French one.
How to read one:
- Ingredients are listed in descending order of concentration - until you hit 1%, after which they can appear in any order
- The first five ingredients are usually most of the product
- “Aqua” first is normal. Water is the base of most skincare.
- An active listed dead last, after the fragrance, is probably there in a trace amount: enough for the label, not enough to do much
Why we publish full INCI lists: because “contains niacinamide” tells you nothing, and “2% niacinamide, third ingredient” tells you everything. A brand that won’t share its full INCI list is telling you something too.
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The BYOUT Library is educational content, not personalised medical advice. For persistent or severe skin concerns, a dermatologist beats any article, including ours.