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International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI)

The International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients, abbreviated as INCI, are the unique identifiers for cosmetic ingredients such as waxes, oils, pigments, and other chemicals that are assigned by rules established by the Personal care Products Council (PCPC), previously the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA). INCI names often differ greatly from systematic chemical nomenclature or more common trivial names and are a mixture of conventional scientific names, Latin and English words. INCI nomenclature conventions "are continually reviewed and modified when necessary to reflect changes in the industry, technology, and new ingredient developments".

INCI and CAS
The relationship between a CAS Registry Number and an INCI name is not always one-to-one. In some cases, more than one INCI name may have the same CAS number, or more than one CAS number may apply to an INCI name. For example, CAS number 1245638-61-2 has the CA Index Name of 2-Propenoic acid, reaction products with pentaerythritol. This CAS number can accurately be associated with INCI names: Pentaerythrityl Tetraacrylate and Pentaerythrityl Triacrylate. Alternatively, the INCI name, Glucaric Acid can be associated with two CAS numbers: 87-73-0 which has the CA Index Name of D-Glucaric acid, and 25525-21-7, which has the CA Index Name of DL-Glucaric acid. Both of these examples are accurate between CAS and INCI.

INCI Names of Common Cosmetic Ingredients

Here is a table of several common names and their corresponding INCI names.

Common name INCI name
Aloe vera leaf gel Aloe barbadensis Leaf Juice
Beeswax Beeswax*
Cetyl alcohol Cetyl Alcohol
Cinnamon leaf oil Cinnamomum cassia Leaf Oil
Citric acid Citric acid*
Cocamidopropyl betaine (from coconut oil) Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Decyl glucoside Decyl Glucoside*
Extra virgin olive oil Olea europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil
Hemp oil Cannabis sativa Seed Oil
Jasmine oil Jasminum officinale (Jasmine) Oil
Jojoba oil Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil
Lavender oil Lavandula angustifolia (Lavender) Oil
Lemon peel oil Citrus medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil
Oat bran Avena sativa (Oat) Bran
Paraben Methylparaben
Passion Fruit Juice Passiflora edulis Fruit Juice
Peppermint leaf oil Mentha piperita (Peppermint) Oil
Pink grapefruit peel oil Citrus paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil
Purified water, deionized water, demineralized water, water, etc. Aqua
Raspberry extract Rubus idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract
Red rose water Rosa damascena Flower Water
Roman chamomile oil Anthemis nobilis Flower Oil
Saponified oil of coconut Sodium Cocoate
Saponified oil of palm Sodium Palmate
Shea butter Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter)
Sodium Coco-Sulfate Sodium Coco-Sulfate
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (from coconut oil) Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (from coconut oil) Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Spearmint leaf oil Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil
Sunflower oil Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
Tea tree oil Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil
Valencia orange peel oil Citrus aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil
Vegetable Glycerin Glycerin
Vitamin E Tocopherol
Wintergreen leaf oil Gaultheria procumbens (Wintergreen) Leaf Oil
Yucca herbal extract Yucca schidigera Stem Extract

INCI Labeling
The cosmetic regulation laws are enforceable for important consumer safety. For example, the ingredients are listed on the ingredient declaration for the purchaser to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction to an ingredient the user has had an allergy to before. INCI names are mandated on the ingredient statement of every consumer personal care product. 

While writing the INCI names of ingredients used in a cosmetic product, the labeling is done such that the ingredient that has the highest quantity is written on top and others follow the same style.

For example, if a hand sanitizer has the highest volume of water, then Aqua will be written on the ingredient list.

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