International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients
# International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients

The International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) are the unique identifiers for cosmetic ingredients such as waxes, oils, pigments, and other chemicals that are assigned in accordance with 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 from more common trivial names and is 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, the 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 two 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 associations between CAS and INCI.

## Table of common names

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

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

* Some common names and INCI names are the same name.

## INCI labeling

In the U.S., under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, certain accurate information is a requirement to appear on labels of cosmetic products. In Canada, the regulatory guideline is the Cosmetic Regulations. Ingredient names must comply by law with EU requirements by using INCI names.

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. The INCI system allows the consumer to identify the ingredient content. In the U.S., true soaps (as defined by the FDA) are specifically exempted from INCI labeling requirements as cosmetics per FDA regulation.

