Chemistry:International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients

Short description: Naming convention for chemicals used by the U.S. cosmetics industry

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.

See also

• Ingredients of cosmetics
• Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA)
• Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)
• List of cosmetic ingredients

External links

• European Commission: Cosmetic Ingredients Database
• FDA: Labeling Claims
• A to Z INCI Database
• FDA: Cosmetic Labeling Guide