How to read a cosmetic ingredient list (INCI)
The ingredient list on a shampoo or cream uses INCI names — the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients — so an ingredient has the same name wherever it's sold.
What the order tells you
- Ingredients are listed from highest to lowest concentration.
- Those at 1% or less can follow in any order.
- The first five or so ingredients usually make up most of the product.
Names that look strange
- Aqua — water.
- Parfum or fragrance — a blend of scent ingredients, often not listed individually.
- CI followed by a number, like CI 77891 — a color. CI 77891 is titanium dioxide.
- Tocopherol — vitamin E. Sodium chloride — salt.
Let the scan read it
Scanning the barcode pulls up the full list and marks each rated ingredient with its risk color, so you don't need to know every chemical name.
FAQ
- Is a shorter ingredient list always better?
- Not always, but it's easier to check — and fewer ingredients means fewer chances of one you'd rather avoid.
Scan it before you buy it
Novaz: Food & Cosmetic Scanner scores food and cosmetics from 0 to 100, shows why, and suggests better picks from the same shelf — no ads, no account.
Download on the App Store