Jul 30, 2020

How do I read an INCI list?

.. Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, Silybum Marianum Ethyl Ester, Melaleuca Alternifolia Oil, CI77947, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Powder, Mentha X Piperita ..

If you see the packaging of facial products When you turn around, you usually get a large list in front of you. Maybe your first reaction is: "No, this is not possible, I don't understand anything about this". But it's not impossible to have one inci list to read - and understand. If you understand what inci in cosmetics means it opens up a whole new world for you and you get an insight into what you really put on your skin.

If you don't have time to learn how to read a difficult or long INCI, but are interested in the contents of cosmetics - you can click on any Flow Cosmetics product page - we've translated all the ingredients in an understandable way. Are you interested in more information? We have collected all the ingredients we use in our Flow Cosmetics products on one page, you can see the list here.

Which means INCI in cosmetics

The abbreviation “INCI” stares for: International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient, or International Naming for Cosmetic Ingredients. Every ingredient you put in one inci list is an internationally standardized substance, which has been used in cosmetics. The European cosing database (cosmetic ingredient database) contains approximately 30.000 different synthetic and natural cosmetic raw materials. It's good to know that not all cosmetic ingredients are safe even though they are legally approved. On the label of cosmetic products you will find a complete inci list - which tells what exactly your product contains and which ingredients a producer has chosen. It also tells you if there is something specific to look out for, such as warnings.

At Flow Cosmetics we only choose wild, organic or ecocert certified, natural and safe ingredients for our products. The only warning needed at Flow is that you will fall in love with our skin loving formulas.

And finally let's read the inci list

What is generally good to know.

The names in the inci list are usually chemical or English names of substances , such as tocopheryl acetate or glycerin.

For the exceptions to plants, fruits, flowers, and components or extracts thereof, the scientific Latin names are used. Such as HELIANTHUS ANNUUS SEED OIL ( Sunflower seed oil) or VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS SEED OIL ( Blueberry seed oil) . Water and some natural ingredients are also listed in Latin in the INCI list.

The first ingredient you find on the INCI list is the one used the most in the product (by weight). If you see water/aqua as the first ingredient, then unfortunately your product consists mostly of water. Water in products isn't always bad; it all depends on how the product is used. The only question is: do you want to pay for water?

If the product contains 1% or less of the raw material , the raw material may be listed in any order on the INCI list . A good example is rose toner, which can be advertised as rose water face , but actually contain only 1% rose. Don't worry, there are also other types of rose water toners with a large amount of organic rose water.

Perfume is one of the most allergenic ingredients in cosmetics . A single synthetic fragrance can contain dozens, sometimes even hundreds, of different chemicals—which do not have to be listed in the INCI ( meaning no one knows what they actually contain). Do you want to play it safe? There are alternatives to synthetic perfumes—such as organic, aromatherapy- grade essential oils.

A lot of plastic is used in cosmetics; there are micro, nano, and liquid plastics – and they are all unhealthy for you and nature. Plastic is often identified by the words PEG and polyethylene. All our products are certified zero plastic-inside, so you can use all our products worry-free, without guilt.

Inci Cosmetics

TIP: If you want to be aware of plastic in your cosmetics – and avoid them – you can use this free Beat The Microbead super app!

This blog post is just a scratch on the surface of the inci list, but we hope to have taught you something new. If you still have questions, you can always send an email - we will do our best to answer all your questions.