International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients

The International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) is a group of unique identifiers for cosmetic ingredients such as waxes, oils, pigments, and other chemicals that are assigned in accordance with rules established in 1973 by the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC),¹ previously the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA).²

INCI names often differ 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".³

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.⁴

Here is a table of several common names and their corresponding INCI names.⁵

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

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., under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, certain accurate information is required to appear on labels of cosmetic products, including the ingredient list.⁷ In the U.S., as defined and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), true soaps are specifically exempted from INCI labelling requirements as cosmetics.⁸

In Canada, cosmetic ingredient labeling is governed by the Cosmetic Regulations under the Food and Drugs Act.⁹

In the European Union, the use of INCI names on cosmetic product labels is mandated by Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products.¹⁰