The rules of the list
INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) is the standardized name system on every cosmetic package. Three rules unlock most of it:
- Above 1%: ingredients are listed in descending order of concentration
- Below 1%: order is arbitrary — they can appear in any sequence after the 1% group
- The first five to seven entries usually define what the product actually is; the rest is finishing
Reading like a formulator
Phenoxyethanol and similar preservatives are used around 1% — everything listed after them is sub-1%. That is your anchor point.
Fragrance appears as the single word *parfum*. In the EU, 26 known sensitizers must additionally be declared by name.
Marketing names vs INCI
"Vitamin B3" is niacinamide. "Pro-vitamin B5" is panthenol. A glamorous trade name is often a standard ingredient with a story — the INCI list is where the truth lives.
Coyglow note: we publish the full INCI list, exact active concentrations, and naturally-derived percentage on every product page — the deck is the product.