International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients

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).[1] 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".[2]

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.[3]

Table of common names

Here is a table of several common names and their corresponding INCI names.[4]

Common name INCI name
Purified water, deionized water, demineralized water, water, etc.Aqua[5]
Sodium Coco SulfateSodium 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 glucosideDecyl Glucoside*
Citric acidCitric acid*
ParabenMethylparaben
Cetyl alcoholCetyl Alcohol
Vitamin ETocopherol
BeeswaxBeeswax*
Vegetable GlycerinGlycerin
Oat branAvena sativa (Oat) Bran
Shea butterButyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter)
Passion Fruit JuicePassiflora edulis Fruit Juice
Red rose waterRosa damascena Flower Water
Raspberry extractRubus idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract
Yucca herbal extractYucca schidigera Stem Extract
Aloe vera leaf gelAloe barbadensis Leaf Juice
Tea tree oilMelaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil
Peppermint leaf oilMentha piperita (Peppermint) Oil
Spearmint leaf oilMentha viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil
Wintergreen leaf oilGaultheria procumbens (Wintergreen) Leaf Oil
Lavender oilLavandula angustifolia (Lavender) Oil
Cinnamon leaf oilCinnamomum cassia Leaf Oil
Lemon peel oilCitrus medica limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil
Valencia orange peel oilCitrus aurantium dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil
Pink grapefruit peel oilCitrus paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil
Roman chamomile oilAnthemis nobilis Flower Oil
Jasmine oilJasminum officinale (Jasmine) Oil
Extra virgin olive oilOlea europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil
Saponified oil of coconutSodium Cocoate
Saponified oil of palmSodium Palmate
Hemp oilCannabis sativa Seed Oil
Jojoba oilSimmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil
Sunflower oilHelianthus 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.[6] In Canada, the regulatory guideline is the Cosmetic Regulations.[7] Ingredient names must comply by law with EU requirements by using INCI names.[8]

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.[9]

See also

References
  1. Personal Care Products Council - News release November 29, 2007
  2. Personal Care Products Council - INCI Nomenclature Conventions
  3. Personal Care Products Council - Background information on INCI and CAS
  4. Personal Care Products Council - International Buyers' Guide
  5. Aqua
  6. U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Labeling Regulations: CFR Title 21, Part 701
  7. "Health Canada - Guidelines for Cosmetics Manufacturers, Importers and Distributors". Archived from the original on 2006-09-25. Retrieved 2006-10-10.
  8. Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association - Understanding your label
  9. U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Is It a Cosmetic, a Drug, or Both? (Or Is It Soap?)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.