Ingredients
How to read a skincare ingredient list
Short answer: US cosmetic ingredients are listed from most to least, except that anything at 1% or less can be listed in any order at the end [1]. So the first five to seven ingredients make up most of the product. Over-the-counter drugs (like sunscreens and acne treatments) list active ingredients separately with percentages and inactive ingredients alphabetically [2], so position tells you nothing there.
The rules, in plain English
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Descending order of amount [1] | The top of the list is the bulk of the formula |
| ≤1% ingredients can go in any order [1] | Below about 1%, order means little |
| Color additives can be listed last [1] | CI numbers and dyes at the end aren't necessarily tiny |
| Fragrance can be listed as one word [3] | “Fragrance” or “Parfum” can hide many chemicals |
| OTC drug labels: actives with %, inactives A–Z [2] | Sunscreens, BPO, salicylic acid, adapalene; inactive order isn't by amount |
A useful landmark: phenoxyethanol
Phenoxyethanol is a common preservative that's capped at 1% in the EU [4]. When you see it, ingredients after it are very likely at 1% or less. It's a rough guide, not a rule, but it helps you judge whether a flagged ingredient is a main component or a trace.
What to scan for
| If you… | Scan for |
|---|---|
| Are acne-prone | Pore-cloggers near the top: isopropyl myristate or palmitate, coconut oil, cocoa butter, algae extract, some lanolin derivatives. Check them all in the pore-clogging ingredient checker. |
| React to fragrance | Fragrance, parfum, perfume, aroma; essential oils; linalool, limonene and other fragrance allergens |
| Have dry or sensitive skin | Alcohol denat., ethanol or isopropyl alcohol in the first few ingredients; menthol, camphor, witch hazel |
| Are pregnant or trying | Retinoids (retinol, retinal, retinyl esters, adapalene) and hydroquinone. Ask your OB about the rest |
Common false alarms
| Looks scary | Actually |
|---|---|
| Cetyl, stearyl, cetearyl alcohol | Fatty alcohols that soften skin; not drying alcohol |
| Squalane | Stable and non-comedogenic in our screen; not the same as squalene |
| “Chemical-sounding” names | Many gentle ingredients have long INCI names (e.g. sodium hyaluronate is a form of hyaluronic acid) |
| One flagged ingredient at the very end | Often a trace amount; context and position matter [5] |
Practice: check a label now
Copy any ingredient list and paste it into the checker. It shows each flagged ingredient with its position, which list flagged it, and whether the list looks alphabetical (a drug label).
FAQ
Are skincare ingredients listed by amount?
In the US, cosmetics list ingredients in descending order of amount, except ingredients at 1% or less, which can appear in any order after the rest.
Why are some ingredient lists alphabetical?
Over-the-counter drugs like sunscreens and acne treatments use a Drug Facts label, where inactive ingredients are listed alphabetically.
What does INCI mean?
International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients: the standardized names used on ingredient lists, often Latin plant names or chemical names.
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Build my kit →Sources
- 21 CFR 701.3: Designation of ingredients (US cosmetic labeling)
- 21 CFR 201.66: Format and content requirements for OTC drug labeling (Drug Facts)
- US FDA: Fragrances in cosmetics
- EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (Annex III fragrance-allergen labeling)
- Draelos ZD, DiNardo JC. A re-evaluation of the comedogenicity concept. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;54:507-12
Product ingredient lists were checked on brand sites on October 8, 2026; formulas change, so check the label. Not medical advice. This guide is general information. If you have severe, painful or scarring acne, a rash, or anything that worries you, see a board-certified dermatologist (find one).