A cosmetic ingredient list looks like a wall of Latin, but a few rules make it readable. This guide uses real lists from products in our store so you can follow along.
Start at the top
Ingredients are generally listed from the largest amount to the smallest, down to about 1% of the formula. After that point, the order can be mixed. So the first three or four names tell you most about what the product is made of.
On our Vitamin Glow Serum the list starts with Aqua (water) and butylene glycol, so it is a water-based serum. On our Skin Firming Cream, purified water comes first and the plant oils come later in the list.
Water has more than one name
Water appears as water, aqua or purified water. Serums and creams usually start with it. Soap works differently, because the main ingredients are oils that have been turned into soap.
What saponified oils means on a soap
Our Charcoal Soap lists saponified oils (organic palm oil, organic coconut oil, organic sunflower oil, organic extra virgin olive oil), then peppermint essential oil, tea tree essential oil and activated charcoal. Saponified means the oils have reacted into soap, so the oils are what make the bar. Everything after that is an add-in.
Latin names are just plant names
Chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract is chamomile. Calendula officinalis flower extract is calendula. Butyrospermum parkii is shea. When you see a Latin name, the common name is often in brackets next to it, as on our Vitamin C Serum.
Fragrance and essential oils
Fragrance is a single word that can stand for a mix of scent ingredients. Essential oils are listed by name, such as lavender essential oil on our Calming Lavender Soap. If you want a product with no scent entry, look for neither word on the list, as on our Vitamin Glow Serum.
Preservatives and helpers
Water-based products need a preservative, so names such as phenoxyethanol or ethylhexylglycerin near the end of a serum list are normal. Thickeners such as xanthan gum are there for texture.
Check for what you avoid
Read the whole list once if you avoid tree nuts, goat milk or fragrance. For example, our Skin Firming Cream lists almond oil and our Goat Milk, Oatmeal and Honey soap lists goat milk and fragrance.
Patch test first
Put a small amount on your inner forearm, wait 24 hours, and watch for redness or itching before using a new product on your face. Stop use if irritation occurs.
Questions people ask
Does the first ingredient matter most?
The first few ingredients make up most of the formula, so they tell you what the product is mostly made of.
Does a long list mean a better product?
No. A short list can be a good fit and a long list can be too, so use the list to see what is in the product and what you want to avoid.
Why do some lists show percentages?
Some labels add a percentage, and when they do, it comes from the maker. If a percentage is not listed, see the product page.
What does fragrance-free mean on a list?
It means no fragrance entry appears in the ingredients, so check the list itself.
Charcoal Soap · Vitamin Glow Serum · Vitamin C Serum · Skin Firming Cream · Soap ingredient glossary · Take the 60-second quiz · Every ingredient is listed on the product page before you buy.
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