The Basics: How Skincare Ingredients Are Listed

INCI Naming — The Universal Cosmetic Language

Skincare ingredients in the US are listed using INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) — a globally standardized naming system. This is why your moisturizer lists "Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil" instead of "sunflower oil," or "Butyrospermum Parkii" instead of "shea butter." The Latin botanical names can be intimidating, but once you know the system, every label becomes readable.

Descending Concentration Order

Ingredients are listed from highest to lowest concentration. The first ingredient is present in the largest amount (usually water — "Aqua" — in most liquid products). This ordering rule applies to all ingredients present at concentrations above 1%.

Important exception: Ingredients present at 1% or less can be listed in any order after the higher-concentration ingredients. This means fragrance, preservatives, colorants, and many active ingredients that are present in tiny amounts can appear anywhere in the bottom portion of the list — not necessarily at the very end.

The Cosmetic Allergen Labeling Gap

Here is the most important difference between food and skincare labels for our community: The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) applies to food — not to cosmetics.

Food manufacturers are required to clearly declare wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, and sesame in plain language. Cosmetic manufacturers are not. They can use "hydrolyzed Triticum vulgare protein" instead of "wheat protein." They can list "Prunus amygdalus" instead of "almond oil." There is no requirement to flag any of these as allergens.

This is why ingredient literacy is a survival skill for the celiac disease and food allergy community — not optional reading.

The Master Allergen Decoder: INCI Names to Know

🌾 Gluten-Containing Ingredients (Critical for Celiac Disease)

🥜 Common Food Allergen INCI Names in Skincare

🧪 Preservative Red Flags for Reactive Skin

🌸 Hidden Fragrance INCI Names (Even in "Unscented" Products)

These are individual fragrance compounds that sometimes appear as standalone ingredients rather than under the "fragrance" umbrella — and are just as allergenic:

• Linalool
• Limonene
• Geraniol
• Citronellol
• Eugenol
• Cinnamal
• Benzyl Alcohol
• Coumarin
• Isoeugenol
• Citral
• Farnesol
• Hydroxycitronellal

The EU requires these 26 fragrance allergens to be individually declared on cosmetic labels above certain concentrations. The US does not — but many brands now include them on labels anyway. If you see any of these, the product contains fragrance allergens regardless of whether "fragrance" appears as a separate ingredient.

The 5-Step Allergen Audit for Any Skincare Product

Use this protocol every time you consider a new skincare product:

1. Scan for fragrance/parfum first. If it's there, close the lid. It's the single highest-risk ingredient for reactive skin and there's no way to know what's inside it.
2. Search for your specific food allergens using their INCI names. Use the tables above. For celiac: scan for every wheat, barley, rye, and oat INCI name. For tree nut allergy: scan for almond, coconut, shea (confirm with allergist). For soy: Glycine soja in any form.
3. Check preservatives. Look for methylisothiazolinone (MI/MCI), formaldehyde-releasers, and parabens. If any are present on your reactive skin, consider alternatives.
4. Check for hidden fragrance INCI names (linalool, limonene, geraniol, etc.) in the lower portion of the ingredient list.
5. When in doubt, contact the brand. Ask directly: "Does this product contain any gluten-derived ingredients? Is it manufactured in a facility that processes [your allergen]?" EpiLynx answers "no" to both questions for our entire product line — because our customers need to know.

Why EpiLynx Ingredient Transparency Is Different

Most brands don't design their products for people who need to read their labels this carefully. EpiLynx was built by a pharmacist who does. Every formula is reviewed not just for efficacy but for:

• Complete absence of gluten-derived ingredients (wheat, barley, rye, unverified oats)
• Absence of the top 8 FDA food allergens in any form — including their INCI equivalents
• Fragrance-free — no synthetic fragrance, no essential oil fragrance blends
• Gentle, well-tolerated preservative systems — no MI/MCI, no formaldehyde-releasers
• Full INCI ingredient lists published and easily accessible

Explore the full EpiLynx Ingredients Glossary →

Shop all EpiLynx products — every one already audited for you →

Frequently Asked Questions

How are skincare ingredients listed on labels?

Using INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) — standardized Latin and chemical names, listed in descending concentration order. Ingredients at 1% or less can appear in any order in the lower portion of the list.

Are cosmetics required to list allergens the same way food is?

No — FALCPA applies to food, not cosmetics. Cosmetic manufacturers are not required to flag wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, or other food allergens in plain language. You must know the INCI names for your specific allergens. EpiLynx provides full ingredient transparency because our customers need it.

What does "fragrance" on a skincare label actually mean?

It's a legally protected trade secret that can represent hundreds of undisclosed chemical compounds — including known allergens and hormone disruptors. For allergy-prone and celiac skin, fragrance on any skincare label is a dealbreaker.

How do I find gluten in a skincare product ingredient list?

Search for: Triticum vulgare (wheat), Hordeum vulgare (barley), Secale cereale (rye), Avena sativa (oat), hydrolyzed wheat protein, wheat amino acids, and tocopherol without a specified non-wheat source. Use the tables in this article as your reference guide. Or choose EpiLynx — already verified gluten-free by a pharmacist. See our Ingredients Glossary →

Stop Decoding. Start Trusting.

EpiLynx is the only pharmacist-founded skincare brand where every formula has already been through the allergen audit — so you don't have to do it every time you shop.

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