The official dictionary for cosmetic ingredients is the INCI system (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) which has been  established in the early 1970’s by the Personal Care Products Council (former CTFA, Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association). Many countries, including the United States (but not Canada), Australia, Japan and the members of the European Union, require manufacturers of cosmetic ingredients to submit all new ingredients for registration in the INCI system.

If you intend to sell your cosmetic products, for legal labeling requirements, you need to use the official INCI name of the ingredients on the label. Currently, the inventory of INCI-registered ingredients comprises more than 12,000 names and the list is continuously growing. The complete INCI list can be obtained in CD-ROM or book format on the website of the Personal Care Products Council. We have compiled a list of more than 6'000 ingredients that are most commonly used. For your convenience we have listed the ingredients in 35 functional categories.

• Abrasives

• Absorbents

• Additives

• Anticorrosives

• Anti-Dandruff Agents

• Anti-Foaming Agents

• Antimicrobials

• Antioxidants

• Antiperspirants

• Antistatic Agents

• Binders

• Biological Additives

• Bleaching Agents

• Botanicals

• Buffering Agents

• Chelating Agents

• Colorants

• Denaturants

• Deodorants

• Depilating Agents

• Emollients

• Emulsifiers

• Emulsion Stabilizers

• Film-Formers

• Hair Dyes

• Humectants

• Opacifiers

• Oral Care Agents

• Oxidizing Agents

• Preservatives

• Propellants

• Reducing Agents

• Solvents

• Surfactants

• UV Absorbers

• Viscosity Enhancers