How to Properly Label Self-Made Skincare Products
Understanding INCI and Ingredient Listing
Creating your own skincare products is exciting and empowering. However, once you move beyond personal use, proper labelling becomes essential. Correct labels protect you legally, build customer trust, and help ensure your products meet accepted cosmetic standards.
One of the most important parts of skincare labelling is understanding INCI and how to list ingredients correctly.
What Does INCI Mean?
INCI stands for International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients.
It is a globally recognised naming system that provides standardised names for cosmetic ingredients, regardless of brand, supplier, or country. Each ingredient has one official INCI name, even if it is sold under multiple trade or brand names.
Why INCI Is Important
Using INCI names:
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Ensures clarity and transparency
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Allows consumers to easily identify ingredients
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Helps people with allergies avoid certain substances
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Is required or strongly recommended by cosmetic regulations worldwide
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Makes your product look professional and trustworthy
INCI Names vs Trade Names
Many raw materials are sold under trade names created by suppliers. These must not appear on ingredient lists.
Examples:
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Trade name: LexFeel® N5
Correct INCI: Coco-Caprylate/Caprate -
Trade name: Germall Plus
Correct INCI: Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
👉 Always check your supplier’s Technical Data Sheet (TDS) or Certificate of Analysis (COA) for the correct INCI name.
🚫 Never list trade names on your label.
How to List Ingredients Correctly
Ingredients must be listed in descending order of concentration, from highest to lowest.
The Basic Rule
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Ingredients above 1% → listed from highest to lowest
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Ingredients at 1% or less → may be listed in any order at the end
Step-by-Step Example
Formula Breakdown
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Water – 70%
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Aloe Vera Juice – 15%
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Sweet Almond Oil – 8%
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Emulsifier – 5%
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Vitamin E – 0.5%
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Preservative – 0.5%
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Essential Oil – 0.2%
Correct INCI Label
Aqua, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Glyceryl Stearate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol (and) Ethylhexylglycerin, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
✔ Uses INCI names only
✔ Listed from highest to lowest concentration
✔ Preservative and essential oil appear at the end
Using Botanical Ingredients
Botanical ingredients must be listed using their Latin (botanical) name, followed by the plant part.
Examples:
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Aloe Vera → Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
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Green Tea → Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
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Shea Butter → Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Fragrance and Essential Oils
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Fragrance oils: Listed as Parfum
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Essential oils: Listed by their INCI name (usually Latin)
⚠ Some regions require allergen declarations for fragrance components above certain levels. Always check your local cosmetic regulations.
Common Labelling Mistakes to Avoid
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Using trade names
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Listing ingredients out of order
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Using common names instead of INCI
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Forgetting to list preservatives
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Listing “active ingredients” separately (cosmetics do not use drug-style active lists)
What Else Should Be on a Skincare Label?
In addition to the ingredient list, your label should include:
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Product name
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Net weight or volume
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Directions for use
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Warnings (if applicable)
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Manufacturer or responsible person details
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Batch number or lot code
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Expiry date or PAO (Period After Opening)
Final Thoughts
Labelling your self-made skincare products correctly is just as important as formulating them well. Using INCI names, listing ingredients in the correct order, and avoiding trade names ensures your products are professional, compliant, and transparent.

