They are listed in order of concentration
The first ingredient is present in the highest quantity, the last in the lowest. If water is first, the product is mostly water. If an active ingredient is near the bottom of a long list, there is very little of it.
INCI names
Beauty ingredients are listed using INCI names — the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients. These are standardised names, often Latin or chemical, that can look impenetrable. Most reputable beauty brands now include a plain-English explanation alongside the INCI list, or publish one on their website.
What “fragrance” or “parfum” means
“Fragrance” or “parfum” on an ingredient list can refer to a blend of dozens of individual ingredients, none of which need to be listed separately. This is worth knowing if you have sensitive skin — and worth checking with the manufacturer if you want to confirm vegan status of the fragrance blend.
A useful resource
The Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database (ewg.org/skindeep) allows you to look up individual ingredients and see what they are derived from and any safety concerns. It is a US-focused resource but the ingredient information is universally applicable.
