How to Get an INCI List for Your Cosmetic Product | Guide

How to Get an INCI List for Your Cosmetic Product

Every cosmetic product sold in the United States, European Union, and most global markets must display an International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) list on its label. Whether you are launching a serum, moisturizer, lip balm, or cleanser, the INCI list is not optional — it is a legal requirement under FDA labeling regulations (21 CFR 701.3) and the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC No 1223/2009). If you are an indie beauty founder wondering how to get an INCI list for your cosmetic product, this guide walks you through every realistic path — and shows you how the AJ Cosmo Labs app makes the process dramatically faster.

What Is an INCI List and Why Does It Matter?

INCI is a standardized naming system maintained by the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC). Instead of listing trade names or marketing names, every raw material in your formula is identified by its official INCI name. For example, shea butter is listed as Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, and witch hazel extract appears as Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract.

The INCI list serves several critical functions:

• It allows consumers with allergies or sensitivities to identify ingredients they need to avoid.
• It satisfies regulatory bodies that audit cosmetic labels for compliance.
• It is required by most retailers — including Amazon, Sephora, and Target — before they will list your product.
• It protects your brand from legal liability related to mislabeling.

Ingredients must appear in descending order of concentration (by weight at the time of formulation). Ingredients present at concentrations of 1% or less may be listed in any order after the last ingredient above 1%. Colorants are listed at the end using CI numbers or FDA color additive names.

Three Ways to Get an INCI List for Your Cosmetic Product

1. Hire a Cosmetic Chemist to Formulate and Document Your Product

The most reliable way to obtain a correct INCI list is to work with a qualified cosmetic chemist or cosmetic formulator. When a chemist develops your formula from scratch, they document every raw material, its supplier-provided INCI name, its concentration, and its function. At the end of formulation, you receive a complete INCI declaration alongside your formula sheet, stability data, and manufacturing instructions.

This is the gold-standard path because the chemist understands ingredient interactions, preservative efficacy, pH ranges, and regulatory nuances (such as which allergens must be individually declared in the EU under Annex III).

2. Request INCI Documentation from Your Contract Manufacturer

If you are using a turnkey or white-label contract manufacturer, the manufacturer should provide you with the INCI list for every SKU they produce on your behalf. Before signing a manufacturing agreement, confirm in writing that INCI documentation — along with Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for each raw material — is included in the deliverables. Reputable contract manufacturers keep current INCI dictionaries and verify each ingredient name against the PCPC database.

3. Compile the List Yourself Using Supplier TDS and the INCI Dictionary

If you formulate at home or in a small lab, you can build your own INCI list. For each raw material you use, request the Technical Data Sheet (TDS) from your supplier. The TDS should include the official INCI name. Cross-reference every name against the PCPC International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary & Handbook — the authoritative source. Keep in mind that some raw materials are blends (for example, an emulsifying wax may contain multiple INCI components), so you need to break each blend into its individual INCI constituents and account for their concentrations in your final formula.

This DIY approach works, but it carries risk. Errors in INCI naming, incorrect ordering, or missed allergen declarations can result in FDA warning letters, product recalls, or marketplace delistings. If you go this route, consider having a regulatory consultant review the final list before printing labels.

Common Mistakes Founders Make with INCI Lists

• Using marketing names instead of INCI names. "Vitamin E" is not an INCI name. The correct declaration is typically Tocopherol or Tocopheryl Acetate, depending on the form used.
• Omitting sub-ingredients of blends. A purchased "botanical complex" may contain five or more individual INCI ingredients plus a carrier solvent. Every component must appear on your label.
• Ignoring regional differences. The EU requires fragrance allergens above certain thresholds (e.g., Linalool, Limonene) to be individually listed. The FDA does not currently require this, but many global brands list them proactively.
• Listing water incorrectly. Water should appear as Aqua (INCI standard) or Water (accepted in the US). It is almost always the first ingredient by weight in emulsions.

Why Founders Use the AJ Cosmo Labs App

Finding a cosmetic chemist or contract manufacturer who can deliver a compliant INCI list — along with a production-ready formula — used to require weeks of cold emails and trade-show networking. AJ Cosmo Labs changes that. The AJ Cosmo Labs iPhone app is a B2B marketplace built specifically for the cosmetics industry (and 10 other CPG verticals), connecting indie founders directly with vetted professionals.

Here is what you can do inside the app:

• Post a project brief describing your product concept, target MOQ, desired ingredients, and timeline — cosmetic chemists and formulators respond directly.
• Browse manufacturers by MOQ to find contract manufacturers that match your production scale, whether you need 200 units or 20,000.
• Message vetted suppliers in real time to ask about INCI documentation, stability testing, and regulatory support before committing.
• Track samples through every stage of development so you know exactly when your test batch — and its accompanying INCI list — is ready for review.
• Use escrowed payments to protect both parties during formulation and manufacturing engagements.
• Get push updates whenever a supplier sends a quote, ships a sample, or uploads documentation like INCI lists and COAs.

How a Typical INCI Workflow Looks on AJ Cosmo Labs

Imagine you want to launch a hyaluronic acid serum. You open the AJ Cosmo Labs app and post a brief: "Looking for a cosmetic chemist to formulate a water-based hyaluronic acid serum with niacinamide. Need full INCI list, stability testing protocol, and scalable formula. Target MOQ 500 units." Within hours, qualified cosmetic chemists and contract manufacturers receive your brief and submit proposals. You compare credentials, ask follow-up questions via in-app messaging, and select a partner — all from your phone.

Once your chemist finalizes the formula, they upload the complete INCI declaration and supporting documents directly into your project dashboard. You download the file, hand it to your label designer, and move toward production with confidence that your INCI list is accurate and compliant.

Download AJ Cosmo Labs and Get Your INCI List Right

A correct INCI list is the foundation of a compliant, retail-ready cosmetic product. Whether you need a cosmetic chemist to formulate from scratch, a contract manufacturer to supply turnkey documentation, or a regulatory consultant to review your existing list, AJ Cosmo Labs puts the right professionals at your fingertips.

Download AJ Cosmo Labs from the App Store today, post your first project brief, and connect with cosmetic chemists and manufacturers who deliver accurate INCI lists alongside production-ready formulas. Your product launch starts with one install.