How to Read an Ingredient Label: INCI Names, Food Labels and Supplement Facts
How US cosmetic, food and supplement labels list ingredients: INCI names, order of amounts, fragrance, allergens, Nutrition Facts and Supplement Facts, and what words like natural mean.
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Three kinds of label compared
| Cosmetics and skin care | Packaged foods | Dietary supplements | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ingredient list | Names in descending order of predominance. Fragrance or flavor may be listed simply as "fragrance" or "flavor." [1] | Common or usual names in descending order of predominance by weight. [2] | A Supplement Facts panel plus an ingredient statement for other ingredients. [3] |
| Exceptions | Ingredients at not more than 1 percent may be listed in any order. [1] | Ingredients at 2 percent or less by weight can be grouped at the end after a quantifying statement. [2] | Proprietary blends are named as such, then their parts are listed. [3] |
| Allergens | FDA does not have the same legal authority to require allergen labeling as for food. [4] | The law requires labels to identify the food source of major allergens. [5] | Food allergen rules apply to most packaged foods, and FDA says that includes dietary supplements. [5] |
| Before sale | Cosmetics and their ingredients, other than color additives, do not need FDA approval before sale. [6] | See Reading Food Labels. | FDA does not have the authority to approve dietary supplements before they are marketed. [7] |
Cosmetics: INCI names and "fragrance"
INCI stands for International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient. The Personal Care Products Council, an industry trade association, describes INCI names as systematic names, recognized internationally, that identify cosmetic ingredients. It also says that having an INCI name does not mean an ingredient is approved for cosmetics or safe. [8]US rules point to named reference dictionaries for ingredient names and, failing that, to the name generally recognized by consumers. [1] In practice, plant-derived ingredients can appear in botanical style. FDA's allergen page, for example, lists "Citrus Limon Peel Oil (Lemon)." [9] If a name is unfamiliar, a pharmacist can help you identify it.
Two cautions. First, "fragrance" can stand for many undisclosed ingredients, and some products labeled "unscented" may still contain fragrance ingredients. [9][4] Second, FDA says it is not enough to check for terms such as "hypoallergenic," "fragrance-free" or "for sensitive skin," because no federal standard defines them. [9] For allergy detail see Natural Does Not Mean Hypoallergenic.
Foods: ingredient list, allergens and Nutrition Facts
- Allergens: the law requires the food source of a major allergen to be named, either in parentheses, such as "lecithin (soy)," or in a "contains" statement. [5] The nine major allergens are milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. [5]
- "May contain" statements: these advisory statements are not required by law. [5] FDA has not established a threshold level for any allergens. [5]
- Nutrition Facts: FDA advises checking serving size and how many servings are in the package. A nutrient at 5% Daily Value or less per serving is considered low, and 20% or more is considered high. [10]
- Added sugars: FDA counts sugars from syrups and honey as added sugars, with a Daily Value of 50 grams per day based on a 2,000 calorie diet. [11] See Natural Sweeteners.
Supplements: Supplement Facts
FDA's labeling guide, written for manufacturers, explains how a supplement label differs from a food label. The Supplement Facts panel must include the part of the plant from which a dietary ingredient comes, and it may list the source of an ingredient. [3] Binders, fillers and other ingredients that are not dietary ingredients go in the ingredient statement. [3] FDA describes these "other ingredients" as including fillers, binders, excipients, preservatives, sweeteners and flavorings. [7]The statement "not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease" is a required disclaimer when a product makes certain claims. [7] For a full walkthrough, see Reading Supplement Labels, and for testing seals see Quality Testing and Certifications.
What claims on the front do and do not mean
| Word | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Natural (food) | FDA has not engaged in rulemaking to define it. It has considered the term to mean nothing artificial or synthetic has been added that would not normally be expected in the food. [12] |
| Natural or organic (cosmetics) | FDA does not have regulations defining either term for cosmetics. [13] USDA's National Organic Program has its own definition for agricultural ingredients. [14] |
| Organic and safety | An ingredient's source does not determine its safety. [14] |
| Hypoallergenic | No federal standard or definition. [15] |
See also What Does "Natural" Mean?.
What a label cannot tell you
A label lists what the maker says is in the product. FDA does not approve cosmetics or their ingredients (other than color additives) before sale, and generally does not approve supplement claims or other labeling before use. [6][7] In a supplement's proprietary blend, the label gives the blend's total weight, not each ingredient's amount. [3] The label rules we read cover what must be listed, not testing for contamination; see Product Quality and Contamination. Ask a pharmacist or clinician about any ingredient you do not recognize, especially if you take prescribed medicines. See How Interactions Work.Frequently asked questions
What does INCI mean on a label?
It stands for International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient, a system of internationally recognized names for cosmetic ingredients. Having an INCI name does not mean an ingredient is approved or safe. [8]
Are ingredients listed in order of amount?
Usually. Cosmetic and food labels list ingredients in descending order of predominance, with exceptions for ingredients at 1 percent or less in cosmetics and 2 percent or less in foods. [1][2]
Why does a label say only "fragrance"?
US rules allow fragrance and flavor to be listed simply as "fragrance" or "flavor," because the labeling law cannot be used to force a company to reveal trade secrets. [4]
Is the Supplement Facts panel the same as Nutrition Facts?
No. For supplements, the panel must include the plant part for a plant-derived ingredient, which a food Nutrition Facts panel cannot list. [3]
Does "natural" on a label have a legal definition?
For food, FDA has a longstanding policy but has not made a formal definition by rulemaking. For cosmetics, FDA says it has no regulations defining "natural." [12][13]
References
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 21 CFR 701.3. Designation of ingredients (cosmetics). Read 2026-10-23.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 21 CFR 101.4. Food; designation of ingredients. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dietary Supplement Labeling Guide: Chapter IV, Nutrition Labeling. Guidance written for manufacturers. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Fragrances in Cosmetics. Page dated 2022. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Food Allergies. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA Authority Over Cosmetics: How Cosmetics Are Not FDA-Approved, but Are FDA-Regulated. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements. Read 2026-10-23.
- Personal Care Products Council (a cosmetics industry trade association). INCI: International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Allergens in Cosmetics Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Added Sugars on the Nutrition Facts Label. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Use of the Term Natural on Food Labeling. Page dated 2018. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Aromatherapy. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "Organic" Cosmetics. Page dated 2010. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "Hypoallergenic" Cosmetics. Page dated 2000. Read 2026-10-23.