GET THE 411 ON LABELS

In our everyday lives, labels can be—well—kind of uncool.

When it comes to the Honey Pot, however, we take our labeling pretty seriously. In an attempt to make things even more official, we’ve adopted INCI (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient) across all of our products. “What could that possibly mean you ask?” TL;DR: an INCI name is the actual Latin Name (or Botanical Name) of an ingredient (i.e. seeing menthol on our ingredient label instead of mint). 

Consider this blog the ultimate trivia topic that will make your friends think you accidentally know absolutely everything.

What is INCI?

INCI names leverage internationally recognized names of ingredients. In layman's terms: INCI is a systematic way to make sure that cosmetic ingredients can be identified all over the world, no matter where you’re from or who is making them.

Even though something as small as a name of an ingredient can seem innocuous, there is actually a ton of oversight when it comes to the nomenclature behind INCI. In fact, the International Nomenclature Committee (INC) and the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) work together to provide oversight for the process. While the INC develops the terms, the PCPC publishes them in the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook. We know. Serious stuff. 

This process ensures streamlined information across a worldwide science-based dictionary for harmonized nomenclature in the industry.

Why does INCI matter?

Think of INCI like a cosmetic ingredient Rosetta Stone. It creates a uniform labeling system that makes it easy for dermatological specialists and other industry leaders to share scientific information as well as keep track of the safety and regulatory status of ingredients at a global scale. The result: Less overall confusion or misidentification and better labeling transparency for consumers worldwide. 

Ordering of Ingredients

Ingredients are listed from highest to lowest concentration. This means that the first ingredient listed is always the one present in the highest concentration. For example, if the first ingredient listed is water, the product is likely to contain, mostly, water. Ingredients present at a concentration lower or equal to 1% can be listed in any order.  Last ingredients should not be ignored; functional ingredients can be active and beneficial  at lower doses.

Symbols of Importance

Included on our packaging are identifying symbols that we think are important for our humans. A cruelty-free symbol may be important to someone pursuing an animal-friendly lifestyle. If you want to use products that are 100% organic, look for the USDA certification. The expiration date is attached to the batch or lot number which is located at the bottom of the bottle. 

SOURCES

https://www.personalcarecouncil.org/resources/inci/  https://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/library/inci.asp?pop=1

https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-labeling-regulations/cosmetics-labeling-guide