ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients

Have you ever looked at the back of your shampoo bottle or your lotion and saw a big list of words you didn't understand? Those words are the names of the ingredients that are used to make your shampoo or lotion.

But when people in different parts of the world read that list, they might not understand what the ingredients are because they might have a different name for it. For example, in one country, an ingredient might be called "sodium lauryl sulfate" but in another country, it might be called "sodium dodecyl sulfate". This can cause confusion for people who use these products or make them.

To avoid confusion, there is a special system called the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) that is used all over the world. INCI is a way to standardize the names of ingredients so that everyone can understand what is in their products, no matter what language they speak.

Under this system, each ingredient is given a unique name that is recognized worldwide. This means that if you read "sodium lauryl sulfate" on a shampoo bottle in one country, you will understand that it is the same thing as "sodium dodecyl sulfate" in another country.

The INCI system also requires that the ingredients are listed in order of quantity, with the most used ingredient listed first. This helps people who have allergies or sensitivities to certain ingredients to avoid products that might have these ingredients in them.

Overall, the INCI system is an important way to make sure that we all know what we are putting on our skin and hair, no matter where we are in the world!