Skincare ingredient lists use standard INCI names and generally run from most to least. Water often comes first, and active ingredients can sit near the end. Position gives a rough idea of quantity, but only published percentages tell you the real amount of an ingredient.
What does the order mean?
Ingredients are generally listed from highest to lowest amount. In our Copper Peptide Serum, that order runs from aqua at 86.5393% to hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate at 0.0015%.
Order alone can still mislead. An ingredient at 0.5% may sit fifth on a short list and twentieth on a long one.
Why do peptides appear near the end?
Many peptides are used at low levels, so they often come last. In our Peptide Eye Cream, four peptides are among the final seven of 57 ingredients. That does not make them useless, but it does mean you should be wary of a product sold on peptide strength alone.
What are common ingredient names?
| Label name | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| Aqua | Water |
| Glycerin | Hydrator |
| Sodium Hyaluronate | Form of hyaluronic acid |
| Panthenol | Pro-vitamin B5 |
| Niacinamide | Vitamin B3 |
| Copper Tripeptide-1 | Copper peptide, GHK-Cu |
| Sodium DNA | DNA-derived ingredient |
| Phenoxyethanol | Preservative |
How do you check a product in one minute?
- Find the active that the front of the pack promotes.
- Check its position and any published percentage.
- Scan for what you avoid, such as fragrance or an allergen.
- Check the claim matches what is in the formula.
Paste any list into our free peptide ingredient checker to do this automatically.
Common questions
What does INCI stand for?
INCI stands for International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients. It gives each ingredient a standard name, so the same material can be recognised on labels from different brands and countries.
Is a short ingredient list always better?
No. A long list can be gentle and a short one can be harsh. What matters is what the ingredients are and how they suit your skin, not how many there are.