How to List Ingredients on Natural Skincare Product Labels

Ingredients on a cosmetic or skincare label must be listed in descending order by weight, from the ingredient that makes up the largest percentage of the product down to the smallest. The names you use depend on whether you're selling as a cosmetic under FDA rules, a true soap under a different regime, or a product that falls under state cosmetic law. Check your local requirements and the FDA's guidance for your product category before you print.

The order is by weight, not by importance

The first ingredient listed is the one present in the highest percentage. The last is the one present in the smallest amount. This is not negotiable—it's how regulators and informed customers read what's actually in your jar. If your body butter is 40% shea butter, 30% coconut oil, 20% beeswax, and 10% fragrance, that is the order they appear on your label, regardless of which ingredient you think is the "hero" of the formula.

Ingredients present at 1% or less may be listed in any order after the 1% threshold is crossed. This gives you a small amount of flexibility at the tail end of your list, but only there.

INCI names versus common names

INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) is the standardized naming system used on cosmetic labels sold in most markets. Under FDA cosmetic rules, INCI names are required on labels for products sold in the United States.

Common names—"shea butter," "jojoba oil," "vitamin E"—are not sufficient on their own. The INCI equivalent of shea butter is *Butyrospermum parkii* (butter). Jojoba oil is *Simmondsia chinensis* (oil). Vitamin E is *Tocopherol*.

If you are making true soap (a product made by saponifying fats with lye), soap labeling follows different rules and does not require INCI names. If you are making a cosmetic product—a lotion, balm, or butter that is not made through saponification—you must use INCI names.

Research your specific product type and your state's requirements. The FDA website has guidance for cosmetics; your state agriculture department may have additional rules for products made in a home kitchen.

Three ingredient list examples

Body Butter (8 oz jar)

Butyrospermum parkii (butter), Cocos nucifera (oil), Cera alba, Tocopherol, Fragrance

This body butter is roughly 40% shea butter, 30% coconut oil, 20% beeswax, 5% vitamin E, and 5% fragrance. The order reflects the weight percentages.

Lip Balm (0.15 oz tin)

Cera alba, Cocos nucifera (oil), Ricinus communis (oil), Tocopherol, Flavor

This lip balm is approximately 50% beeswax, 25% coconut oil, 15% castor oil, 5% vitamin E, and 5% flavor oil. The beeswax, which gives the balm its structure, is the largest component by weight.

Lotion Bar (2 oz)

Butyrospermum parkii (butter), Theobroma cacao (butter), Cera alba, Prunus amygdalus dulcis (oil), Tocopherol, Fragrance

This solid lotion bar is roughly 35% shea butter, 25% cocoa butter, 20% beeswax, 10% sweet almond oil, 5% vitamin E, and 5% fragrance. Again, the order is by weight, not by benefit.

Why this matters to your customers

Customers who choose natural skincare are often reading your ingredient list carefully. They want to know what percentage of the product is actually the ingredient they are paying for. A body butter that lists coconut oil first is a very different product from one where coconut oil appears fourth. The descending-order requirement means your label is telling the truth about what is actually in the jar.

This transparency builds trust. A maker who lists ingredients correctly signals that they understand their product and their responsibility to the person using it. It also protects you: if a customer has a reaction or an allergy concern, your accurate ingredient list is your documentation.

Before you print

Verify your product category with the FDA or your state's cosmetic authority. Confirm whether your product qualifies as a cosmetic, a true soap, or something else—the category determines which naming system applies. If you are selling across state lines or online, you may need to meet federal cosmetic standards even if your state has different rules.

Write out your ingredient list in order by weight percentage. Double-check the INCI names against the official INCI dictionary or the FDA's cosmetic ingredient database. Print a test label and compare it to products you know are compliant. If you are uncertain, consult your state agriculture department or a cosmetic labeling specialist before you commit to a full print run.

Your label is your contract with the customer. Get the ingredient list right the first time.