List of cosmetic ingredients

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ingredients of cosmetic products are listed following International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Incredients (INCI). These INCI names often differ greatly from systematic chemical nomenclature or from more common trivial names.

The below tables are sorted as follows:

INCI name chemical meaning - structure, name or description [1] purpose - role(s) in a cosmetic formulation[2][3][4][5]

Contents

[edit] A

alcohol denat. denatured alcohol, ethanol made unsuitable for drinking, often via addition of denatonium. solvent, carrier, astringent
alkyl benzoate C12 - C15 benzoic acid ester, PhCOO(CH2)11-14CH3  ?
allantoin N-(2,5-dioxo-4-imidazolidinyl)urea stops bleeding of cuts from shaving
alpha-isomethyl ionone 3-methyl-4-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-2-enyl)but-3-en-2-one  ?
aluminium chlorohydrate basic aluminium chloride Al2(OH)5Cl or Al2(OH)xCl6-x (0<x<6) antitranspirant
aqua water solvent
ascorbyl palmitate [2-(4,5-dihydroxy-3-oxo-2-furyl)-2-hydroxy-ethyl] hexadecanoate

[edit] B

butane butane C4H10 propellant (pressurized dispenser)
butyrospermum parkii shea butter, vegetable fat made from nuts of african shea tree moisturizer

[edit] H

hydroxyethyl-cellulose Cellulose fibre from wood pulp with –OCH2CH2OH groups added gives body
hydroxypropyl-cellulose Cellulose fibre from wood pulp with –OCH2CH(OH)CH3 groups added gives body

[edit] I

isobutane Isobutane (CH3)2CHCH3 propellant (pressurized dispenser)
isopentane Isopentane (CH3)2CHCH2CH3 propellant (pressurized dispenser)

[edit] P

propane Propane CH3CH2CH3 propellant (pressurized dispenser)

[edit] S

sodium hydroxide Sodium hydroxide NaOH base

[edit] T

triethanolamine N(CH2CH2OH)3 base, emulsifier

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ several databases yield the chemical meaning, e.g.:
    • chemexper supplier portal / search engine accepting INCI nomenclature
  2. ^ J. Clayden, N. Greeves, S. Warren: Organic Chemistry, ISBN 0-1985-0346-6, 2001
  3. ^ Linda D. Rhein, Martin M. Rieger: Surfactants in Cosmetics, Revised and expanded, ISBN 0-8247-9805-8, 1997
  4. ^ Natalia Michalun, Varinia Michalun: Milady's Skin Care and Cosmetics Ingredients Dictionary, ISBN 1-5625-3660-5, 2000
  5. ^ Ben Selinger, Chemistry in the Marketplace, ISBN 1-8650-8255-4, 1998