INCI List Generation

Overview

The International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) system provides standardized names for cosmetic ingredients worldwide. Regulatory bodies in the US, EU, and most other markets require INCI names on product labels. Formuley automatically generates INCI ingredient lists from your formulas, sorted by concentration as regulations require. Basic INCI generation is available on all plans.

Accessing the INCI Generator

1. Navigate to INCI in the sidebar to open the INCI Generator at /inci.
2. Select the formula you want to generate an INCI list for.
3. Formuley instantly produces the INCI ingredient declaration based on your formula's ingredients and their concentrations.

You can also generate an INCI list from within the formula detail page by clicking the INCI List tab or button.

How INCI Sorting Works

Regulations require that ingredients be listed in descending order of concentration. Formuley follows these rules automatically:

• Ingredients at 1% or above are listed in descending order by their weight percentage in the formula. The ingredient present in the highest concentration appears first.
• Ingredients below 1% may be listed in any order after all ingredients at 1% and above. Formuley groups these at the end of the list and notes the threshold.
• Colorants may be listed at the end of the ingredient list in any order, prefixed with the CI (Colour Index) number where applicable.

This sorting is performed automatically every time you generate an INCI list, so any changes to your formula's ingredient percentages are immediately reflected.

INCI Names

Formuley uses the INCI name stored in each ingredient's database record. When you add an ingredient to your library, you can enter its INCI name alongside its common name. If an ingredient has an INCI name on file, the generator uses that name. If no INCI name is set, the generator falls back to the ingredient's common name and flags it for your review.

For accurate INCI lists, make sure your ingredients have their proper INCI names entered. Common sources for INCI names include supplier documentation, the Personal Care Products Council's International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, and CosIng (the EU's cosmetic ingredient database).

Allergen Flagging

When you generate an INCI list, Formuley also checks for the EU 26 allergens. If any of your ingredients contain known fragrance allergens above the regulatory threshold, they are:

• Flagged in the INCI list output with an allergen indicator.
• Listed separately in an allergen summary below the main ingredient list.
• Made available for inclusion on your product label via the Label Generator.

This allergen detection works regardless of your target market, since many markets beyond the EU also require or recommend allergen disclosure.

Copying and Using Your INCI List

Once the INCI list is generated, you have several options:

• Copy to Clipboard -- click the copy button to copy the formatted INCI list. You can paste it directly into your own label design software, product listings, or documentation.
• Send to Label Generator -- click the link to open the Label Generator with your INCI list pre-populated. From there you can design a complete product label. See Using the Label Generator for details.
• Export -- include the INCI list in compliance reports or product documentation exports.

Keeping INCI Lists Accurate

Your INCI list is generated dynamically from your current formula data. This means:

• If you change an ingredient's percentage, the sort order updates automatically.
• If you add or remove ingredients, the list reflects those changes immediately.
• If you update an ingredient's INCI name in the ingredient library, all formulas using that ingredient will reflect the new name the next time you generate the list.

There is no need to manually maintain INCI lists. Formuley always generates them from your latest formula data.

Tips

• Verify that every ingredient in your library has a correct INCI name. Missing or incorrect INCI names are the most common source of label errors.
• Use the allergen summary to ensure you are disclosing all required allergens, especially if you sell in the EU. For more on EU allergen requirements, see EU Cosmetics Regulation.
• If your formula includes water, its INCI name is "Aqua" (EU convention) or "Water" (US convention). Formuley supports both depending on your target market setting.
• Generate a fresh INCI list before every label print run to ensure it matches your current formula.