How to Check Skincare Ingredients

Reading skincare labels can feel overwhelming when you are faced with a long list of unfamiliar chemical names. But with a few basic principles, you can quickly identify potential concerns and make more informed choices about the products you use on your skin.

Understanding Ingredient Lists

In most countries, skincare products are required to list their ingredients using INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients)names. This standardised naming system means the same ingredient will have the same name regardless of the brand or country of origin.

Ingredients are listed in descending order of concentration. The first ingredient is present in the highest amount, and subsequent ingredients appear in decreasing order. This rule applies to all ingredients present at concentrations above 1%. Ingredients at 1% or below can be listed in any order, which is why you often see a cluster of ingredients near the end of the list that appear in no particular pattern.

Why Ingredient Order Matters

The position of an ingredient tells you a lot about its significance in the formula. Water is almost always first in water-based products. If a potentially irritating or comedogenic ingredient appears in the first five ingredients, it is present at a meaningful concentration and more likely to affect your skin. The same ingredient listed near the very end may be present in trace amounts and far less likely to cause issues.

How to Use the DermLabs Ingredient Checker

The fastest way to analyse a product's ingredient list is to use a tool like the DermLabs checker. Here is how to get started:

1. Copy the ingredient list from the product page, packaging, or retailer website. Most brands list full ingredients on their website.
2. Paste it into the checker on the DermLabs homepage. You can also upload a photo of the ingredient label and our OCR tool will extract the text for you.
3. Review the results. Each ingredient is cross-referenced against our database and flagged for pore-clogging risk, fungal acne triggers, pregnancy caution, and irritation potential.
4. Click on any flagged ingredient to learn more about why it was flagged and what the research says.

Tips for Ingredient-Conscious Shopping

• Know your triggers. Keep a note of ingredients that have caused you breakouts, irritation, or reactions in the past. This personal “avoid list” is more valuable than any generic comedogenic rating.
• Do not rely on marketing claims alone. Terms like “natural,” “clean,” and “dermatologist-tested” are not regulated and do not guarantee a product is safe for your skin. Always check the actual ingredient list.
• Introduce one new product at a time. If you add multiple new products simultaneously and experience a reaction, you will not know which product caused it. Wait at least two weeks before introducing the next new product.
• Patch test new products. Apply a small amount to your inner forearm or behind your ear for a few days before using it on your face.
• Consider the full formulation. A single ingredient does not define a product. The overall formulation, pH, and combination of ingredients all affect how a product performs on your skin.

Common Red Flags to Watch For

While everyone's skin is different, here are some ingredient categories that frequently cause issues:

• Fragrance/Parfum — one of the most common causes of contact dermatitis
• Denatured alcohol (alcohol denat.) — can be drying and irritating
• Isopropyl myristate — highly comedogenic (rated 5/5)
• Coconut oil — comedogenic rating of 4/5
• Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) — a harsh surfactant known to irritate