How to read the ingredient list on a skincare label

Every one of our bottles carries a full ingredient list, and so should anything you put on your skin. Reading it takes a minute once you know three rules.

First, ingredients are listed from the largest amount to the smallest. In our vetiver day cream, water and aloe juice come first, then sesame oil, then vetiver extract, and the fragrance oils sit near the end because they are used in tiny amounts. If an ingredient a product is named after appears near the bottom of the list, there is very little of it.

Second, most labels use standard botanical or chemical names, often in Latin. Crocus sativus is saffron, Curcuma longa is turmeric, Chrysopogon zizanioides is vetiver and Sesamum indicum is sesame oil. Preservatives also have long names, such as sodium benzoate or potassium sorbate. A water-based cream without any preservative will spoil within days, so a short preservative on the list is a sign of care, not a warning.

Third, look for the words that matter to you. If you react to fragrance, check for “parfum” or essential oils like rose, lavender or lemongrass. If you have a nut allergy, check for almond, walnut or shea. We also print the batch number and the date of making on every pack. If you are unsure about any ingredient, send us a photo of the label with your question, and we will reply with what it is and why it is there.