INCI Ingredient Checker

The global cosmetics industry generates over $400 billion in revenue each year, yet navigating ingredient regulations across different markets remains one of the most complex challenges facing beauty brands. Each country or region maintains its own list of permitted, restricted, and prohibited ingredients, often with different concentration limits, labeling requirements, and notification procedures. A single ingredient that is freely used in one market may be outright banned in another, or allowed only at specific concentrations for specific product categories. For brands selling internationally, understanding these differences is not optional -- it is essential for market access, consumer safety, and avoiding costly regulatory actions including product recalls, import bans, and legal penalties.

This free INCI Ingredient Checker provides an instant snapshot of how common cosmetic ingredients are regulated across major markets. While it covers the most frequently flagged substances, the full regulatory landscape is far more nuanced. Below, we break down the regulatory frameworks for the most important cosmetic markets and highlight commonly restricted ingredients that trip up brands of every size.

US (FDA / MoCRA)

In the United States, cosmetics are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, significantly updated by the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) signed into law in December 2022. Historically, the US took a relatively permissive approach compared to the EU -- there was no pre-market approval requirement, no mandatory ingredient notification, and the list of explicitly banned ingredients was short (only about 11 substances or classes).

MoCRA changed the landscape substantially. Cosmetic facilities must now register with the FDA and list their products and ingredients. The FDA gained authority to mandate recalls, require Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and demand adverse event reporting. Companies must also maintain safety substantiation records for every marketed product. While MoCRA did not immediately expand the banned ingredient list, it gave the FDA enhanced authority to review and restrict ingredients based on safety data. The practical effect is that brands selling in the US must now maintain far more rigorous documentation and can no longer rely on the historically light-touch regulatory environment.

Color additives in the US have long required pre-market approval and batch certification. Ingredients that cause a cosmetic to make drug claims (such as anti-acne, sunscreen, or anti-dandruff claims) push the product into the drug category, triggering an entirely different regulatory pathway including monograph compliance or New Drug Application (NDA) requirements.

European Union (EC 1223/2009)

The European Union has the most comprehensive cosmetic ingredient regulation in the world, codified in Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. This regulation establishes a framework of annexes that define which ingredients can, cannot, or may conditionally be used in cosmetic products sold within the EU market:

• Annex II lists prohibited substances -- over 1,600 ingredients that may not be used in cosmetic products under any circumstances. This list is regularly updated as new safety data emerges from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).
• Annex III lists restricted substances -- ingredients that are permitted but only under specific conditions, such as maximum concentration limits, restrictions to certain product types (rinse-off vs. leave-on), mandatory label warnings, or prohibition in products intended for children.
• Annex IV lists permitted colorants, Annex V lists permitted preservatives, and Annex VI lists permitted UV filters, each with their own concentration limits and conditions of use.

Before placing a cosmetic product on the EU market, a Responsible Person must ensure a Product Information File (PIF) is prepared, including a Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR), and the product must be notified through the Cosmetic Products Notification Portal (CPNP). The EU also requires animal testing bans for cosmetic ingredients and finished products, enforced since 2013, making it one of the strictest markets globally for both ingredient safety and ethical testing standards.

Canada (Health Canada)

Canada regulates cosmetics under the Food and Drugs Act and its associated Cosmetic Regulations. The primary reference for ingredient compliance is the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist, officially titled the "List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients." This list is maintained by Health Canada and identifies substances that are either prohibited outright or restricted to certain concentrations and conditions.

The Hotlist draws heavily from international assessments, particularly EU evaluations, but Canada maintains its own independent review process. Cosmetic products must be notified to Health Canada via the Cosmetic Notification Form (CNF) within 10 days of first sale. Canada also requires bilingual labeling (English and French) and full INCI ingredient lists on packaging. Certain product categories, such as sunscreens, are classified as Natural Health Products (NHPs) rather than cosmetics, requiring a separate licensing process through the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD).

United Kingdom

Following Brexit, the United Kingdom established its own cosmetic regulatory framework separate from the EU, governed by the Product Safety and Metrology etc. (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations. In practice, the UK transposed the full text of EC 1223/2009 into domestic law, meaning the prohibited and restricted ingredient lists are largely identical to the EU's at the point of separation. However, the UK is now free to diverge from future EU updates, and over time the two frameworks may develop differences.

The UK requires cosmetic products to be notified through the Submit Cosmetic Product Notifications (SCPN) portal, and a UK-based Responsible Person must be designated. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) enforces compliance. Brands that previously relied on EU notification alone must now maintain separate notifications for the UK market if they wish to continue selling in Great Britain. Northern Ireland follows a hybrid arrangement under the Windsor Framework, where EU regulations continue to apply.

Commonly Restricted Ingredients

The following ingredients are among the most frequently flagged in cosmetic compliance reviews. They represent substances where regulations differ significantly across markets, making them particularly risky for brands formulating for international sale:

1. Hydroquinone -- Banned in EU cosmetics (Annex II) due to safety concerns around ochronosis and potential carcinogenicity. In the US, it is available over-the-counter at up to 2% for skin lightening (regulated as an OTC drug, not a cosmetic). Canada restricts it on the Hotlist.
2. Retinol / Retinyl Palmitate -- Widely used in anti-aging products. The EU recently introduced concentration limits (0.3% retinol equivalent in body lotions, 0.05% in lip products) effective 2025. No specific limit in the US when used as a cosmetic ingredient.
3. Salicylic Acid -- In the EU, restricted to a maximum of 2% in rinse-off hair products and 0.5% in other leave-on products (with exceptions). In the US, salicylic acid above 0.5% in acne products is regulated as an OTC drug.
4. Triclosan -- Banned in the EU for all cosmetic uses except toothpaste (max 0.3%) and hand/body soap (restricted). The US FDA banned it from over-the-counter antiseptic wash products in 2016 but it remains permitted in other cosmetic products at limited concentrations.
5. Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Releasers -- The EU bans free formaldehyde in cosmetics and restricts formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (DMDM Hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Diazolidinyl Urea) with mandatory "contains formaldehyde" labeling above 0.05%. Many markets are tightening restrictions.
6. Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891) -- Permitted as a colorant and UV filter globally, but the EU banned it in spray products (inhalation risk) and restricted nano-form TiO2. SCCS opinions have driven further review.
7. Parabens (Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben) -- The EU restricts propylparaben and butylparaben to 0.14% (as acid) and bans them in leave-on products for children under 3 (nappy area). Methylparaben and ethylparaben are permitted up to 0.4% individually or 0.8% as mixtures. Other markets have varying limits.
8. Kojic Acid -- Used as a skin-lightening agent. Restricted or requires specific safety assessments in many markets. Not explicitly listed in EU Annex II/III but may fall under general safety requirements depending on concentration and claims.
9. Coal Tar Dyes -- Several coal tar-derived colorants are banned in the EU and Canada but permitted in the US (where they require FDA batch certification). D&C Red No. 6 and FD&C Yellow No. 5 are examples of dyes with divergent regulatory status across markets.
10. Phenoxyethanol -- A widely used preservative, permitted in the EU at up to 1.0%. Japan restricts it to 1.0% as well. Some markets impose lower limits for products intended for infants or mucous membranes. Often used as a paraben alternative, but not without its own regulatory considerations.

These are only a fraction of the substances that require careful regulatory review. Fragrance allergens, nanomaterials, PFAS compounds, and endocrine disruptors are all areas of active regulatory development across multiple jurisdictions. Staying current with ingredient regulations is a continuous process -- not a one-time check.