01
Product type
A cleanser, serum, sunscreen, moisturizer, dye, and child-oriented product each has a different context.
Cosmetic ingredient reading library
Read ingredient listswith context.
FormulaSift Library explains cosmetic labels, INCI names, source quality, regulatory signals, and personal preference checks in a neutral way. The goal is not to rate every product, but to make each next step easier to verify.
Label readingIngredient dossiersSource checksSkin context
Common search paths
Start from the question, then verify the evidence.
Ingredient checkerUse scanners and scores without treating them as verdicts.Ingredient lookupCheck names, roles, synonyms, and practical reading limits.Concern checkSeparate acne, sensitivity, fragrance, and alcohol from universal rules.Product categoryRead cleansers, moisturizers, sunscreen, makeup, hair, and body products differently.Source qualityUse labels, regulatory sources, and ingredient databases for the right jobs.
Start here
A practical four-step reading order.
Ingredient lists are useful when read as structured clues, not as a complete formula. This order works for most skin care, makeup, sunscreen, and wash-off products.
02
Ingredient order
The first part often shows the base and texture. The end of the list often includes preservatives, fragrance, colorants, and low-level helpers.
03
Function groups
Group humectants, oils, silicones, surfactants, preservatives, UV filters, fragrance, and colorants before judging a single name.
04
Personal rules
Fragrance, alcohol, essential oils, acids, acne triggers, pregnancy, and child use are better handled as personal review rules.
Ingredient dictionary
Ingredient pages should answer more than “what is it?”
A useful ingredient page should answer more than a definition. Names, functions, source fields, product context, reading limits, and related categories all belong together so readers can verify the next step without relying on a simple score.
IndexBrowse all ingredients
The full dictionary index, organized for quick lookup and deeper reading.
NiacinamideNiacinamide
A common supporting active; the ingredient name alone does not confirm performance.
GlycerinGlycerin
A humectant and formula-base ingredient found across many categories.
Hyaluronic AcidHyaluronic Acid
Water-binding support where form, formula and climate matter.
RetinolRetinol
A retinoid-family active best read with concentration, packaging and tolerance.
Salicylic AcidSalicylic Acid
BHA context for exfoliating, acne-prone and scalp products.
PhenoxyethanolPhenoxyethanol
A common preservative component where source and use context matter.
Alcohol Denat.Alcohol Denat.
Different from fatty alcohols; placement and skin context are useful checks.
Titanium DioxideTitanium Dioxide
Can be a UV filter, pigment, or opacity agent depending on product type.
Page format
A practical reference, not a score sheet.
Ingredient reading works best when pages use a consistent structure: one question, clear source boundaries, related terms, and a next place to continue. The app stays separate from this reading path.
Ingredient dictionary
One ingredient per URL, with synonyms, common roles, source fields, limits, related categories, and internal links.
Concern hubs
Acne-prone skin, sensitivity, fragrance, alcohol, pregnancy, children, preservatives, and sunscreen filters become topic pages.
Product category guides
Cleansers, moisturizers, sunscreen, makeup, body care, and hair care need different reading rules.
Source notes
Every explanation separates label facts, database fields, regulatory boundaries, and personal preference.
Category paths
Product type changes the way an ingredient list should be read.
Source rhythm
Use sources in the right order.
Different sources answer different questions. A database entry, a regulation, a brand label, and user experience should not be treated as the same kind of evidence.
Read the label
Product type, use area, ingredient order, and function groups are the first available clues.
Check sources
CosIng, FDA materials, Health Canada Hotlist, and brand labels each answer a narrower question.
Add personal context
Fragrance, alcohol, acne triggers, and family use work best as explicit personal rules.
Product-level review
When you need to check a real product, use the app.
The library explains the reading framework. Formula Sift applies it to product records, ingredient tables, source notes, and personal review profiles.
Topic map
Enter by the question you actually have.
The pages are grouped around common reading paths: ingredient names, product categories, skin concerns, and source verification.
Ingredient lists
Order, function groups, and common reading mistakes
Best first read for understanding labels.
Start hereComedogenic / fungal acnePore-clogging, acne-prone, and sensitive-skin checks
Targeted concern checksFragrance and alcoholFragrance, parfum, Alcohol Denat., and fatty alcohols
Common preference checksSunscreenUV filters, film formers, pigments, and texture
Product category guidePreservativesWhy preservation is part of product design
Source-aware readingPregnancy / childrenConservative review without overgeneralizing
Family contextINCI / regulationNames, CosIng entries, annexes, and conditions
Check the basisCleansersSurfactants, low pH, residue, and after-wash feel
Product category guideMoisturizersHumectants, emollients, occlusives, and barrier context
Product category guideSourcesWhich ingredient sources to read first
Reference qualityReading library
Guides
Each article answers one practical question and links to the next useful source or guide.
How to read a cosmetic ingredient list
Ingredient order, function groups, and what labels cannot show.
INCI, CosIng, and regulatory references
How naming and regulatory sources fit together.
Pregnancy, children, fragrance, and alcohol checks
Separate general source signals from personal rules.
Fragrance, alcohol, and essential oils
Read similar-looking label terms more carefully.
How to read sunscreen ingredients
UV filters, pigments, film formers, and texture clues.
Preservatives in cosmetic formulas
Product safety, regulatory limits, and personal preference.
Acne-prone and sensitive skin
Use ingredient lists with your own history, not as a universal score.
How to read cleanser ingredients
Surfactants, fragrance, pH clues, acids, and wash-off context.
How to read moisturizer ingredients
Humectants, emollients, occlusives, actives, and barrier context.
Which sources to check first
Regulators, ingredient databases, brand labels, and third-party explanations.
Question index
Common questions mapped to useful pages.
These entry points keep the next step specific. Ingredient names, concern terms, product categories, and source terms answer different kinds of questions.
ingredient checkerskincare ingredient checkercleanser ingredient checkermoisturizer ingredientsINCI lookupcomedogenic checkerfungal acne checkerfragrance in skincareAlcohol Denat. meaningsunscreen filterstitanium dioxide in cosmeticsare preservatives safephenoxyethanol in cosmeticspregnancy skincare ingredientspore-clogging ingredientsniacinamide in skincarecosmetic ingredient glossary
FAQ
Common reading questions
Only partly. It can show names, order, and likely functions, but not full concentration, processing, stability, sensory feel, or your own tolerance.
No. They are better handled as context-specific checks or personal preferences. The right question is why you are checking them and what source supports the concern.
They may prioritize different evidence: regulation, comedogenicity ratings, research papers, user preference, or product positioning. Read the source and the question it answers.