Ingredient transparency, mapped.
glossary.beauty is an independent cosmetic ingredient database that maps published INCI lists to a curated taxonomy. We parse every ingredient in every formula, preserve concentration ordering, and make it searchable — so you can understand exactly what goes on your skin.
What glossary.beauty does
glossary.beauty tracks 5,000+ published cosmetic formulas across 400+ brands, mapping 12,000+ canonical ingredients into a structured, searchable taxonomy. We cover 3 markets (US, CA, UK) and preserve the INCI ordering for every formula — so ingredient position 1 always reflects the dominant component. Every ingredient page includes aliases, functional classifications, category memberships, and evidence notes that trace each mapping back to its source.
Our methodology
INCI list extraction
Every published formula is sourced from brand websites, regulatory databases, and verified retail listings. Each ingredient list is tokenized against the INCI naming convention, splitting complex multi-word names and handling regional variations.
Canonical taxonomy mapping
Parsed ingredient names are matched to our canonical taxonomy through alias resolution. Each ingredient has a primary INCI name, approved aliases, functional classifications, and category memberships — all reviewed and maintained by our curation process.
Concentration-based ordering
INCI regulations require ingredients to be listed in descending order of concentration. glossary.beauty preserves this ordering for every formula, so position 1 always reflects the dominant ingredient. This lets you search and filter by actual composition, not marketing claims.
Data quality and provenance
Every ingredient-to-formula link in glossary.beauty carries a provenance record. We track which source provided the data, when it was captured, what confidence level was assigned, and what decision path led to the match. Evidence notes are published on each ingredient page so you can inspect the reasoning behind every taxonomy assignment.
Multi-source corroboration strengthens confidence: when the same ingredient appears in multiple independent sources for the same formula, we increase trust in that mapping.
Privacy and trust
glossary.beauty does not run third-party ad trackers, does not sell user data, and does not use affiliate links that could bias ingredient or product rankings. The taxonomy is maintained independently. Our goal is ingredient transparency — nothing in the platform is designed to steer you toward a purchase.
Explore the database
Browse 5,000+ published cosmetic formulas, filter by ingredient composition, and compare what's actually in your routine.
Browse formulas