Label check
Reading the one-percent ingredient-order exception
Ingredients at one percent or less can be listed in any order after ingredients above one percent. The label does not necessarily mark the point where that exception starts.
Part of Sensitive skin
This check covers US labels. Start with the exact package and variant you have, then use the steps below. Explore more skin & hair checks.
What to look at
- Read the whole list without inventing a cutoff line.
- Use a stated concentration only when the brand actually provides one.
- Treat close ordering differences near the end with caution.
Read this label.
A preservative appears before a plant extract
Illustrative excerpt · not a real productThis order alone cannot quantify either ingredient or establish which one is present at a higher amount within the lower-level group.
Why this reading matters
Cosmetic ingredients are generally ordered by predominance, with exceptions for ingredients at one percent or less and color additives. The list is not a table of ingredient concentrations. US Food and Drug Administration.
What the label cannot settle
The rule is a US labeling explanation, not a formula reconstruction tool.
Put the check to work
Compare the exact words and amounts on your package with the example. If a panel is missing, a photo is unreadable or the manufacturer has not disclosed a detail, keep that detail as unknown. A different flavor, shade or formulation needs its own check.
For the full reading method, use our skin & hair label guide. The sensitive skin guide adds context for your needs.
A useful next check
- Comparing two cosmetic ingredient lists
- Reading active and inactive cosmetic-drug ingredients
- Finding ingredients on the cosmetic carton
Sources read and this label example reviewed on 2026-09-23. Examples are illustrative, not product tests or clinical reviews.
Sources
- Cosmetics Labeling Guide US Food and Drug Administration · fda.gov US retail cosmetic ingredient declarations, including exceptions