Data & Research · Reference
Australian Cosmetic Ingredients Explorer
Search cosmetic ingredients by name or INCI name. Official AICIS Inventory facts, EU cosmetic regulation entries and our sourced reference notes are shown separately. An AICIS listing is not approval for cosmetic use.
- 39,823chemicals in the AICIS Inventory snapshotas at 2 June 2026; industrial chemicals of all uses
- 19ingredients with a Cosmetic.com.au reference record0 with a full reference page
- 2,385entries in EU cosmetics annexes II to VICosIng, updated 13 October 2026
Search ingredients
19 results
Azelaic acid
INCI: AZELAIC ACID
Azelaic acid is a dicarboxylic acid used in therapeutic creams and gels for acne and rosacea, mostly at 15% to 20%, and in some cosmetics at lower strengths. In Australia, dermal therapeutic products are Pharmacy Medicines (Schedule 2), and all other products, including cosmetics, are Schedule 5 and need first aid and safety labelling.
- Documented function
- Buffering (pH), Fragrance and masking
Benzoyl peroxide
INCI: BENZOYL PEROXIDE
Benzoyl peroxide is an oxidising agent used on the skin to treat acne. In Australia, skin products with 5% or less are unscheduled, 5% to 10% are pharmacy medicines and stronger products need a prescription. Acne claims make a product a therapeutic good.
Ceramides
INCI: CERAMIDE NP, CERAMIDE AP, CERAMIDE NS, CERAMIDE EOP, CERAMIDE EOS, CERAMIDE NG, CERAMIDE AS
Ceramides are lipids that make up about half of the lipid weight of the skin's outer layer. Cosmetic ceramides are listed in CosIng under separate INCI names such as Ceramide NP, AP and EOP, mainly as skin and hair conditioning ingredients.
- Documented function
- Skin conditioning
Glycerin
INCI: GLYCERIN
Glycerin (glycerol) is a humectant and skin conditioning ingredient with ten functions listed in CosIng. A Cochrane review found high-certainty evidence that glycerol-containing creams lowered eczema severity scores compared with control, though by less than the minimal important difference.
- Documented function
- Humectants, Skin protecting, Fragrance and masking
Glycolic acid
INCI: GLYCOLIC ACID, AMMONIUM GLYCOLATE, SODIUM GLYCOLATE
Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid used in exfoliating skin care and in salon and clinic chemical peels. In Australia, cosmetic products containing it are Schedule 6 poisons unless they are 5% or less, 20% or less at pH 3.5 or above, or salon-only products labelled under workplace safety laws.
- Documented function
- Buffering (pH)
Hyaluronic acid
INCI: HYALURONIC ACID, SODIUM HYALURONATE
Hyaluronic acid and its salt sodium hyaluronate are listed in CosIng as humectants and skin conditioning ingredients. In Australia, hyaluronic acid in preparations for injection or implantation, such as dermal fillers, is a prescription-only (Schedule 4) substance, while topical cosmetic use is not covered by that entry.
- Documented function
- Humectants, Moisturising, Skin conditioning
Hydroquinone
INCI: HYDROQUINONE
Hydroquinone inhibits melanin production and is used to lighten skin pigmentation such as melasma. In Australia, skin products with 2% or less are pharmacy medicines (Schedule 2) and stronger products need a prescription (Schedule 4). The EU prohibits it in cosmetics except professional nail systems.
- Documented function
- Antioxidants, Bleaching, Colourants, Fragrance and masking
Lactic acid
INCI: LACTIC ACID, SODIUM LACTATE, AMMONIUM LACTATE
Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid used in cosmetics as a buffering agent, humectant and skin conditioning agent, and in salon and clinic chemical peels. It is not listed in the Poisons Standard as at October 2026, although AICIS recommended in 2022 that it be scheduled.
- Documented function
- Buffering (pH), Humectants, Skin conditioning
Niacinamide
INCI: NIACINAMIDE
Niacinamide is the INCI name for nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3. Small split-face trials of 4 to 5% niacinamide creams over 8 to 12 weeks have reported changes in hyperpigmented spots and fine lines compared with the cream base alone.
Panthenol
INCI: PANTHENOL
Panthenol is the alcohol form of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). CosIng lists it as a skin conditioning, hair conditioning and antistatic agent, and a small placebo-controlled study reported improved skin hydration and barrier measurements.
- Documented function
- Skin conditioning
Peptides (cosmetic peptides)
INCI: PALMITOYL PENTAPEPTIDE-4, PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-1, ACETYL HEXAPEPTIDE-8, COPPER TRIPEPTIDE-1
Cosmetic peptides are short chains of amino acids. The four covered here are listed in CosIng as skin conditioning agents, and the clinical evidence for them comes from small, short trials.
Retinol
INCI: RETINOL, RETINYL PALMITATE, RETINAL
Retinol is a form of vitamin A used in cosmetics as a skin conditioning ingredient. From November 2025 the EU caps it at 0.3% retinol equivalent in most products, and in Australia vitamin A is a prescription-only medicine except in topical preparations containing 1% or less.
- Documented function
- Skin conditioning
Salicylic acid
INCI: SALICYLIC ACID
Salicylic acid is used in cosmetics as a keratolytic, skin conditioning and preservative ingredient, and at higher strengths in chemical peels. In Australia, dermal preparations above 40% are Schedule 3 (Pharmacist Only), and a 2026 proposal would set a 5% limit for unscheduled dermal cosmetics.
- Documented function
- Exfoliating, Fragrance and masking, Preservatives, Skin conditioning
Titanium dioxide
INCI: TITANIUM DIOXIDE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (NANO), CI 77891
Titanium dioxide is an inorganic mineral used as a UV filter in sunscreens and as a white colourant and opacifier. The EU limits its use in sprayable and powder products because of inhalation concerns.
- Documented function
- Colourants, UV filters
Tranexamic acid
INCI: TRANEXAMIC ACID, CETYL TRANEXAMATE HCL
Tranexamic acid is a prescription medicine used to reduce bleeding that is also used on the skin for uneven pigmentation such as melasma. Since 1 October 2024, dermal cosmetic products with 3% or less are exempt from Australia's prescription-only schedule.
- Documented function
- Skin conditioning
Urea
INCI: UREA
Urea is a natural part of the skin's moisture-binding factors and is used in moisturisers. Reviews describe it as hydrating at low concentrations and as breaking down keratin at higher concentrations.
- Documented function
- Buffering (pH), Humectants, Skin conditioning
Vitamin C and derivatives
INCI: ASCORBIC ACID, SODIUM ASCORBYL PHOSPHATE, MAGNESIUM ASCORBYL PHOSPHATE, ASCORBYL GLUCOSIDE, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, 3-O-ETHYL ASCORBIC ACID, TETRAHEXYLDECYL ASCORBATE
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and several of its salts, esters and other derivatives are used in cosmetics, where CosIng lists them mainly as antioxidants or skin conditioning agents. Systematic reviews describe the clinical evidence as limited and based on small, varied studies, with L-ascorbic acid the most tested form.
- Documented function
- Antioxidants, Buffering (pH), Fragrance and masking, Skin conditioning
Vitamin E (tocopherol and tocopheryl acetate)
INCI: TOCOPHEROL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE
Vitamin E appears in cosmetics mainly as tocopherol and its ester tocopheryl acetate, both listed in CosIng as antioxidants and skin conditioning agents. Reviews describe a lack of controlled clinical trials, and a systematic review found insufficient evidence that vitamin E alone improves scars.
- Documented function
- Antioxidants, Fragrance and masking, Skin conditioning
Zinc oxide
INCI: ZINC OXIDE, ZINC OXIDE (NANO), CI 77947
Zinc oxide is an inorganic mineral used as a UV filter in sunscreens, and as a colourant and skin protectant. In Australia, sunscreens presented mainly for sun protection are therapeutic goods listed with the TGA.
- Documented function
- Antimicrobial, Colourants, Skin protecting, UV filters
Who regulates cosmetic ingredients in Australia
AICIS
Regulates the import and manufacture of industrial chemicals, including most cosmetic ingredients. The Inventory records chemical identity and the obligations of importers and manufacturers. AICIS states it does not say whether a chemical can be used in cosmetics, how to label cosmetics, or whether a product is safe.
What AICIS Inventory results showTGA
Regulates therapeutic goods. A product making therapeutic claims, or containing a substance in Schedule 2, 3, 4 or 8 of the Poisons Standard, is likely to be a therapeutic good rather than a cosmetic. Sunscreens marketed mainly for sun protection are therapeutic goods.
TGA: cosmetic or therapeutic goodPoisons Standard
Made under the Therapeutic Goods Act. It schedules substances and sets limits and labelling that can apply to cosmetics. States and territories give the schedules legal effect.
Poisons Standard (October 2026)ACCC
Administers the mandatory cosmetics ingredient labelling standard: ingredients listed on the container in English or INCI names, in descending order, with colour additives last.
ACCC labelling standard
About this data
What each layer showsAICIS facts, EU annex entries and Cosmetic.com.au references are separate sources
- AICIS Inventory. Listed on the AICIS Inventory snapshot. Listing means the chemical can be introduced for industrial use under the terms shown. It does not mean AICIS has approved it for cosmetics or assessed any product. The downloadable spreadsheet is a copy of the Inventory at its snapshot date and is not the official Inventory. Check the online Inventory for current listings. The Inventory covers industrial chemicals of every use, so a listed chemical is not necessarily a cosmetic ingredient.
- Not in the snapshot. Not found in the public Inventory snapshot. This does not mean the chemical is banned. AICIS says a chemical can be missing because it is confidentially listed, naturally occurring, on its comparable chemicals list, introduced under another category, or new to Australia.
- EU annexes. EU annex entries come from the European Commission's CosIng database, which states it has informative purpose and no legal value. They describe EU rules, not Australian ones. Annex IV, V and VI list colourants, preservatives and UV filters allowed in EU cosmetics; these are the source of those three function filters.
- Cosmetic.com.au references. Ingredient records are researched from regulators, peer-reviewed studies and the EU CosIng entry for each chemical form. Other function filters come only from those CosIng entries. A full page is published only after editorial review, and clinical review where the topic needs it.
- CAS Registry Numbers are not shown or searchable on this site. Use the AICIS Inventory search to look up a chemical by CAS RN.
Sources and licencesFiles, dates and reuse terms
AICIS material is licensed from the Commonwealth of Australia under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence; this explorer reorganises it. AICIS copyright. How the explorer is built