Label statistics
Skincare Label Statistics: What Ingredient Lists Say
We record the full ingredient list of every product we cover from the brand's own product page. These numbers count what those lists say across 554 labels in 27 product categories, and they update every time we add or recheck a product.
Key numbers
- 31% of the 554 product labels we track list fragrance (parfum), and 50% list at least one scent ingredient of any kind. By category it ranges from 63% of Body Creams, Butters & Body Oils to 0% of Pimple Patches & Overnight Spot Treatments.
- 11 of the 200 products we track that are sold as fragrance free (6%) list at least one scent ingredient, such as an essential oil or a fragrance allergen.
- 33% of the 554 product labels we track name at least one of the fragrance allergens EU rules require on labels; limonene (26%) and linalool (25%) are the most common.
- Water is on 83% of the 554 product labels we track, followed by glycerin (71%) and vitamin E (58%).
- Water is the first ingredient on 75% of the 554 product labels we track. That ranges from 100% of Targeted Vitamin C & Brightening Correctors to 0% of Intensive Lip Recovery Masks & Tinted Balms.
- The median label among the 554 product labels we track lists 31 ingredients; 28% list more than 40, and the longest lists 81.
- Hyaluronic acid is the most-listed active, on 44% of the 554 product labels we track, followed by vitamin C (23%). Retinoids appear on 6%.
- 30 of the 90 products we track that name a headline active (33%) print its percentage on the label or product page.
- Phenoxyethanol is on 50% of the 554 product labels we track; parabens are on 1%.
- 9% of the 554 product labels we track list alcohol denat., SD alcohol or ethanol. The highest share is in Full-Coverage Camouflage & Liquid Foundations (36% of 14).
How many skincare and makeup labels list fragrance?
31% of the 554 product labels we track list fragrance (parfum), and 50% list at least one scent ingredient of any kind. By category it ranges from 63% of Body Creams, Butters & Body Oils to 0% of Pimple Patches & Overnight Spot Treatments.
"Fragrance" counts labels that print fragrance or parfum, a blend brands do not have to itemize. "Any scent ingredient" also counts essential oils, aromatic extracts and named fragrance allergens.
Do products sold as fragrance free still list scent ingredients?
11 of the 200 products we track that are sold as fragrance free (6%) list at least one scent ingredient, such as an essential oil or a fragrance allergen.
A fragrance-free claim and a label's ingredient list answer different questions, and a match does not mean a product breaks a labeling rule. Every product, with the ingredients we flagged, is on ourlabel findings page.
How common are named fragrance allergens like limonene and linalool?
33% of the 554 product labels we track name at least one of the fragrance allergens EU rules require on labels; limonene (26%) and linalool (25%) are the most common.
EU cosmetics rules (Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex III) require these fragrance ingredients to be named on the label above a set concentration. US labels often name them too. Presence says nothing about the amount, and these counts are not an estimate of allergy risk.
- Limonene26% (143 of 554)
- Linalool25% (139 of 554)
- Geraniol13% (72 of 554)
- Citronellol12% (69 of 554)
- Citral7% (40 of 554)
- Benzyl salicylate5% (27 of 554)
- Hydroxycitronellal4% (21 of 554)
- Alpha-isomethyl ionone3% (17 of 554)
- Eugenol3% (16 of 554)
- Benzyl benzoate3% (14 of 554)
- Coumarin3% (14 of 554)
- Hexyl cinnamal2% (12 of 554)
- Amyl cinnamal1% (5 of 554)
What are the most common ingredients on skincare labels?
Water is on 83% of the 554 product labels we track, followed by glycerin (71%) and vitamin E (58%).
Across 554 labels we count 1,601 distinct ingredients. The most common are bases, humectants and preservatives that hold a formula together, not headline actives. Spelling variants of one ingredient are counted once.
- Water (Aqua)83% (459 of 554)
- Glycerin71% (391 of 554)
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol)58% (319 of 554)
- Phenoxyethanol49% (274 of 554)
- Butylene Glycol47% (263 of 554)
- Hyaluronic Acid43% (237 of 554)
- Ethylhexylglycerin43% (236 of 554)
- Silicones (Dimethicone and Friends)37% (206 of 554)
- Citric Acid36% (201 of 554)
- Caprylyl Glycol36% (199 of 554)
- Xanthan Gum36% (198 of 554)
- 1,2-Hexanediol32% (177 of 554)
- Disodium EDTA32% (176 of 554)
- Fragrance (Parfum)31% (169 of 554)
- Carbomer30% (166 of 554)
How often is water the first ingredient?
Water is the first ingredient on 75% of the 554 product labels we track. That ranges from 100% of Targeted Vitamin C & Brightening Correctors to 0% of Intensive Lip Recovery Masks & Tinted Balms.
Ingredients are listed in descending order of amount down to 1%, so a first-listed waterusually means a water-based formula. Balms, oils, powders and lip products are mostly built on oils, waxes or minerals instead.
How many ingredients does a typical label list?
The median label among the 554 product labels we track lists 31 ingredients; 28% list more than 40, and the longest lists 81.
4% of labels list fewer than 10 ingredients. A long list is not better or worse in itself; it often reflects many plant extracts or a complex texture.
How often do labels list popular actives like niacinamide, vitamin C and retinol?
Hyaluronic acid is the most-listed active, on 44% of the 554 product labels we track, followed by vitamin C (23%). Retinoids appear on 6%.
These count labels that list the ingredient anywhere, not products that feature it. An active near the end of a list may be present in a very small amount, and vitamin C counts every ascorbic acid form, including derivatives used mainly as antioxidants.
- Hyaluronic acid (any form)44% (242 of 554)
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid or a derivative)23% (128 of 554)
- Niacinamide21% (116 of 554)
- Peptides20% (109 of 554)
- Ceramides15% (85 of 554)
- Lactic acid9% (52 of 554)
- Salicylic acid6% (32 of 554)
- Retinoids (retinol, retinal, retinyl esters, HPR)6% (31 of 554)
- Glycolic acid3% (19 of 554)
- Bakuchiol1% (5 of 554)
- Azelaic acid1% (4 of 554)
- Tranexamic acid1% (4 of 554)
How often do brands print the percentage of their headline active?
30 of the 90 products we track that name a headline active (33%) print its percentage on the label or product page.
This uses every published product where we record a headline active (90), whether or not its full list is recorded. A percentage is counted only when the brand states it. Exact claims by ingredient are on our active strengths page.
| Headline active | Products | Percentage stated |
|---|---|---|
| Salicylic acid | 7 | 86% (6) |
| Hydrocolloid | 6 | 0% (0) |
| Centella Asiatica | 5 | 0% (0) |
| Hyaluronic Acid | 4 | 25% (1) |
| Snail Secretion Filtrate | 4 | 0% (0) |
| Vitamin C (THD Ascorbate) | 4 | 25% (1) |
| Betaine Salicylate (BHA) | 3 | 0% (0) |
| Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract | 3 | 0% (0) |
| Propolis Extract | 3 | 33% (1) |
| Retinol | 3 | 100% (3) |
Which preservatives are most common, and how often are parabens listed?
Phenoxyethanol is on 50% of the 554 product labels we track; parabens are on 1%.
Products that contain water need a preservative system. This list covers ingredients commonly used to preserve a formula or support its preservation; several, such as caprylyl glycol, also do other jobs. A label can list more than one, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
- Phenoxyethanol50% (275 of 554)
- Ethylhexylglycerin43% (236 of 554)
- Caprylyl glycol36% (199 of 554)
- 1,2-Hexanediol32% (177 of 554)
- Potassium sorbate23% (129 of 554)
- Sodium benzoate22% (120 of 554)
- Hydroxyacetophenone13% (70 of 554)
- Chlorphenesin11% (62 of 554)
- Dehydroacetic acid or sodium dehydroacetate9% (52 of 554)
- Benzyl alcohol5% (29 of 554)
- Parabens (any)1% (5 of 554)
How many labels list drying alcohol (alcohol denat.)?
9% of the 554 product labels we track list alcohol denat., SD alcohol or ethanol. The highest share is in Full-Coverage Camouflage & Liquid Foundations (36% of 14).
This counts alcohol denat., SD alcohol and ethanol, not fatty alcohols such as cetearyl alcohol, which are a different kind of ingredient.
Method and limits
- Sample: 554 of the 617 products we publish. A product is included when we hold one structured ingredient list for it; sets and kits, missing lists and shade- or component-specific lists are left out. The headline-active figure uses all 90products with a recorded headline active.
- Not the whole market: the catalog leans toward the brands and categories we cover (prestige skincare, camouflage makeup and men's care), so these shares describe our catalog, not every product on sale.
- Source: lists are transcribed from each brand's product page and dated; labels were checked between 2026-10-09 and 2026-10-23. Formulas change, and a brand page can differ from the box in hand.
- Matching: names are normalized for spelling and capitalization, then matched with the same rules ouringredient guides use. A label counts once per row however many matching names it lists.
- Presence only: we count what a list names, not how much. We do not report "free from" shares, because a missing name is weaker evidence than a listed one.
- No verdicts: nothing here rates any product or predicts how your skin will react. Seehow we check labels for the full process.
Download every figure on this page (CSV): one row per figure, with its numerator, denominator, category and data date.
How to cite these numbers
You're welcome to quote any figure with a link to this page. Please include the sample size and date, for example:
DermalGuide, "Skincare Label Statistics" (data as of 2026-10-23, n = 554 labels), https://dermalguide.com/label-statistics/