Reading Indian Labels: What Ingredients to Trust
A short guide to ingredient-reading for Indian shoppers: what to look for, what to ignore, and how to spot inflationary claims.
Reading Labels
Ingredient lists are ordered by proportion: the first five items make up most of a formula. When shopping, prioritise products where the functional ingredients you care about appear early. If a product markets 'turmeric' but lists it near the end, it is decorative rather than substantive.
Also look for preservative systems and carriers: a formula that lists only a fragrance and a preservative near the top may be more about scent than function. For natural formulations, expect oils, powders and simple extracts; for clinical actives, expect standard names like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid or salicylic acid with a clear recommended frequency.
