Learn
Glossary
The abbreviations you'll see across The Apothecary Os, in plain language.
- INCIInternational Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients
- The standard names for cosmetic ingredients, used on ingredient labels in the US, EU and many other countries. Jojoba oil, for example, is listed as "Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil". Open the ingredient label generator.
- HLBHydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance
- A 0–20 scale for how water-loving or oil-loving an emulsifier is. Every oil blend has a "required HLB"; match your emulsifier to it and your lotion or cream won't separate. Open the emulsifier calculator.
- IFRAInternational Fragrance Association
- The fragrance industry body whose standards set the maximum safe amount of each fragrance material, including essential oils, for each type of product (for example, less in a face cream than in a body wash). Open the essential-oil limits.
- EOEssential oil
- A concentrated aromatic oil distilled or pressed from a plant, such as lavender or peppermint. Small amounts go a long way, and each one has a maximum safe amount. Open the essential-oil limits.
- PIHPost-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
- Dark marks left behind after irritation, a breakout, a cut or a burn. They're more common and last longer on deeper skin tones, which is why the app flags irritating ingredients.
- Fitzpatrick IV–VIFitzpatrick skin types 4 to 6
- Dermatologists sort skin into six types, from I (very fair, always burns) to VI (deepest brown, rarely burns). Types IV to VI are medium-brown to the deepest skin tones, the skin The Apothecary Os is built for.
- SAP valueSaponification value
- How much lye it takes to turn a given amount of an oil into soap. Each oil has its own number, so the soap calculator uses them to work out exactly how much lye your recipe needs. Open the soap calculator.
- MoCRAModernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022
- The US law that added facility registration, product listing, safety records and adverse event reporting for cosmetics. Some small businesses are exempt from parts of it. Open the us cosmetics law guide.
- COGSCost of goods sold
- What it costs you to make one unit: ingredients, packaging, labor and overhead. You need it to price a product so it actually makes money. Open the costing calculator.