How to check your old and new products
- 1Identify both products before comparing them. Photograph the product name, its stated purpose, the amount in the pack and the business details. Keep the comparison tied to the exact products you have, rather than relying on a familiar name alone.
- 2Find both complete ingredient lists. Check the outer box as well as the bottle or jar. In Great Britain, the list can appear only on the packaging, and information can be supplied on a leaflet when space is limited. Keep the carton until you have photographed the ingredients, because the bottle is not obliged to carry its autobiography.
- 3Compare the lists line by line. Mark ingredients that appear only on one list, then separately mark ingredients that have moved. Keep the printed names intact so the business can identify precisely what you are asking about.
- 4Record the identification numbers where available. Cosmetic packaging in Great Britain must include an identification number, such as a batch number. Photograph those numbers alongside the lists so your enquiry identifies the actual packs, not just the product name.
- 5Contact the business using the label details. Send both sets of photographs and ask whether the differences reflect a formula change or a labelling update. Ask which formula belongs to each pack and what changed.
What ingredient list differences can tell you
| What you notice | How to interpret it |
|---|---|
| An ingredient appears or disappears. | Ask whether the composition changed or the label now discloses something differently. Canada's fragrance allergen rules provide a specific example of disclosure changing. |
| The same ingredients appear in a different order. | US cosmetic ingredients generally appear in descending order of amount, but ingredients at 1% or less and colour additives can be listed without following that order. |
| Both lists look identical. | Do not use the list as an exact recipe. The US ordering rules do not require a percentage beside each cosmetic ingredient, so ask about amounts if that is your concern. |
| An active ingredient is listed separately. | For US products that are both cosmetics and drugs, compare the active ingredient section as well as the cosmetic ingredients. |
Why a Canadian label can change without a new formula
Canada requires certain fragrance allergens to be named individually when present above specified amounts, rather than remaining covered by "parfum". Disclosure of 24 allergens starts April 12, 2026. The expanded list of 81 applies to new cosmetics from August 1, 2026, and existing products from August 1, 2028. An extra allergen name can therefore reflect fuller disclosure rather than a newly added ingredient. Ask whether the fragrance composition changed or only its disclosure. A longer ingredient list can mean more paperwork, not more ingredients.2
Canadian ingredient lists use INCI, the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients: a shared naming system in which one substance can have several trade names but one recognised ingredient name. Compare those printed ingredient names rather than marketing names. For questions about a specific ingredient, contact the business identified on the label.2
If you are checking because of an allergy
Review the current ingredient list for anything you know or suspect you are allergic to, and follow the current directions. "Hypoallergenic" does not mean a product cannot cause an allergic reaction. If you have an allergic reaction to a cosmetic, consult your healthcare provider.2
