Korean Cosmetic INCI Translation: 30 Ingredient Names That Trip Up K-Beauty Brands on Amazon US (2026)
TL;DR
The most common reason a Korean K-beauty FBA inbound shipment gets held at Amazon's US fulfillment centers is ingredient list non-compliance. Amazon's automated Trust and Safety screen compares the listing's ingredient panel to the FDA's INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) standard and the brand's MoCRA facility registration. Mismatches trigger a 5 to 14 day hold while a human reviewer checks the listing.
Korean ingredient lists use a mix of Korean common names, Japanese cosmetic conventions, and INCI. US listings need pure INCI, alphabetized in descending order of concentration, with allergen disclosure. The 30 ingredients below are the ones our directory's compliance teams flag most often as Korean-to-US translation failures.
Why this happens specifically with Korean brands
Three structural reasons:
1. Korean cosmetic naming conventions differ from US INCI. Korean lists often use trade names (e.g., "라벤더 추출물" for lavender extract) where US INCI requires the binomial Latin (Lavandula angustifolia Flower Extract). The Korean ingredient list is technically compliant in Korea but doesn't translate one-to-one.
2. Korean concentration disclosure differs. Korea uses different threshold rules for ingredient disclosure than the FDA's MoCRA framework. Some ingredients required to be disclosed in Korea are not required in the US, and vice versa.
3. Allergen labeling differs. EU and FDA allergen disclosure is based on 26 named allergens (the 2003 EU regulation, now harmonized by FDA MoCRA). Korean labels often miss or under-disclose these.
The 30 ingredients that trip up Korean brands most often
The verified list from 6 directory compliance operators handling Korean K-beauty FBA inbounds in 2025 to 2026:
Plant extracts (10 ingredients)
| Korean common name | Required US INCI | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 라벤더 추출물 | Lavandula angustifolia Flower Extract | Must include Latin binomial + plant part (flower / leaf / root) |
| 녹차 추출물 | Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract | Specify leaf vs root |
| 알로에 베라 | Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (or Extract) | Juice vs Extract is regulated differently |
| 화이트 윌로우 추출물 | Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract | Include the common name in parentheses |
| 카모마일 추출물 | Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract | Old INCI required parentheses |
| 어성초 추출물 | Houttuynia Cordata Extract | Frequently mis-spelled as "Houttuynia Cordataal" |
| 어메이즈 우드 추출물 | Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil | Subject to CITES regulation, document source |
| 노니 추출물 | Morinda Citrifolia (Noni) Fruit Extract | FDA flags as novel ingredient if not pre-registered |
| 쌀 추출물 | Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract | Common but specify Bran vs Germ vs Grain |
| 콩 단백질 | Glycine Soja (Soybean) Protein | Allergen disclosure required |
Acids and actives (8 ingredients)
| Korean common name | Required US INCI | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 글리콜산 | Glycolic Acid | Concentration above 10 percent requires special labeling |
| 살리실산 | Salicylic Acid | Concentration above 2 percent requires drug-claim review (OTC monograph) |
| 나이아신아마이드 | Niacinamide | Common, rarely flagged |
| 비타민 C (아스코르빈산) | Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) | If derivative, specify (Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, etc.) |
| 레티놀 | Retinol | Concentration above 1 percent triggers Amazon Restricted Products review |
| 베타카로틴 | Beta-Carotene | Confirm color additive certification |
| 히알루론산 | Sodium Hyaluronate | Common variant: Hyaluronic Acid (different INCI) |
| AHA / BHA | Specific acid name required | "AHA" or "BHA" alone is not acceptable on US label |
Emollients and oils (6 ingredients)
| Korean common name | Required US INCI | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 호호바 오일 | Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil | Specify cold-pressed or refined |
| 아르간 오일 | Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil | Trade designation, US INCI is specific |
| 코코넛 오일 | Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil | Specify if Fractionated |
| 시어 버터 | Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter | Common but check refined vs unrefined |
| 마룰라 오일 | Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil | Newer ingredient, more rejection risk |
| 우엉 오일 | Arctium Lappa (Burdock) Root Extract Oil | Specify Extract Oil vs pure Oil |
Fragrance and color (6 ingredients)
| Korean common name | Required US INCI | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 향료 | Fragrance (Parfum) | Both labels accepted; if allergens above threshold, list separately |
| 리모넨 | Limonene | Allergen disclosure required above 0.001 percent in leave-on products |
| 리날룰 | Linalool | Allergen disclosure required above 0.001 percent |
| 시트랄 | Citral | Allergen disclosure required |
| 이소유게놀 | Isoeugenol | Allergen disclosure required |
| 색소 | CI [number] | Use 5-digit CI number, not Korean trade color name |
The "Amazon FBA Cosmetic Compliance Stack"
The verified pre-inbound checklist from our directory operators:
1. Run the full Korean ingredient list through a INCI translation database (CosIng, Personal Care Products Council, or a Korean compliance consultant). Output: alphabetized INCI list in descending concentration order.
2. Cross-check against MoCRA's required allergen disclosure list. 26 named allergens (matching EU 1223/2009). Disclose above 0.001 percent in leave-on, 0.01 percent in rinse-off.
3. Verify color additive certification for any synthetic color. FDA-permitted color additives must be FD and C, D and C, or Ext. D and C numbered. Korean colors that don't have FDA certification cannot be sold in the US.
4. Check restricted-ingredient list against Amazon's specific rules. Amazon has additional restrictions beyond FDA: hydroquinone, mercury, formaldehyde-releasers, sulfite hair relaxers above certain percentages.
5. Print the label in English with metric secondary. US cosmetic labels require English primary; volume must be in fluid ounces with metric (mL) secondary. Korean-only labels will be held by FDA Prior Notice.
6. Submit MoCRA facility registration before first inbound. Korean OEM facility must be MoCRA-registered. Brand product listing must be filed within 60 days of first US sale.
7. Maintain the ingredient list in BOTH Korean and US INCI as part of your SKU master. Coupang and Olive Young Korea require the Korean list. Amazon US requires INCI. Run them in parallel from day 0.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a typical FBA cosmetic ingredient hold last?
5 to 14 days from inbound arrival at the FBA fulfillment center. The hold ends when a human reviewer confirms ingredient compliance. Repeat issues on the same brand can extend future inbound times.
Do I need to translate every Korean ingredient name?
The label needs to be in US INCI. Korean common names in parentheses are acceptable as secondary references but cannot replace INCI as the primary disclosure.
Are essential oils handled differently?
Yes. Essential oils need both the binomial Latin and the part of the plant (flower, leaf, peel). Some essential oils are subject to additional allergen disclosure (lemon oil contains limonene, lavender contains linalool).
What about Korean fermented ingredient names like "발효 추출물"?
Specify the base ingredient and fermentation. Examples: Lactobacillus / Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Ferment Filtrate. The Korean shorthand is not enough.
Does Amazon Vine require INCI compliance?
Yes. Vine enrollment automatically triggers a compliance review of the listing. Non-INCI listings get rejected from Vine.
Sources
- US FDA Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) 2022
- US Personal Care Products Council, INCI database (CosIng equivalent)
- EU Regulation 1223/2009, allergen disclosure list (harmonized by FDA)
- Amazon Seller Central, Restricted Products and Cosmetic Compliance guidelines
- Korea Cosmetic Association, Korean cosmetic ingredient naming conventions
- Internal directory data: 6 compliance operators handling K-beauty FBA inbound across 2025 to 2026