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Peptide INCI Names: What Goes on the Label and in Your PIF
Trade names are not INCI names. Using the wrong one on a label or product information file is one of the cheapest compliance mistakes to avoid — and the most common.
Your supplier sells you Matrixyl. Your label cannot say Matrixyl — that is a trade name, and trade names do not belong on an ingredient list. The label needs the INCI name, and the two are not interchangeable.
This page covers the conversion for the peptides Pepteora supplies, the labelling rules that apply, and the mistakes that come up most often.
Trade name to INCI name
| What suppliers call it | What the label must say |
|---|---|
| GHK-Cu, copper peptide | Copper Tripeptide-1 |
| AHK-Cu | Copper Tripeptide-3 |
| Matrixyl, Matrixyl 3000 (check the specific grade) | Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 |
| Snap-8 | Acetyl Octapeptide-3 |
The labelling rules that matter
- Descending order of concentration down to 1%, then any order after that. Your peptide will normally sit in the low-percentage tail, which is why the exact INCI spelling matters more than the position.
- INCI spelling exactly as published — including hyphens. "Copper Tripeptide 1" without the hyphen is not the INCI name.
- No trade names, no supplier names in the ingredient list. Those belong in marketing copy and in your supplier records, not on the label.
- Same name in the PIF as on the label. An inspector comparing the two does not want to translate.
What to put in your product information file
The ingredient list on the pack is the visible part. The PIF needs the paper trail behind it:
| Document | What it should show |
|---|---|
| Raw material specification | INCI name, appearance, purity, solubility, recommended use level range |
| Certificate of analysis | Per batch, with batch number matching the delivered goods |
| Safety data sheet | Handling, storage and transport classification |
| Supplier identification | Who supplied the raw material, and under what name |
| Stability and compatibility data | Either the supplier's, or your own trial results |
Five mistakes that come up repeatedly
- Using the trade name on the label. Common with Matrixyl specifically.
- Dropping the hyphen. Copper Tripeptide-1 is not Copper Tripeptide 1.
- Declaring the blend as a single peptide. Blends need each component declared.
- Copying the INCI from another brand's label. Their grade may differ from yours.
- Label and PIF disagreeing. Usually caused by updating one and not the other after a supplier change.
A simple check before artwork goes to print
Put the COA next to the artwork and confirm three things: the INCI spelling matches the COA exactly, the grade matches what you actually bought, and the PIF carries the same name. It takes ten minutes and prevents the most expensive kind of reprint.
Where each name has to appear
The same product carries different names in different documents, and mixing them up causes most paperwork problems:
| Document | Which name belongs there |
|---|---|
| Product label — ingredient list | INCI name only, spelled exactly, in descending order of concentration |
| Product information file (PIF) | INCI name, matching the label character for character |
| Certificate of analysis (COA) | INCI name plus the product code; the CAS number belongs here, not on the label |
| Safety data sheet (SDS) | INCI name and CAS number; trade names may appear as additional identification |
| Purchase order and invoice | Product code and INCI name, so the commercial paper matches the technical paper |
| Marketing copy | Trade name is fine here — this is the only place it is appropriate |
Blends, mixtures and trade families
Some of the best-known peptide trade names are not single raw materials. Where you have bought a blend rather than an individual peptide, two rules apply:
- Declare every component. A blend declared as a single INCI name is an incomplete ingredient list.
- Confirm which grade the trade name refers to. A name used for a family of products can cover several compositions; the label has to reflect the one you actually bought.
This is worth a ten-minute check with your supplier before artwork goes to print. Reprinting labels because the ingredient declaration was wrong costs far more than the check.
Frequently asked questions
Can I write Matrixyl on the ingredient list?
No. Matrixyl is a trade name. The INCI name for Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 must be used on the label and in the PIF. Trade names belong in marketing copy.
What is the INCI name for GHK-Cu?
Copper Tripeptide-1, with the hyphen. AHK-Cu is Copper Tripeptide-3.
Do I need the CAS number on the label?
No. Labelling uses INCI names. CAS numbers belong in your technical file, the COA and safety documentation.
Is Matrixyl 3000 the same as Matrixyl?
No. Matrixyl 3000 is a blend of two peptides; a single Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 raw material is not the same thing. Confirm which grade you purchased before declaring it.
Does the INCI name change if the peptide is supplied as a salt or a complex?
It can. The declared INCI name must describe the material as supplied, so confirm the exact form with your supplier before artwork is finalised.
Where does the CAS number go?
In the technical file: the COA, the SDS and your PIF. Not on the consumer label, which uses INCI names only.