Inca Kola by Inca Kola ingredient list for the Brazil formulation.
Category: Colorants (naturally derived)
Also known as: Caramel Color (Hair)
A natural brown colorant produced by heating sugar solutions. Used in hair care products marketed for brunettes to subtly enhance and deepen hair color tone.
Category: Acidulants (naturally derived)
Also known as: 2-Hydroxypropane-1,2,3-Tricarboxylic Acid, 2-Hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic Acid, Anhydrous Citric Acid, CA, Citric Acid Monohydrate, E330
Citric acid is a tricarboxylic alpha-hydroxy acid (2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid, formula C6H8O7) that occurs naturally at high concentrations in citrus fruits — lemons and limes are about 5–7% citric acid by weight — and is a key intermediate in the citric acid cycle of cellular respiration. Despite its citrus origin, virtually all commercial citric acid (over 2 million tonnes globally per year) is produced by submerged fermentation of glucose or sucrose using the mold Aspergillus niger, then crystallized as the anhydrous form or as the monohydrate. In foods it functions as an acidulant (giving the sour kick to sodas, candies, gummies, jams, sherbet, and powdered drink mixes), pH adjuster, chelating agent (sequesters trace metals to prevent fat oxidation and color loss), antioxidant synergist, emulsifier-stabilizer, and leavening acid (in combination with sodium bicarbonate). In personal-care products it is the standard pH adjuster for shampoos, cleansers, and skincare. The FDA affirms citric acid as GRAS under 21 CFR 184.1033 with no use-level limit, and the EU permits it as additive E330 at quantum satis under Reg. 1333/2008. Although fermentation occasionally uses corn, wheat, or beet substrates, the final product is generally considered allergen-free.
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Category: Preservatives (synthetic)
Also known as: Benzoate of Soda, Benzoic Acid Sodium Salt, E211, Sodium Benzoic Acid
Sodium benzoate is the sodium salt of benzoic acid (formula C6H5COONa), a white crystalline powder produced by neutralizing benzoic acid with sodium hydroxide. It occurs naturally at low levels in cranberries, prunes, plums, cinnamon, and cloves, but commercial production is almost entirely synthetic from toluene oxidation. It functions as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial preservative most effective in acidic conditions (pH below 4.5, where the equilibrium shifts toward the active free benzoic acid form), and is used at 0.05–0.1% in carbonated soft drinks, fruit juices, jams, jellies, salad dressings, pickles, syrups, condiments, baked goods, and pharmaceutical liquid preparations. It also appears in personal-care products (shampoos, lotions, mouthwash) as a preservative. The FDA affirms sodium benzoate as GRAS under 21 CFR 184.1733 with a maximum 0.1% use level in foods, and the EU permits it as additive E211 with category-specific maximum-use levels under Reg. 1333/2008. ⚠️ A 2006 FDA advisory and subsequent EFSA review confirmed that sodium benzoate can react with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in acidic beverages, especially under heat or light, to form trace amounts of benzene — a known human carcinogen. Manufacturers have largely reformulated affected products; the FDA now treats this as a contamination issue under acceptable thresholds. Some studies have also linked benzoate to hyperactivity in sensitive children (the Southampton six-additive study).
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Category: Sweeteners (naturally derived)
Also known as: Cane Sugar, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Sugar, Refined Sugar, Sucrose
Common table sugar (sucrose) derived from sugarcane or sugar beets. Used as a sweetener and preservative in food products.
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Category: Base Ingredients (naturally derived)
Also known as: Aqua, Aqua/Water, Aqua/Water/Eau, Carbonated Water, Filtered Water, Purified Water, Treated Water
Purified water used as the primary solvent and carrier in cosmetic formulations. Also listed as Aqua in INCI nomenclature.
Category: Colorants (synthetic)
Also known as: CI 19140, E102, FD&C Yellow No. 5, INS 102, Tartrazine
Tartrazine, a synthetic lemon-yellow azo dye widely used in foods and beverages. Listed as FD&C Yellow No. 5 in the US and E102 in the EU; requires an advisory label in the EU due to potential hyperactivity effects in children.
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