Hairitage Need To Have It Scalp Density Serum Versus Act+Acre 3% Stem Cell Peptide Treatment

Hairitage Need To Have It Scalp Density Serum Versus Act+Acre 3% Stem Cell Peptide Treatment

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Butylene Glycol

Panthenol

Sodium Benzoate

Polysorbate 20

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium PCA

Xanthan Gum

Disodium EDTA

Citric Acid

Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil

Caffeine

Biotin

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil

Sodium Hydroxide

Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-86

Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-9

Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 Sh-Oligopeptide-2

Water, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Sodium Benzoate, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium PCA, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Caffeine, Biotin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-86, Nicotiana Benthamiana Hexapeptide-40 Sh-Polypeptide-9, Nicotiana Benthamiana Octapeptide-30 Sh-Oligopeptide-2

Propanediol

Pentylene Glycol

Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate

Niacinamide

Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate

Hydrolyzed Eruca Sativa Leaf

Hydrolyzed Walnut Extract

Sodium Gluconate

Menthol

Mentha Piperita Oil

Menthyl Lactate

Caprylhydroxamic Acid

Vitis Vinifera Fruit Meristem Cell Culture

Panax Ginseng Root Extract

Dextran

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3

Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract

Water, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Eruca Sativa Leaf, Hydrolyzed Walnut Extract, Sodium Gluconate, Menthol, Caffeine, Mentha Piperita Oil, Menthyl Lactate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Meristem Cell Culture, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Dextran, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.

Caffeine is a naturally occurring plant compound found in coffee beans, tea leaves, cocoa pods, and guarana.

As an antioxidant, caffeine protects your skin from free radical damage caused by UV exposure and envionrmnetal stressors.

Early research also shows that caffeine can help calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and support hair growth by stimulating microcirculation in the scalp.

You might have seen eye creams marketing caffeine as a depuffing ingredient. This is because it is a vasoconstrictor meaning it can temporarily constrict blood vessels, though clinical evidence for this specific use is still limited.

Most skincare products contain this ingredient at concentrations between 1-6%. It is able to penetrate skin easily regardless of skin type or thickness.

Just so you know, a very small number of case reports describe caffeine-induced allergy. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing for the majority of people.

Citric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.

Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.

However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.

Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.

In skincare formulas, citric acid can:

While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.

Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.

Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.

However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.

Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.

There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.

D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.

Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):

Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.

This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.

Potassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.

This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.

Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.

You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.

Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.

It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.

Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.

We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!

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