Head & Shoulders Instant Soothe Scalp Elixir Versus Act+Acre 3% Stem Cell Peptide Treatment

Head & Shoulders Instant Soothe Scalp Elixir Versus Act+Acre 3% Stem Cell Peptide Treatment

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Zinc Pyrithione 0.1%

Water

Niacinamide

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Menthol

Mentha Piperita Oil

Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil

Phenoxyethanol

Caffeine

Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone

Glycerin

Parfum

Benzyl Alcohol

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Panthenol

Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine

Ethylhexylglycerin

Zinc Pyrithione 0.1%, Water, Niacinamide, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Menthol, Mentha Piperita Oil, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Caffeine, Bis-PEG/PPG-16/16 PEG/PPG-16/16 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Ethylhexylglycerin

Propanediol

Pentylene Glycol

Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate

Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate

Butylene Glycol

Hydrolyzed Eruca Sativa Leaf

Hydrolyzed Walnut Extract

Sodium Gluconate

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

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.

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.

This essential oil is steam-distilled from peppermint leaves, also known as peppermint oil. It's mainly used for scent in skincare but also provides that signature "cooling" sensation.

Peppermint oil is a "feels amazing" ingredient until it doesn't.

At higher doses or for those with sensitive skin, methol-type cooling can quickly turn into burning/irritation. It can also trigger irritant dermatitis or even allergic contact dermatitis. In a large patch-test dataset, peppermint oil had a low but positive rate for this.

In cosmetics, Cosmetic Safety Reviews (CIR) concludes that peppermint oil is safe to use when formulated to be non-sensitizing with some restrictions; for instance, pulegone, a naturally occurring component of peppermint oil, should not exceed 1%.

Since peppermint oil contains fragrance allergens such as limonene, linalool, and menthol, it can be sensitizing for those with rosacea, eczema, a broken skin barrier, or just sensitive skin in general.

In Japan, this ingredient is known as Hakka Yu.

Menthol is a compound found in mint plants, such as peppermint. In its pure form, it is a clear crystalline substance.

Menthol is known for its cooling sensation; however, the cooling is actually from your skin being sensitized. Menthol can worsen rosacea. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.

Menthol also has antimicrobial properties.

Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.

And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.

You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.

In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.

If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.

When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.

In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).

Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.

Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.

The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.

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.

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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