Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Skin science article

First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads with BHA & AHA Versus megababe Après Shave Ingrown Hair & Razor Bump Roll-On Solution

First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads with BHA & AHA Versus megababe Après Shave Ingrown Hair & Razor Bump Roll-On Solution What's inside Key Ingredients Benefits Concerns Ingredients Side-by-side Water Polysorbate 20 Glycerin Hamamelis Virginiana Water Glycolic

First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads with BHA & AHA Versus megababe Après Shave Ingrown Hair & Razor Bump Roll-On Solution

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Polysorbate 20

Glycerin

Hamamelis Virginiana Water

Glycolic Acid

Salicylic Acid

Sodium Hydroxide

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Sodium PCA

Bisabolol

Phenoxyethanol

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Benzoate

Benzoic Acid

Tetrasodium EDTA

Citric Acid

Water, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium PCA, Bisabolol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid

Alcohol Denat.

Butylene Glycol

Diglycerin

Hydroxypropylcellulose

Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract

C13-15 Alkane

Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Hydroxypropylcellulose, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Salicylic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, C13-15 Alkane, Bisabolol

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Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Bisabolol is a gentle skin conditioner, antioxidant, and soothing ingredient.

It's primary claim to fame is soothing and research shows topically applied bisabolol can quiet the chemical messengers that cause your skin to become inflamed, helping to sooth any irritation.

A clinical study found that applying 0.5% bisabolol daily for 8 weeks produced an average 9% decrease in skin pigmentation. Researchers found it can also suppress the process that leads to excess melanin production in skin.

In vitro studies found that bisabolol combined with propylene glycol significantly increased skin permeability by increasing lipid fluidity in the stratum corneum.

You'll likely see use concentrations quite low, usually 0.1-0.2%.

Overall, this is a well-tolerated ingredient that works well in formulas designed for sensitive, reactive, or post-procedure skin.

Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.

Topically, glycerin does several things at once:

Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.

Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.

This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.

Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Hamamelis Virginiana Water is made by distilling parts of the witch hazel plant. You can also call this ingredient "witch hazel water".

The name 'Hamamelis Virginiana Water' refers to the distillation product used in cosmetics. On the other hand, 'Witch Hazel' refers to the active drug ingredient.

Unless it is specified to be non-alcohol, many types of witch hazel ingredients are distilled in denatured alcohol.

Witch Hazel water is an astringent, anti-inflammatory antioxidant, and antibacterial ingredient.

It contains tannins. Tannins have a drying effect when used on skin by constricting proteins. The constriction also minimizes the appearance of pores.

Both the tannins and fragrance found in witch hazel may be skin-sensitizing.

Witch hazel water gets anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties from its catechin and gallic acid content.

Indigenous groups have used witch hazel to help treat inflammation in North America for centuries.

Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is a well-known ingredient for treating skin that struggles with acne and clogged pores. It exfoliates both the skin's surface and deep within the pores to help clear out buildup, control oil, and reduce inflammation.

Unlike AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble. This allows it to penetrate into pores which makes it especially effective for treating blackheads and preventing future breakouts.

Salicylic acid is also known for its soothing properties. It has a similar structure to aspirin and can calm inflamed or irritated skin, making it a good option for acne-prone skin that is also sensitive.

Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.

It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing this ingredient into your routine.

While salicylic acid does not increase sun sensitivity, it’s still important to wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.

If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.

Similar Comparisons

The reference edit

Ingredients, questions
& further reading.

Connected source records selected through this article’s public topic index.

01

Formula cabinet

Ingredients & structured notes

Ingredient index

Ingredients Side-by-side

  1. 01Water
  2. 02Glyceryl Stearate Se
  3. 03Glycerin
  4. 04Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
  5. 05Dimethicone
  6. 06Urea
  7. 07Cetyl Alcohol
  8. 08Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
  9. 09Squalane
  10. 10Caprylyl Glycol
  11. 11Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
  12. 12Allantoin
  13. 13Persea Gratissima Oil
  14. 14N-Butyl Alcohol
  15. 15Carbomer
  16. 16Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
  17. 17Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
  18. 18Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
  19. 19Sodium Hydroxide
  20. 20Ceramide NP
Source · skinsort.com
02

Product index

Related product references

Product

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Source: incidecoder.comView reference →
03

Comparison edit

Read side by side