Neutrogena Healthy Scalp Hydro Boost Scalp Scrub Versus The INKEY List Caffeine Stimulating Scalp Treatment

Neutrogena Healthy Scalp Hydro Boost Scalp Scrub Versus The INKEY List Caffeine Stimulating Scalp Treatment

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Sodium Chloride

Water

Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate

Cocamide Mipa

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract

Kaolin

Polyquaternium-7

Propylene Glycol

Sodium Phytate

Citric Acid

Sodium Hydroxide

Phenoxyethanol

Sodium Benzoate

Ethylhexylglycerin

Parfum

Sodium Chloride, Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamide Mipa, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citrus Paradisi Fruit Extract, Kaolin, Polyquaternium-7, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum

Betaine

Caffeine

Panthenol

Glycerin

Xanthan Gum

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Lactic Acid

Sodium Metabisulfite

Glycine

Larix Europaea Wood Extract

Camellia Sinensis Extract

Zinc Chloride

Water, Betaine, Caffeine, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Glycine, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Zinc Chloride

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:

The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.

Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.

Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).

It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.

On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.

Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).

You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.

Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.

Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.

Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.

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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