Skin science article
Some By Mi Cica Peptide Anti Hair Loss Derma Scalp Tonic Versus Vichy Dercos Densi-Solutions Hair Mass Recreator Concentrate
Some By Mi Cica Peptide Anti Hair Loss Derma Scalp Tonic Versus Vichy Dercos Densi-Solutions Hair Mass Recreator Concentrate What's inside Key Ingredients Benefits Concerns Ingredients Side-by-side Water Alcohol Denat. Menthol Tromethamine Salicylic Acid Panth
Some By Mi Cica Peptide Anti Hair Loss Derma Scalp Tonic Versus Vichy Dercos Densi-Solutions Hair Mass Recreator Concentrate
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Alcohol Denat.
Menthol
Tromethamine
Salicylic Acid
Panthenol
Biotin
Butylene Glycol
Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract
Mentha Viridis Extract
Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract
Glycine Max Seed Extract
Nigella Sativa Seed Extract
Oryza Sativa Extract
Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract
Sesamum Indicum Sprout Extract
Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract
Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract
Hydrolyzed Centella Asiatica Extract
Madecassoside
Madecassic Acid
Asiaticoside
Asiatic Acid
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Leonurus Sibiricus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract
Artemisia Vulgaris Extract
1,2-Hexanediol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Caprylyl Glycol
Parfum
Water, Alcohol Denat., Menthol, Tromethamine, Salicylic Acid, Panthenol, Biotin, Butylene Glycol, Mentha Piperita Leaf Extract, Mentha Viridis Extract, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Glycine Max Seed Extract, Nigella Sativa Seed Extract, Oryza Sativa Extract, Ribes Nigrum Fruit Extract, Sesamum Indicum Sprout Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Centella Asiatica Extract, Madecassoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Leonurus Sibiricus Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum
Diethyllutidinate
Citral
Ethyl Ester Of Pvm/Ma Copolymer
Geraniol
Hexyl Cinnamal
Isoeugenol
Limonene
Linalool
Mentha Piperita Oil
Resveratrol
Rhamnose
Tocopheryl Acetate
Alcohol Denat., Water, Diethyllutidinate, Citral, Ethyl Ester Of Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Isoeugenol, Limonene, Linalool, Mentha Piperita Oil, Menthol, Resveratrol, Rhamnose, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum
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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.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
The "denat" part just means "denatured"; common denaturants include Denatonium Benzoate, t-butyl alcohol, and Diethyl Phthalate. This step makes the alcohol undrinkable (and lets brand skip taxes related to beverage alcohol).
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue to constrict pores and dry out your skin.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is this ingredient will probably not affect your skin much if it is near the end of an ingredients list.
One thing to note: People with ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) deficiency may experience skin irritation from continued alcohol use. About 8% of the world's population have this deficiency.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined denatured alcohols to be safe for use in concentrations between 0.05% and 12% (depending on which denaturant is used).
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Look for formulas that contain glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol if you want to offset any drying effect.
This ingredient will trip away your skin's natural oils/lipids that help it lock in moisture. This can worsen dryness, trigger eczema flare-ups, and aggravate rosacea.
Be sure to patch test any product with this ingredient if you have dry or sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea.
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.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give a scent to products.
Also called "fragrance", this ingredient can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
For instance, Habanolide is a proprietary trade name for a specific aroma chemical. When used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, most aroma chemicals fall under the broad labeling category of “FRAGRANCE” or “PARFUM” according to EU and US regulations.
The term 'parfum' or 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.
For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance by INCI standards.
One example is Calendula flower extract. Calendula is an essential oil that still imparts a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, the ingredients in the mixture can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Parfum can also be used to mask or cover an unpleasant scent.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
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!