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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub versus The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment .

Published on April 16, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe . They have a total of 10 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances and oils

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Scalp Scrub British Brand United Kingdom
Scalp Treatment British Brand United Kingdom

Scalp Scrub

Scalp scrubs help exfoliate your scalp to get rid of oil, dirt, and grease.

Scalp Treatment

Products to help treat conditions relating to the scalp.

Price

Shop

Buy Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub

Starts at $15.00
Shop

Buy Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment

Starts at $20.49

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

AHA (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation (2)
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

BHA

Benefits

Hydrating
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation (2)
Reduces Large Pores
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting
Brightening

Concerns

Drying
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub contains this as ingredient number 1.

The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Solvent
Community Rating: Liked

Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.

It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Learn more about Propanediol

The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub contains this as ingredient number 3.

The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
What it does: Emulsifying
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is derived from castor oil and polyethylene glycol (PEG). It is used as a emollient and emulsifier.

As an emulsifier, it helps prevent ingredients from separating. It also helps make the other ingredients more soluble; it is often used to solubilize fragrances. This increases spreadability and elongates shelf life in a product.

Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. They do this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.

This ingredient may or may not be vegan, depending on the source.

Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil may not be fungal-acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any questions or concerns.

Learn more about Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub contains this as ingredient number 5.

The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment contains this as ingredient number 6.

4
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Betaine is a common humectant (a substance that promotes retention of moisture). It's known to be gentle on the skin and can help balance hydration.

Betaine is best for improving hydration and soothing irritated skin. Studies show betaine may help with uneven skin tones.

Betaine is naturally created in the skin and body. The form found within cosmetic products can be either plant-dervied or synthetic.

Learn more about Betaine

The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub contains this as ingredient number 6.

The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment contains this as ingredient number 4.

5
What it does: Buffering
Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide

The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub contains this as ingredient number 8.

The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment contains this as ingredient number 12.

6
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub contains this as ingredient number 10.

The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment contains this as ingredient number 7.

7
What it does: Masking, Perfuming

Citronellyl Methylcrotonate is a fragrance.

The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub contains this as ingredient number 13.

The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment contains this as ingredient number 11.

8
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Panthenol (also referred to as pro-vitamin B5) is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin.

lt is a humectant, meaning that it helps the skin attract and retain moisture.

Another benefit is the anti-inflammatory abilities. This means that it's great for sensitive, irritation-prone skin.

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

Learn more about Panthenol

The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub contains this as ingredient number 14.

The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment contains this as ingredient number 5.

9
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub contains this as ingredient number 15.

The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment contains this as ingredient number 13.

10
What it does:
Community Rating: Liked

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate is used to help stabilize a product.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it helps prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This prevents unwanted reactions in products. Metal ions can come into a product via the water ingredient. They are found in trace amounts and are not known to be harmful.

The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub contains this as ingredient number 18.

The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment contains this as ingredient number 15.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

50% are loved or liked
14% have mixed ratings
27% are disliked or very disliked
9% have no rating yet
53% are loved or liked
20% have mixed ratings
20% are disliked or very disliked
7% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub 22 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 2 ratings
Soft (1) Volume (1)

The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment 15 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating

Alternatives

We haven't detected any alternatives for The INKEY List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Scrub.

Our Dupe Finder has found 3 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment.

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