Q: Do I really need a separate product for the eye area? Why can't I use my moisturizer?
The skin around the eye is much thinner and has fewer sebaceous glands than skin elsewhere on your face and body. It's also more delicate, and more sensitive than the rest of your facial skin. In fact, it's probably the most fragile skin on the entire body and is therefore most likely to show signs of premature aging and sun damage.
Eye creams and eye gels are carefully formulated to treat this thin, delicate tissue. Eye area products contain more emollients than facial moisturizers to address the lack of sebum and dryness. They are also formulated with targeted anti-aging ingredients selected to address specific concerns in the eye area such as puffiness, dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles, and dryness.
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Q: What is Jack Black’s policy on animal testing?
Jack Black has a strict cruelty-free philosophy, no animals are harmed in the development, testing or manufacturing of Jack Black products. Jack Black has not and will never engage in animal testing, for either raw materials or finished goods, nor do we ask outside parties to do animal testing on our behalf.
Virtually all of our products are vegan and do not contain animal derived ingredients or animal by-products. The few exceptions are the use of Beeswax, Silk Amino Acids (derived from the cocoon of silk worms) and Lanolin (made from sheep’s wool). Beeswax is found in our Intense Therapy Lip Balm, The Stick Natural Lip Balm and Wax Pomade. Lanolin is found in our Intense Therapy Lip Balm and Sleek Finish Texture Cream. Silk Amino Acids is found in our Sleek Finish Texture Cream.
You will see our cruelty-free bunny symbol on our packaging to indicate that Jack Black products are developed and tested following cruelty-free standards.
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Q: What is the difference between Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, and Lactic Acid?
Glycolic Acid, an Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA) is perhaps the best-known of a group of chemicals called fruit acids. It is derived from sugar cane, so it can be considered a natural product. Citric acid, from oranges and other citrus fruits, and Lactic Acid, from milk, also fall under the same classification as Alpha Hydroxy Acid.
Glycolic Acid works as an exfoliating agent because of its high acidity but easy solubility. When placed on the skin as part of an exfoliating cream or gel, Glycolic Acid goes under the damaged upper layers of skin and destroys the 'glue' which holds dead skin to the surface.
Glycolic Acid has a sloughing effect (removal of dead cells) on the skin. By accelerating the normal rate of sloughing it helps the regeneration of your skin by growing new cells faster. This AHA can be found in Line Smoother 8% Glycolic Acid Treatment, Deep Dive® Glycolic Facial Cleanser, and Power Peel Multi-Acid Resurfacing Pads.
Salicylic Acid is the only Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA).
The main difference between Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Beta Hydroxy Acid is their lipid (oil) solubility. Alpha Hydroxy Acids are water soluble only, while Beta Hydroxy Acid is lipid (oil) soluble.
This means that Beta Hydroxy Acid is able to penetrate into the pore which contains sebum and exfoliate the dead skin cells that are built up inside the pore. Because of this difference in properties, Beta Hydroxy Acid works very well on oily skin with acne, blackheads and whiteheads.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids work well on thickened, sun-damaged skin where breakouts are not the main problem. In theory it penetrates the skin faster. For acne, Salicylic Acid (BHA) is with no doubt the best choice.
Salicylic Acid is also effective in treating ingrown hairs. Jack Black’s Bump Fix® Razor Bump & Ingrown Hair Solution contains 2% salicylic acid and lactic acid, to treat ingrown hairs, and acne blemishes.
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Q: I've heard pros and cons about whether to use products containing alcohol. What's your opinion? And what does it mean to be alcohol free?
Alcohol is not all bad. In fact, most skin care products do contain some type of alcohol even if they claim to be "alcohol-free".
This is because there are both moisturizing alcohols and more drying alcohols. When skin care product labels read "alcohol-free" it means they are free of the stronger, harsher types of alcohol called ethyl alcohol (aka: grain alcohol), SD Alcohol, or Alcohol Denaturant. These alcohols are considered harsh because they can dry and irritate skin.
However, "alcohols" in general are a huge, diverse family of ingredients (with different names and varying effects on the skin), and there are many types of very beneficial, moisturizing, non-irritating alcohols used in skin care, hair care and shaving products. And just because a product claims to be "alcohol-free", it may still contain emollient alcohols called fatty alcohols–like cetyl, stearyl, cetearyl and lanolin alcohol–which provide skin and hair benefits. Rather than dry or damage, these alcohols actually provide beneficial moisture and hydration.
Our advice: check to see what type of alcohol a product contains before making your decision.
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Q: I have extremely oily skin. I wash my face in the morning, but within a few hours, my skin is very shiny and oily-looking. What can I do to eliminate the shine and control the oil and greasiness?
A lot of men suffer from oily skin, so you are not alone. While extremely oily skin requires special care, the great advantage is that it tends to age at a slower rate than other skin types.
To care for oily skin, special cleansing will help prevent pores from becoming clogged. Avoid harsh products that can strip your complexion of oil and encourage flakiness, as this paradoxically causes your skin to produce even more oil than usual. Harsh cleansers can also cause the oil glands to work overtime to compensate for the loss of natural oils. Use Deep Dive® Glycolic Facial Cleanser at morning and night; this 2-in-1 facial wash and purifying mask cleanses and exfoliates skin and helps control oiliness. One of our PureScience formulas, this clay-based cleanser also locks in nature’s best to please even the most sensitive skin—using a blend of fragrance-free, colorant-free, and certified organic ingredients, it provides a rich lather that cleanses without overdrying. Plus, it's dermatologist tested (as are all Jack Black skin care products).
Next, help control facial oiliness with Clean Break® Oil-Free Moisturizer, a non-comedogenic, oil-free product specifically designed for oily skin. The lightweight formula helps reduce sebum production and control oil throughout the day.
At night after cleansing, but before applying a moisturizer, treat skin with Oil-Control Toner. The alcohol-free, balancing toner controls excess oil and shine without overdrying skin. Alpha and beta hydroxy acids help minimize the appearance of pores and gently exfoliate skin.
For extremely oily or acne-prone skin, try Bump Fix® Razor Bump & Ingrown Hair Treatment. The powerful combination of 2% Salicylic and Lactic acids are effective astringents for oily and acne-prone skin. Bump Fix® also helps remove and dissolve excess oil and pore-clogging residue to help keep blemishes and blackheads under control.
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Q: I consider myself a pretty evolved guy. But then I hear about things like exfoliation. Antioxidants. Alpha hydroxy acids. Should I know? And will it make a difference?
The fact that you know enough to ask puts you way ahead of the game. And once you start incorporating the corresponding techniques and products into your routine, we guarantee you'll notice the benefits.
First, let's talk about exfoliation. Put simply, this is the process of scrubbing the skin to remove the top layer of dead skin cells, exposing newer, fresher cells underneath. Why bother? Because removing the dead cells (and accompanying dirt and oil) helps your razor get closer to the skin for a smoother, easier shave. And as an extra bonus, you're helping to prevent ingrown hairs.
To exfoliate, try Face Buff Energizing Scrub. Small, highly uniform scrubbing particles work gently yet effectively to improve skin's overall appearance and radiance.
To understand the importance of antioxidants, we need to discuss free radicals—unstable oxygen molecules produced by ultraviolet light, pollution and stress. The effect? Healthy skin cells are robbed of electrons and collagen is corroded, causing wrinkles. The solution? Skin care products containing antioxidants, which work to help neutralize free radicals and minimize their damage.
Let's take a closer look at some of the antioxidants found in Jack Black products and what they do:
Vitamin A, also known as Retinyl Palmitate, which helps improve skin's appearance and treat the effects of aging.
Found in: Line Smoother 8% Glycolic Acid Treatment, Eye Balm De-Puffing & Cooling Gel
Vitamin C, with anti-inflammatory properties, which helps repair sun-damaged skin and encourage collagen production.
Found in: Face Buff Energizing Scrub, Eye Balm De-Puffing & Cooling Gel
Sea Parsley, containing a combination of naturally occurring vitamins (A and C) and minerals which help improve skin's appearance.
Found in: Double-Duty Face Moisturizer SPF 20
Vitamin E, also known as Tocopheryl Acetate, which helps fight damaging free radicals and slow the natural aging process.
Found in: Line Smoother 8% Glycolic Acid Treatment, Eye Balm De-Puffing & Cooling Gel, Cool Moisture Body Lotion, Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25
Blue Algae Extract, a rich source of Vitamin E, helps keep skin supple and reduces inflammation.
Found in: Double-Duty Face Moisturizer SPF 20
Balm Mint, which helps protect skin from UV-induced free radicals.
Found in: Post Shave Cooling Gel
Green Tea, which contains anti-inflammatory properties.
Found in: Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25
And finally, alpha hydroxy acids, derived from fruit and milk sugars, work gently and naturally to slough off the top layer of skin cells, revealing younger, smoother skin underneath. With regular use, alpha hydroxy acids can help improve wrinkling, roughness and uneven pigmentation—all important for a more youthful, radiant complexion.
Some of the AHAs in Jack Black products include:
Glycolic Acid, which helps stimulate cell regeneration to treat the effects of aging.
Found in: Line Smoother 8% Glycolic Acid Treatment
Grape Seed Extract, which helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by removing the top layer of skin cells.
Found in: Eye Balm De-Puffing & Cooling Gel, Line Smoother 8% Glycolic Acid Treatment
Apple Fruit Extract, which helps promote and maintain elasticity.
Found in: Double-Duty Face Moisturizer SPF 20
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Q: My wife has invested a small fortune in skin care products. Can we—or better yet, should we—share? Our retirement may be resting on your answer.
At last men are realizing what their wives and girlfriends have known for a long time—the right skin care products really do make a difference. But what to use (and how much to spend) can be tricky.
Should you share? That depends. First, consider what's different about a guy's skin. It's thicker than a woman's and in most cases, produces more oil. But even more importantly, a man's skin care needs revolve around a daily shaving regimen, which has its own unique set of requirements. Jack Black's Beard Lube® Conditioning Shave happens to be the ultimate guy product, offering three benefits—pre-shave oil, shave cream, and skin conditioner—in one easy-to-use product.
That said, there is an important point to be made in the case of sharing products in the anti-aging category. According to an NBC news report, prices for these creams and lotions are generally higher on the women's side of the counter, based more on who they're marketed to (women or men) rather than their effectiveness. In fact, a comparison of Jack Black's Line Smoother 8% Glycolic Acid Treatment and a comparable women's anti-aging cream showed the Jack Black product to contain more beneficial ingredients—and it was less than half the price. With that in mind, it makes sense to us that she should be using your products. (Similar results can be found comparing men's and women's eye treatments.)
We'll end this discussion with a few more recommendations, continuing in the spirit of what's yours is hers. Other Jack Black products we think she'll like include our Eye Balm De-Puffing & Cooling Gel, Industrial Strength Hand Healer, Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25, and MP 10® Nourishing Oil.
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Q: Do Jack Black bottles and tubes contain BPA (Bisphenol A)?
Jack Black product containers - made from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) – do not contain BPA. Our containers are not formulated with BPA, and BPA is not used in the manufacture of Jack Black bottles, or the inks and coatings for our containers.
Bisphenol A has been discussed in many articles in recent years due to the potential health risk to humans exposed to this chemical. BPA exhibits hormone-like properties that raise concern about its suitability in consumer products and food containers. Since 2008, several governments have questioned its safety, which prompted some retailers to withdraw polycarbonate products.
BPA is used to make certain plastics and epoxy resins; it has been in commercial use since 1957. BPA-based plastic is clear and tough, and was historically used to make a variety of common consumer goods, such as baby and water bottles, sports equipment, and CDs and DVDs, and for industrial purposes, like lining water pipes. Epoxy resins containing BPA are also used as coatings on the inside of many food and beverage cans, and in the making of thermal paper such as that used in sales receipts.
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