Explore Routine Login

Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Dr. Barbara Sturm Scalp Serum versus Olaplex Nº.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum .

Published on April 05, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe hair serums. They have a total of 7 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and sensitive skin

Free From

They both do not contain any oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

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

Hair Serum German Brand Germany
Hair Serum American Brand United States

Hair Serum

Liquid-based hair treatment to help nourish the hair.

Hair Serum

Liquid-based hair treatment to help nourish the hair.

Price

Shop

Buy Scalp Serum

Shop

Buy Nº.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum

Starts at $27.15

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 (3)
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting
Brightening (5)

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (6)
Eczema (4)

Benefits

Hydrating
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation (2)

Concerns

Rosacea
Eczema (2)
Join our community

Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.

Join SkinSort

Ingredients Compared

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

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

Loading ingredients...

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

Dr. Barbara Sturm Scalp Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Olaplex Nº.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
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

Dr. Barbara Sturm Scalp Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

Olaplex Nº.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

3
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.

Dr. Barbara Sturm Scalp Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

Olaplex Nº.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum contains this as ingredient number 22.

4
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Dr. Barbara Sturm Scalp Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.

Olaplex Nº.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.

5
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

Dr. Barbara Sturm Scalp Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.

Olaplex Nº.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

6
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.

Dr. Barbara Sturm Scalp Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.

Olaplex Nº.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum contains this as ingredient number 23.

7
What it does: Masking, Preservative
Community Rating: Disliked

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.

Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.

Sodium Benzoate is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.

Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.

We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.

Learn more about Sodium Benzoate

Dr. Barbara Sturm Scalp Serum contains this as ingredient number 31.

Olaplex Nº.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum contains this as ingredient number 24.

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

54% are loved or liked
11% have mixed ratings
22% are disliked or very disliked
14% have no rating yet
37% are loved or liked
7% have mixed ratings
33% are disliked or very disliked
23% have no rating yet

Usage

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

When to use

Loading routine usage...

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Dr. Barbara Sturm Scalp Serum 37 ingredients

Scalp Serum hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Olaplex Nº.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum 30 ingredients

3.0 /5
from 3 ratings

Alternatives

We haven't detected any alternatives for Dr. Barbara Sturm Scalp Serum.

Our Dupe Finder has found 2 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Olaplex Nº.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum.

See 2 alternatives
Loading similar comparisons...