Garnier Ultimate Blends Honey Treasures Strengthening Conditioner Versus Monday Haircare Smooth Shampoo
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientStearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
EmulsifyingIsopropyl Myristate
EmollientCetyl Esters
EmollientParfum
MaskingHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
EmollientButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningMel
EmollientCera Alba
EmollientCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientCitric Acid
BufferingTartaric Acid
BufferingSodium Benzoate
MaskingCaramel
Cosmetic ColorantCoumarin
PerfumingLimonene
PerfumingBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingBenzyl Salicylate
PerfumingWater
Skin ConditioningDisodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
CleansingSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CleansingCocamide Mea
EmulsifyingCocamidopropyl Betaine
CleansingCocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
CleansingGlycerin
HumectantPEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate
EmulsifyingButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCocos Nucifera Oil
MaskingTocopheryl Acetate
AntioxidantCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Chloride
MaskingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingSodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate
CleansingSodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
CleansingPolyquaternium-7
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
EmollientSodium Benzoate
MaskingPEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate
EmulsifyingBis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone
Glycol Distearate
EmollientTriisostearin
Skin ConditioningSodium PCA
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantBenzyl Alcohol
PerfumingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeTetradecene
EmollientSodium Laurate
CleansingSodium Sulfate
BHT
AntioxidantSodium Methyltaurate
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Hexyl Cinnamal
PerfumingIsolaureth-6
EmollientHexadecene
SolventSodium Sulfite
PreservativeSodium Citrate
BufferingGlycol Stearate
EmollientLinalool
PerfumingParfum
MaskingWater, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamide Mea, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycerin, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Methyl Lauroyl Taurate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Polyquaternium-7, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Dimethicone, Sodium Benzoate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Glycol Distearate, Triisostearin, Sodium PCA, Propylene Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Tetradecene, Sodium Laurate, Sodium Sulfate, BHT, Sodium Methyltaurate, Disodium EDTA, Hexyl Cinnamal, Isolaureth-6, Hexadecene, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Citrate, Glycol Stearate, Linalool, Parfum
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholThis ingredient is also known as shea butter. It is an effective skin hydrator and emollient.
Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. It does 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.
Shea butter is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may harm the body. It is also full of fatty acids including stearic acid and linoleic acid. These acids help replenish the skin and keep skin moisturized.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
Shea butter may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidParfum 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.
Learn more about ParfumSodium 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.
It 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 BenzoateWater. 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. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water