Explore Routine Login

Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Monroe Skincare Matte Styling Clay versus Ouai Matte Pomade .

Last updated on October 26, 2023. Published on April 05, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe gel, pomade & wax. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain exfoliants

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne and oily skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain common allergens and fragrances

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

Gel, Pomade & Wax British Brand United Kingdom
Gel, Pomade & Wax American Brand United States

Gel, Pomade & Wax

Gel, pomade, and wax products that help style hair.

Gel, Pomade & Wax

Gel, pomade, and wax products that help style hair.

Price

Shop

Buy Matte Styling Clay

Shop

Buy Matte Pomade

Starts at $26.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Monroe Skincare Matte Styling Clay 20 ingredients

Ouai Matte Pomade 18 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

Monroe Skincare Matte Styling Clay 20 ingredients

Ouai Matte Pomade 18 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Exfoliators

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin
Acne Fighting

Concerns

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

Notable Ingredients

Exfoliators

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin
Acne Fighting

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (4)
Acne Trigger
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema
Join our community

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

Join SkinSort

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: Abrasive, Absorbent, Cosmetic Colorant
Community Rating: Liked

Kaolin is a clay. It is used for oil control and to help minimize pores. Like other clays, kaolin has the ability to absorb excess sebum or oil. This can help clean out pores and mattify the skin.

Some types of kaolin may have exfoliating properties. When water is added to kaolin, it becomes a paste with small abrasive particles.

Most kaolin is a white color, but may be pink/orange/red depending on where it comes from.

The name 'kaolin' comes from a Chinese village named 'Gaoling'. Kaolin clay comes from rocks rich in kaolinite. Kaolinite, the mineral, has a silicate layered structure. Kaolinite is formed from chemical weathering of aluminum siilicate minerals.

Besides skincare, kaolin is commonly used to make glossy paper, in ceramics, toothpaste, and as medicine to soothe stomach issues.

Learn more about Kaolin

Monroe Skincare Matte Styling Clay contains this as ingredient number 1.

Ouai Matte Pomade contains this as ingredient number 2.

2
What it does: Emollient
Community Rating: Disliked

Petrolatum is more commonly known as petroleum jelly. It is created by mixing waxes and mineral oils.

This ingredient is effective at reducing water loss by 99%. This is because it is an occlusive. Occlusives create a hydrophobic barrier on the skin to prevent evaporation. This property makes it great for hydrating dry skin.

Pro tip: Use occlusives, such as this ingredient, on damp skin for the best results.

The quality or origin of petrolatum is only known when disclosed by the brand.

Other benefits of occlusives include protecting your skin against infection or allergies.

Petrolatum may not be safe for fungal-acne.

Learn more about Petrolatum

Monroe Skincare Matte Styling Clay contains this as ingredient number 2.

Ouai Matte Pomade contains this as ingredient number 1.

3
What it does: Emollient, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Paraffinum Liquidum is also known as liquid paraffin. It is a type of highly refined mineral oil.

Like other oils, Paraffinum Liquidum has emollient properties. Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. By creating a barrier to trap moisture within, emollients help keep your skin hydrated.

Paraffinum Liquidum does not irritate the skin and is non-comedogenic. However, this ingredient may not work well for those with oily skin or fungal acne.

If you have concerns about using this ingredient in your routine, we recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Paraffinum Liquidum

Monroe Skincare Matte Styling Clay contains this as ingredient number 3.

Ouai Matte Pomade contains this as ingredient number 6.

4
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, 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.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term '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. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

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 Parfum

Monroe Skincare Matte Styling Clay contains this as ingredient number 9.

Ouai Matte Pomade contains this as ingredient number 7.

5
What it does: Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Hydroxycitronellal is a fragrance created from citronellal. The smell of hydroxycitronellal is often described as "citrus-like" or "melon-like".

Hydroxycitronellal is a known EU allergen and may cause irritation when applied to the skin.

Monroe Skincare Matte Styling Clay contains this as ingredient number 11.

Ouai Matte Pomade contains this as ingredient number 17.

6
What it does: Perfuming, UV Absorber
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Benzyl Salicylate is a solvent and fragrance additive. It is an ester of benzyl alcohol and salicylic acid. This ingredient can be naturally found in some plants and plant extracts.

In fragrances, Benzyl Salicylate may be a solvent or a fragrance component. In synthetic musk scents, it is used as a solvent. For floral fragrances such as lilac and jasmine, it is used as a fragrance component. The natural scent of Benzyl Salicylate is described as "lightly-sweet, slightly balsamic".

While Benzyl Salicylate has been associated with contact dermatitis and allergies, emerging studies show it may not be caused by this ingredient alone.

However, this ingredient is often used with fragrances and other components that may cause allergies. It is still listed as a known allergen in the EU. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.

Another study from 2021 shows Benzyl Salicylate may have anti-inflammatory properties.

Learn more about Benzyl Salicylate

Monroe Skincare Matte Styling Clay contains this as ingredient number 12.

Ouai Matte Pomade contains this as ingredient number 12.

7
What it does: Perfuming, Tonic
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Geraniol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is the main component of citronellol. It is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol.

Monoterpenes are naturally found in many parts of different plants.

Geraniol can be found in many essential oils including Rose Oil and Citronella Oil. The scent of Geraniol is often described as "rose-like". Many foods also contain Geraniol for fruit flavoring.

Geraniol can irritate the skin when exposed to air. However, irritation depends on the ability of geraniol to penetrate into the skin. In general, geraniol is not able to penetrate skin easily.

Geraniol is colorless and has low water-solubility. However, it is soluble in common organic solvents.

Like citronellol, it is a natural insect repellent.

2,6-Octadien-1-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-, (2E)-

Learn more about Geraniol

Monroe Skincare Matte Styling Clay contains this as ingredient number 14.

Ouai Matte Pomade contains this as ingredient number 18.

8
What it does: Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Linalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.

Linalool has the same effect as Limonene when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.

Linalool has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.

Learn more about Linalool

Monroe Skincare Matte Styling Clay contains this as ingredient number 17.

Ouai Matte Pomade contains this as ingredient number 14.

9
What it does: Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Citronellol is used to add fragrance/parfum to a product. It is often derived from plants such as roses. In fact, it can be found in many essential oils including geranium, lavender, neroli, and more. The scent of Citronellol is often described as "fresh, grassy, and citrus-like".

Since the Citronellol molecule is already unstable, Citronellol becomes irritating on the skin when exposed to air.

Citronellol is a modified terpene. Terpenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons found in plants. They make up the primary part of essential oils.

Citronellol is not able to be absorbed into deeper layers of the skin. It has low permeability,

Citronellol is also a natural insect repellent.

Learn more about Citronellol

Monroe Skincare Matte Styling Clay contains this as ingredient number 18.

Ouai Matte Pomade contains this as ingredient number 13.

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

Monroe Skincare Matte Styling Clay 20 ingredients

Ouai Matte Pomade 18 ingredients

5% are loved or liked
0% have mixed ratings
65% are disliked or very disliked
30% have no rating yet
11% are loved or liked
0% have mixed ratings
83% are disliked or very disliked
6% have no rating yet

Usage

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

When to use

Monroe Skincare Matte Styling Clay 20 ingredients

Ouai Matte Pomade 18 ingredients

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 1 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Monroe Skincare Matte Styling Clay.

See 1 alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 3 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Ouai Matte Pomade.

See 3 alternatives
Loading similar comparisons...