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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum versus Philip Kingsley Finishing Touch Polishing Serum .

Published on December 16, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe hair serums. They have a total of 14 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any oils or parabens

What's Inside

They both contain common allergens, fragrances and silicones

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 American Brand United States
Hair Serum British Brand United Kingdom

Hair Serum

Liquid-based hair treatment to help nourish the hair.

Hair Serum

Liquid-based hair treatment to help nourish the hair.

Price

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Buy Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum

Starts at $15.98
Shop

Buy Finishing Touch Polishing Serum

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

Vitamin E

Benefits

Brightening

Concerns

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

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid
Vitamin E

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting
Brightening

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin
Irritating (2)
Rosacea
Eczema (2)
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Ingredients Compared

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

Propylene Glycol • Water • Cyclopentasiloxane • Dimethiconol • Polyacrylamide • Phenoxyethanol • C13-14 Isoparaffin • Parfum • Polyamide-2 • Laureth-7 • Ethylhexylglycerin • Disodium EDTA • Linalool • Hydroxycitronellal • Panthenol • Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone • Retinyl Palmitate • Citronellol • Butylphenyl Methylpropional • Cetrimonium Chloride • Geraniol • Tocopherol • Citric Acid

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

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

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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

Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Philip Kingsley Finishing Touch Polishing Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

2
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Disliked

Cyclopentasiloxane is a silicone used to improve texture and trap moisture. An easier name for this is D5.

D5 is considered lightweight and volatile. Volatile means it evaporates quickly after application. Once evaporated, D5 leaves a thin barrier that helps keep skin hydrated.

D5 is an emollient. Emollients help soften the skin and prevent water loss. Silicones create a silky texture in products. D5 helps other ingredients become more spreadable.

Studies show D5 is safe to use in skincare products. We recommend speaking with a skincare professional if you have concerns.

Learn more about Cyclopentasiloxane

Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

Philip Kingsley Finishing Touch Polishing Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

3
What it does: Emollient, Moisturising
Community Rating: Disliked

Dimethiconol is a silicone that resembles the popular dimethicone. Like other silicones, it is an emollient. Emollients create a thin film on skin to prevent moisture from escaping.

This ingredient helps to create a silky texture and improve spreadability. Due to its high molecular weight and thickness, it is often combined with cyclopentasiloxane.

Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

Philip Kingsley Finishing Touch Polishing Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

4
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.

Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.

This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.

Those with sensitive skin or conditions may deliver a rash when using this ingredient.

Learn more about Propylene Glycol

Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

Philip Kingsley Finishing Touch Polishing Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

5
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Polyacrylamide is a synthetic polymer. It is used to stabilize products and bind ingredients. When hydrated, Polyacrylamide forms a soft gel.

Polyacrylamide is low-toxicity. If source properly, it is deemed safe to use in cosmetics.

It should be noted the precursor to Polyacrylamide is acrylamide. Acrylamide is a carcinogen. Most reputable sources of Polyacrylamide will screen for residual acrylamide to make sure the count is in a safe range. Acrylamide is not able to be absorbed through the skin.

We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.

Learn more about Polyacrylamide

Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

Philip Kingsley Finishing Touch Polishing Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

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.

Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

Philip Kingsley Finishing Touch Polishing Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

7
What it does: Emollient, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

C13-14 Isoparaffin is created from petroleum-based mineral oils. It is an emollient and helps thicken a product.

As an emollient, it helps keep the skin soft and smooth by creating a barrier on top. This barrier traps moisture in, keeping the skin hydrated.

C13-14 Isoparaffin may not be fungal-acne safe.

Learn more about C13-14 Isoparaffin

Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.

Philip Kingsley Finishing Touch Polishing Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.

8
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

Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.

Philip Kingsley Finishing Touch Polishing Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

9
What it does: Emulsifying
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Laureth-7 is created by the ethoxylation of lauryl alcohol using ethylene oxide. Lauryl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with hydrating properties.

Laureth-7 is an emulsifier and cleansing ingredient. As an emulsifier, it is used to prevent ingredients from separating. It also helps cleanse the skin by gathering dirt, oil, and pollutants to be rinsed away.

Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

Philip Kingsley Finishing Touch Polishing Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.

10
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA

Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.

Philip Kingsley Finishing Touch Polishing Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.

11
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

Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum contains this as ingredient number 24.

Philip Kingsley Finishing Touch Polishing Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.

12
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

Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.

Philip Kingsley Finishing Touch Polishing Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.

13
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.

Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum contains this as ingredient number 27.

Philip Kingsley Finishing Touch Polishing Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.

14
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

Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum contains this as ingredient number 29.

Philip Kingsley Finishing Touch Polishing Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

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

9% are loved or liked
0% have mixed ratings
72% are disliked or very disliked
19% have no rating yet
17% are loved or liked
9% have mixed ratings
65% are disliked or very disliked
9% have no rating yet

Usage

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

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 10 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Nexxus Ultralight Smooth Frizz Defy Cream Serum.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 8 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Philip Kingsley Finishing Touch Polishing Serum.

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