Monday Haircare Smooth Shampoo Versus OGX Beauty Biotin & Collagen Shampoo

Monday Haircare Smooth Shampoo Versus OGX Beauty Biotin & Collagen Shampoo

What's inside

Key Ingredients

No key ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

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

Water, 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

Biotin

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein

Ethyltrimonium Chloride Methacrylate/Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Copolymer

Polyquaternium-22

PEG-7 Amodimethicone

Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate

Polyquaternium-39

Sodium Hydrolyzed Potato Starch Dodecenylsuccinate

PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate

PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide

Laureth-4

Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Hexylene Glycol

Sodium Hydroxide

CI 60730

CI 16035

CI 19140

Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Biotin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Ethyltrimonium Chloride Methacrylate/Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Copolymer, Polyquaternium-22, PEG-7 Amodimethicone, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Polyquaternium-39, Sodium Hydrolyzed Potato Starch Dodecenylsuccinate, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, PPG-2 Hydroxyethyl Cocamide, Laureth-4, Glycol Distearate, Propylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, CI 60730, CI 16035, CI 19140

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Citric 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.

Rosacea skin has a lower threshold for acids generally, with 62.5% of rosacea subjects in one study reacting to lactic acid in a sting test. This is why we mark citric acid as a potential rosacea trigger.

However, this ingredient shows up as a pH adjuster or chelator at roughly 0.1-1% in many products. These low levels are unlikely to be an issue for rosacea skin and becomes a potential trigger at exfoliating concentrations (20%). Because everybody's skin is unique, we recommend a patch test if you are unsure.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a fatty acid created by mixing similar compounds in coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine, a compound with two amino groups.

This ingredient is a surfactant and cleanser. It helps gather the dirt, pollutants, and other impurities in your skin to be washed away. It also helps thicken a product and make the texture more creamy.

Being created from coconut oil means Cocamidopropyl Betaine is hydrating for the skin.

While Cocamidopropyl Betaine was believed to be an allergen, a study from 2012 disproved this. It found two compounds in unpure Cocamidopropyl Betaine to be the irritants: aminoamide and 3-dimethylaminopropylamine. High-grade and pure Cocamidopropyl Betaine did not induce allergic reactions during this study.

Glycol Distearate is an emulsifier and emollient that adds a "pearly" appearance to formulations.

That lustrous look you see in many shampoos is due to this ingredient: when cooled, it crystallizes into small platelets that reflect light to give products that rich, shimmering look.

This ingredient is considered safe at present practices of use and concentration and repeated insult patch test with 50% Glycol Distearate on 125 subjects found no evidence of skin irritation, hypersensitivity, or acute toxicity.

Typical use concentrations range from 0.1-10%.

Because it's an ester of stearic acid, it falls into the range that Malassezia likes to metabolize. This ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.

Parfum 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.

Propylene Glycol is a synthetic, colorless, odorless liquid that has been a staple in cosmetics for decades. It is a skin conditioning agent, humectant, and solvent.

As a humectant, it draw water to the skin to reduce flaking and restore suppleness. It's also a solvent that helps dissolve other actives and keeps formulas stable across temperature changes.

The CIR Expert Panel has confirmed this ingredient to be nontoxic and clinical studies show no sensitization at cosmetic use concentrations.

True allergic reactions are quite rare: a 15-year retrospective study of 6,751 patients found only 0.31% had a positive reaction (and less than half were considered clinically relevant).

It seemed that when sensitization does occur, it's most commonly linked to topical medication (like corticosteroids) and not cosmetics. Allergic contact dermatitis also appears largely limited to individuals with underlying skin conditions.

Overall, propylene glycol is a well-studied ingredient that most people can tolerate without issue.

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.

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.

Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a surfactant that helps water and oil mix so that dirt, sweat, sebum, and sunscreen can rinse away easily. It's not technically a sulfate, but behaves similarly in formulas.

What it does:

Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a strong cleansing surfactant and is much stronger than many mild cleansers. Because it works deeply, it can disrupt the skin's barrier. This can lead to dryness or irritation for those with sensitive skin.

Compared to gentler surfactants, it's effective but more likely to dry or irritate if not balanced with soothing ingredients.

CIR considers sodium α-olefin sulfonates (including C14-16) to be safe for use in rinse-off products when properly formulated. It is poorly absorbed through normal skin but absorption increases if the skin barrier is already damaged.

Sodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.

Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.

The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).

Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.

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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!

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