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Side by side

Biolage Hydra Source Daily Leave-In Tonic vs Biolage Smooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream

90% function match · 8 of the 10 functions we compared match Formula overlap 75%. Biolage Hydra Source Daily Leave-In Tonic and Biolage Smooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream share 4 ingredients among each other's most prominent.

Based on your consultation

Which of these fits your hair?

We check your pattern, moisture need, scalp, fragrance tolerance, weight sensitivity and more against each formula — and say which one lines up.

Your profile at a glance

  • Your answers appear here
  • Your answers appear here
  • Your answers appear here
  • Your answers appear here

When each one is the right call

What each formula is built for, from its own ingredient list.

  • Hydra Source Daily Leave-In Tonic — protein-sensitive hair
  • Smooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream — protein-sensitive hair

Side by side

Every trait, aligned

One row per trait, read from each product’s own ingredient list and record. A dash means we have not researched that field for that product — it is not a “no”.

Trait
Biolage Hydra Source Daily Leave-In Tonic — 13.5 oz container Biolage

Hydra Source Daily Leave-In Tonic

  • Leave-in
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
Biolage Smooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream — 6.8 oz container Biolage

Smooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream

  • Leave-in
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$38 13.5 oz · $2.82/oz
$27–28 6.8 oz · $3.97/oz
Value / price positioning
Upper-mid price for a leave-in $$$$$ costs more than 54% of the 481 leave-ins we’ve priced
Upper-mid price for a leave-in $$$$$ costs more than 63% of the 481 leave-ins we’ve priced
Best for hair types
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. Your hair
All types Nothing in the formula or the claims narrows this to one pattern. Your hair
Moisture level Same
Moderate Humectants in the working part of the formula. Your hair
Low Humectants appear, but low enough to be a minor part. Your hair
Slip / detangling Same
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. Your hair
High Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula. Your hair
Weight on hair Same
Medium Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair. Your hair
Medium Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair. Your hair
Fragrance
Prominent Fragrance sits in the first eight ingredients — a larger share of the formula. Your hair
Prominent Fragrance sits in the first eight ingredients — a larger share of the formula. Your hair
Protein Same
None No protein or amino acids in the list. Your hair
None No protein or amino acids in the list. Your hair
Silicone / wax buildup Same
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
High Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Moderate Your hair
Moderate Your hair
Oils and butters Differs
Present, high in the list Oils sit high in the list — a softening, coating formula. Your hair
Low Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch. Your hair
Formula completeness
out of 10
Complete for its job
out of 10
Complete for its job
Who should choose this
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Sun and colour fadea UV filter is in the list
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • A wide range of haira middle-of-the-range weight
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Curly-method routinesthese silicones need a detergent to remove
  • Very dry or damaged hairit contains fast-drying alcohol
from the formula stated by the brand reported by reviewers Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.
More facts about each one
Type
Leave-inmist
Leave-incream
Where to buy
Salons · Brand website
Salons · Brand website
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
  • sulfate-free
  • protein-free
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described

Facts as we recorded them. A dash means we have not researched that field for that product — it is not a "no".

The bottom line

The bottom line depends on your hair

Which of these two suits you is a question about your hair, not about them. The consultation answers it — and tells you what your routine needs around it.

Take the consultation

$49.00 once, for your consultation and hair profile. No subscription, no required purchases.

The detail behind the table

Where the readings above come from: the ingredient lists themselves, each brand’s claims checked against them, what owners report, and cost per ounce in context.

Shared and distinct ingredients

Shared and distinct ingredients

Computed from the ingredient lists as printed. "Shared" means both lists carry it; where it sits on each label is stated, because position is what tells you how much.

What both formulas carry

IngredientHydra Source Daily Leave-In TonicSmooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Cetearyl Alcohol
Softens
#2Leading
#2Leading
Behentrimonium Chloride
Detangles
#4Supporting
#5Supporting
Fragrance
Fragrance
#5Below the 1% line
#7Below the 1% line
Cetyl Esters
Softens
#7Below the 1% line
#3Leading
Amodimethicone
Buildup
#8Below the 1% line
#4Supporting
Isopropyl Alcohol
Drying
#10Below the 1% line
#8Below the 1% line
Limonene
Fragrance
#12Below the 1% line
#11Below the 1% line
Hexyl Cinnamal
Fragrance
#16Below the 1% line
#15Below the 1% line
Coumarin
Fragrance
#17Below the 1% line
#16Below the 1% line
Linalool
Fragrance
#24Below the 1% line
#18Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Hydra Source Daily Leave-In Tonic

Smooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream

Full ingredient list — Hydra Source Daily Leave-In Tonic (34)
Full ingredient list — Smooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream (25)

Claims check

What each brand says, against what each formula shows

Claims are quoted from each brand. We only mark one supported, partly supported, or conflicting when that product’s ingredient list actually speaks to it.

VerdictsHydra Source Daily Leave-In TonicSmooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream
Supported
2
1
Partly supported
0
0
Stated by brand
1
1
Potential conflict
0
0

Hydra Source Daily Leave-In Tonic

  • Instantly moisturizes and renews shineSupportedHelps hair feel hydrated.
  • Lightweight formula detangles and tames flyawaysSupportedEasier detangling, less breakage.
  • 6x more hydration after one useStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.

Smooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream

  • Controls frizz, static, and flyawaysStated by brandMay help, but not a primary focus.
  • Humidity control and smoothness/shine without stickinessSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.

What owners say

What people report

Recurring themes our researchers wrote in their own words from sourced reviews. We do not store or scrape star ratings, and we never balance one product’s themes against another’s by inventing them.

Both praised for slip. Biolage Smooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream draws complaints about dryness and the scent.

Hydra Source Daily Leave-In Tonic

Strong hydration, softness, manageability and detangling

Ulta exact-product written reviewers

Light, non-overpowering scent

Ulta exact-product written reviewers

Some users dislike the application or find it unsuitable for their hair

Ulta exact-product written reviewers

Smooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream

Controls humidity/frizz for some users

Ulta exact-product written reviewers

Improves manageability, softness and detangling

Ulta exact-product written reviewers

Some report sticky, crunchy, dry feel or formula/scent change

Ulta exact-product written reviewers

Price check

Cost per ounce, in context

Cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in. Value labels are computed from that percentile and from how many products that do the same job cost less; they are comparisons, not judgements about a brand.

$2.82/oz vs $3.97/oz — Biolage Smooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream costs about 1.4× more per ounce than Biolage Hydra Source Daily Leave-In Tonic.

$0.01/oz median $2.17/oz $76.00/oz $2.82/oz Hydra Source Daily Leave-I $3.97/oz Smooth Proof Leave-In Cond

Every mark sits on one distribution because these are compared against the same set: 481 leave-ins with a computable unit price.

Value readHydra Source Daily Leave-In TonicSmooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream
Label
Upper-mid price for a leave-inSits in the middle of the range for leave-ins per ounce.
Upper-mid price for a leave-inSits in the middle of the range for leave-ins per ounce.

Computed from cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced, and from how many products that do the same job cost less. It is a comparison, not a judgement about the brand.

Compare with something else

Close formulas to each of these, as their own comparison pages.

Hydra Source Daily Leave-In Tonic vs All Soft Moisture Restore Leave-In Treatment with Hyaluronic AcidRedken · 95% function matchSmooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream vs Glow Mania Glow Sealing Leave-In ConditionerMatrix · 100% function matchHydra Source Daily Leave-In Tonic vs Argan Oil Perfect 7 Leave-In ConditionerCreme of Nature · 90% function matchSmooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream vs All Soft Moisture Restore Leave-In Treatment with Hyaluronic AcidRedken · 95% function matchHydra Source Daily Leave-In Tonic vs Glow Mania Glow Sealing Leave-In ConditionerMatrix · 90% function matchSmooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream vs Grow Long Super Fast Strength Leave-in ConditionerMarc Anthony · 95% function matchHydra Source Daily Leave-In Tonic vs All-In-One Multi-Benefit SprayBiolage · 90% function matchSmooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream vs Miracle Rescue Instant Repair Leave-On with Melting Pro-V PearlsPantene · 95% function match

Hydra Source Daily Leave-In Tonic · Smooth Proof Leave-In Conditioning Cream · All leave-ins in the library

How this page was made

  • This page is assembled from the same researched records the individual product pages render: identity, each ingredient list as printed, each brand's own claims, dated price observations, and review themes written in our researchers' own words. Nothing on it is written per comparison.
  • We do not rank these against each other. Which of them suits you depends on your hair, and that is what the consultation works out.
  • The formula similarity percentage is a stored, precomputed number: position-weighted overlap of the two ingredient lists blended with agreement on the attributes we derive. It measures how alike two formulas are, not how well either works.
  • The value band is a fixed label over two stored numbers: this product’s cost per ounce as a percentile of every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in, and how many products we score as doing the same job cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
  • The "Is this right for you?" panel reads only your own consultation answers, and it applies exactly the filters our recommendation engine applies. It is computed when you load the page and is never stored on it.
  • 10 sources were consulted across the products on this page.
  • Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are observations on the dates shown and change without notice. We do not sell these products and take no placement fees.
  • This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.

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