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Side by side

Kristin Ess Hair Ultra Light Styling Cream vs Rizos Curls Sleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand

89% function match · 11 of the 13 functions we compared match Formula overlap 34%. Kristin Ess Hair Ultra Light Styling Cream and Rizos Curls Sleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand 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.

  • Ultra Light Styling Cream — protein-sensitive hair
  • Sleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand — 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
Kristin Ess Hair Ultra Light Styling Cream — 5 oz container Kristin Ess Hair

Ultra Light Styling Cream

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Rizos Curls Sleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand — size line-up Rizos Curls

Sleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand

  • Styler
  • Masstige
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
Price, size & price per ounce
$13–15 5 oz · $3.00/oz
$14–16 0.5 oz · $30.35/oz

Compared at different sizes — 5 oz against 0.5 oz. Per-ounce prices favour the larger bottle.

Value / price positioning
Lower cost than most smoothing creams $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs less than 87% of the 56 smoothing creams we’ve priced
Same job for less elsewhere $$$$$ Masstige tier · costs more than 87% of the 16 edge controls we’ve priced
Best for hair types
Straight–Curly Smoothing and thermal products span straight through curly hair. Your hair
Wavy–Coily Co-washes, curl creams, and gels are built around wave and curl. Your hair
Moisture level Differs
Low Humectants appear, but low enough to be a minor part. Your hair
High Humectants near the top — water-binding is a headline mechanism here. Your hair
Hold (as stated)
Light A light hold, as stated by the brand. Your hair
Strong A strong hold, as stated by the brand. 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
Present Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients. 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
None Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove. Your hair
None Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove. Your hair
Clarifying wash needed
Low Your hair
Low Your hair
Hold system Same
Mixed Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Mixed Gums and synthetic polymers together. Your hair
Cast risk Same
Unlikely Softening ingredients sit alongside the film formers, so a hard shell is unlikely. Your hair
Unlikely Softening ingredients sit alongside the film formers, so a hard shell is unlikely. Your hair
Humidity resistance
Claimed The brand claims humidity resistance; the ingredient list cannot confirm it. Your hair
—
Oil absorption Same
None No absorbent powders or starches. Your hair
None No absorbent powders or starches. Your hair
Oils and butters Same
Present, lower down Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch. Your hair
Present, lower down Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch. Your hair
Fast-drying alcohol Same
None No fast-drying alcohol in the list. Your hair
None No fast-drying alcohol in the list. 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
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
  • Curl definitionfilm formers hold a clump together
  • Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
  • Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
  • Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front
  • Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
Why you might skip it
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a scent
  • Styles that must holdthe brand states a light hold at most
  • Scents bother youthis product carries a light scent
  • Dry or very humid airwhere heavy humectants work against you
  • Soft, touchable finishesthe brand states a firm hold
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
Stylercream
Stylercream
Where to buy
Target · Ulta · Brand website
Brand website · Specialty beauty
Free of
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
  • sulfate-free
  • silicone-free
  • protein-free
  • curly-method compatible
Cruelty-free
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Scent
Scented, not described
Scented, not described
Hold
lightlightweight hold
strong
Finish
natural
—
Humidity claim
Yes
—
How often
as needed
—

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

IngredientUltra Light Styling CreamSleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand
Water
Neutral
#1Leading
#1Leading
Cetearyl Alcohol
Softens
#4Supporting
#3Leading
Fragrance
Fragrance
#5Below the 1% line
#23Below the 1% line
Phenoxyethanol
Stabilizes
#7Below the 1% line
#7Below the 1% line
Cetrimonium Chloride
Detangles
#8Below the 1% line
#9Below the 1% line
Glycerin
Moisturizes
#16Below the 1% line
#2Leading
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Holds
#13Below the 1% line
#6Supporting
Polyquaternium-11
Detangles
#9Below the 1% line
#8Below the 1% line

What only one of them carries

Ultra Light Styling Cream

Sleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand

Full ingredient list — Ultra Light Styling Cream (62)
Full ingredient list — Sleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand (31)

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.

VerdictsUltra Light Styling CreamSleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand
Supported
2
0
Partly supported
1
0
Stated by brand
1
6
Potential conflict
1
0

Ultra Light Styling Cream

  • 24 Hour Frizz ControlSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • Up to 10X smoother hairStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • Reduces frizz for up to 24 hoursSupportedSmoother strands, less frizz.
  • lightweight holdPartly supportedDepends how fine your hair is.
  • color + keratin safePotential conflictNot in the ingredient list.

Sleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand

  • 100% agree product lays & smooths edgesStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • 100% agree product does not cause breakageStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • 97% agree no breakouts near hairlineStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • 97% agree provides strong holdStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • 94% agree instantly smooths flyawaysStated by brandOnly the brand’s testing shows this.
  • No flaking, no residueStated by brandCan’t be confirmed from label.

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.

Kristin Ess Hair Ultra Light Styling Cream draws complaints about weight and frizz.

Ultra Light Styling Cream

Texture is light and non-greasy, smooths and defines without weighing hair down

Ulta reviewer, 5 stars

Good consistency that holds hair well, would repurchase

Ulta reviewer, 4 stars

Holds style in place without looking stiff or plastered down

Ulta reviewer, 5 stars

Caused a skin reaction (hot, red, itchy face) on contact

Ulta reviewer, 1 star

Did not tame frizz around the hairline and left hair looking greasy

Ulta reviewer, 2 stars

Sleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand

Reviewers say it holds down edges and baby hairs effectively without flaking or a hard crunch

reviewers styling edges/hairline

Several reviewers describe using it to style a child's hair, especially edges

parents styling kids' hair

A reviewer compares it favorably to a well-known edge-control brand, saying it performs better with no flakiness

reviewer with prior edge-control experience

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.

$3.00/oz vs $30.35/oz — Rizos Curls Sleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand costs about 10× more per ounce than Kristin Ess Hair Ultra Light Styling Cream.

Ultra Light Styling Cream

Against 56 smoothing creams with a computable unit price.

Sleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand

Against 16 edge controls with a computable unit price.

Value readUltra Light Styling CreamSleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand
Label
Lower cost than most smoothing creamsCosts less per ounce than most smoothing creams we have researched.
Same job for less elsewhereYou are paying above the range for a formula close to several lower-priced options.

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.

Ultra Light Styling Cream vs Ultra Light Styling CreamKRISTIN ESS HAIR · 100% function matchSleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand vs Complete Air Dry Cream - 5.0 ozJVN · 96% function matchUltra Light Styling Cream vs Sea Salt Air Dry MousseKRISTIN ESS HAIR · 96% function matchSleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand vs Coco Crème Curl Shaping Cream Gel with Coconut OilCarol's Daughter · 96% function matchUltra Light Styling Cream vs Invincible Volume Moisturizing Gel to Mousse Styling FoamCurlsmith · 89% function matchSleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand vs Pure Honey Shrinkage Defense Curl ActivatorCreme of Nature · 93% function matchUltra Light Styling Cream vs Invincible Volume MousseCurlsmith · 89% function matchSleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand vs Air Dry Styling CreamSun Bum · 93% function match

Ultra Light Styling Cream · Sleek Styling Cream + Taming Wand · All smoothing creams 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.
  • 6 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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