The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum is their newest launch geared towards–pretty much what the name says. Barrier support and soothing plus helping to target the look of redness. Details per The Ordinary:
Soothing & Barrier Support Serum is a multi-active solution targeted at reducing the look of irritated skin. It helps recover the skin barrier in 2 hours*, and provides an immediate 86%** boost in skin hydration. This helps soothe feelings of discomfort, and reduce signs of redness.
While strengthening the skin barrier, the Soothing & Barrier Support Serum also improves the look of uneven texture for a smoother appearance. Formulated with multiple vitamins, lipids, and phytotechnologies, this comprehensive serum is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Key Ingredients
- Vitamin B12 – Helps support skin barrier by reducing dryness and the look of redness, while also imparting the serum’s characteristic pink hue.
- Gallic Acid Derivatives – A combination of 3 activated forms of gallic acid (propyl gallate, gallyl glucoside and epigallocatechin gallyl glucoside (EGCG)) helps soothe skin discomfort and target the look of redness associated with irritants.
- Bisabolol – Helps reduce the look of skin redness
- Soothing Complex – Reduces feelings of skin tightness and discomfort from dryness.
- Ceramide Complex – Plant-derived ceramides (sphingolipids and phospholipids) provide topical delivery of key skin components.
- 2% Niacinamide – Supports essential skin components that help promote hydration.
- Sugar-based hydrators – Offers skin hydration and helps support the skin barrier.
- Centella Asiatica Phytotechnologies – Isolated triterpenes; asiaticoside, madecassic acid and asiatic acid, derived from Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola) that helps protect the skin against irritants
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Propanediol, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Hexyldecanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xylitylglucoside, Ceteth-20 Phosphate, Anhydroxylitol, Ethyl Linoleate, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Naringenin, Cyanocobalamin, Panthenyl Triacetate, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Bisabolol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Sphingolipids, Phospholipids, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Gallyl Glucoside, Propyl Gallate, Xylitol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Stearic Acid, Dicetyl Phosphate, Isoceteth-20, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, P-Anisic Acid, Phytic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
The texture of this serum is a thin creamy emulsion, the color is Barbie pink. The pink comes from the soothing B12. This has glucosides similar to NIOD Modulating Glucosides. The purpose is to help reduce the look of redness. This also has bisabolol for soothing, a ceramide complex, sugar based humectants, a low dose niacinamide plus gotu kola actives (isolated compounds from the plant that are the most soothing). I like this serum, it’s soothing, hydrating and does help with redness reduction. It’s only $17 which is great for a cheap barrier serum. The main question I get about this serum is how does it compare to NIOD Modulating Glucosides?
NIOD MG is a little thicker and more lipid rich. NIOD has five glucosides instead of three, a peptide to reduce irritation, amino acids, glycerin, superoxide dismutase and caprylic/capric triglyceride. I ultimately find NIOD MG more soothing for me in the long run. Plus I prefer the thicker more lipid rich texture over The Ordinary. They’re both great–I think texture preference and skin type might dictate which you like more. Oily skin might like The Ordinary better as it’s less lipid heavy, dry skin NIOD MG–but you could use either. My original review of NIOD MG is HERE.
I used two bottles of The Ordinary back to back, one I bought and one PR. I’ve used more bottles of NIOD MG than I can count. Just based on soothing effects overall I prefer NIOD. It’s $12 more but worth it in my opinion. Either way both are great choices and I love to see more people going towards soothing and barrier health versus acids and tons of actives.