The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum for oily skin
Niacinamide
Asiaticoside- Madecassic Acid
Sphingolipids
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate support for your oily skin, as niacinamide helps regulate oil production and bisabolol provides anti-inflammatory action, addressing your oily shine concerns.
- The serum also enhances barrier resilience and offers general hydration, which is beneficial for maintaining overall skin health.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is widely praised for its ability to rapidly repair damaged skin barriers, hydrate dry patches, and reduce redness, leaving a glowy finish.
Highlights
Hydrating and plumping Often Mentioned
- “skin felt plumped”
- “super hydrated”
- “boost in hydration”
Reduces redness Often Mentioned
- “calmed down my skin”
- “rashes subsided instantaneously”
- “reduced look of redness”
Repairs skin barrier Often Mentioned
- “heals damaged barrier”
- “skin feels stronger”
- “soothed irritation”
Glowy finish Sometimes Noted
- “gives a nice glow”
- “dewy finish”
- “glass skin effect”
Good absorption Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs pretty fast”
- “not sticky”
- “silky feel”
Causes breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “small pustules all over”
- “caused tiny whiteheads”
- “broke me out”
Ineffective for some Rarely Noted
- “didn't notice a difference”
- “no reduction in redness”
- “did nothing”
Packaging complaints Rarely Noted
- “dropper is messy”
- “prefer a pump”
- “hard to apply”
Texture issues Rarely Noted
- “sticky on application”
- “gloopy texture”
- “pilling under makeup”
Unpleasant smell Rarely Noted
- “smells like yeast”
- “whiff of cardboard”
- “smells like beeswax”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, theordinary.com, sephora.com, reddit.com, independent.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
How well does The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum work for oily skin?
The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum works moderately well for oily skin by helping control oil and calming redness without causing irritation. Oily skin often benefits most from treatment products that specifically combine sebum-balancing ingredients like niacinamide and zinc with lightweight hydration.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Niacinamide and bisabolol help make this serum a good fit for oily skin by helping control oil production and calming inflammation. For an even better fit, oily skin needs treatments that contain ingredients like zinc PCA and ferulic acid to manage excess shine and large pores while brightening your complexion.
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
What does Asiaticoside do for oily skin?
Asiaticoside helps soothe redness and calm oily skin while supporting overall skin barrier health. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may help keep the skin balanced by easing inflammation.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2021
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Oily skin works best with products that contain niacinamide to help control shine and soothing ingredients like bisabolol to keep skin calm.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol, applying the treatment first and following with your retinol once it absorbs, or alternating nights if your skin is sensitive. This soothing serum is unlikely to cause irritation and helps calm the dryness or redness that retinol often brings.
How often should I use this serum?
Use this serum in your evening routine, applying it after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. It is safe for regular use, but oily skin often needs products with lighter textures and stronger oil-controlling ingredients to get the best results.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum may cause breakouts for oily skin, as some reviewers report this issue. To better fit oily skin, products of this type need lightweight, non-greasy ingredients that help balance oil without heavy textures.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016The novel high-payload nanosuspension system of Centella asiatica extract increased skin accumulation of asiatic acid, madecassic acid, and asiaticoside by 5-, 4-, and 4.5-fold respectively compared to a marketed cream in porcine skin, with no local skin irritation in normal rats.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2021Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008
Ingredients
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, 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
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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