The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum for acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Asiaticoside- Madecassic Acid
Sphingolipids
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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
- This serum offers excellent support for your combination skin and acne concerns, as niacinamide helps regulate oil production and reduce inflammation, while madecassoside aids in calming breakouts.
- The inclusion of ethyl linoleate and bisabolol further enhances skin barrier resilience, which is beneficial for combination skin types prone to irritation.
- The product is safe for your acne-prone skin, featuring soothing ingredients and avoiding harsh or prohibited substances.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine and start 3x/week before working up to daily use.
- Apply this treatment after cleansing and toner, and before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the product on clean, dry skin to help manage your breakouts safely.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
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
What makes The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum a great fit for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit because niacinamide helps regulate oil production and reduce inflammation, while madecassoside aids in calming breakouts. Ingredients like ethyl linoleate and bisabolol further strengthen your skin barrier and help keep acne-prone skin comfortable and protected from irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2007JID Innovations, 2023
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because niacinamide helps balance oil and soothe redness, while madecassic acid and asiaticoside calm breakouts. Ingredients like ethyl linoleate and bisabolol further strengthen your skin barrier against irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2007JID Innovations, 2023
What does Niacinamide do for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps acne-prone skin by reducing both inflamed and uninflamed breakouts and calming redness. It is also very helpful for keeping oily skin balanced by cutting down on excess oil production, and it is well tolerated by most people.
What does Asiaticoside do for acne-prone skin?
Asiaticoside helps calm acne-prone skin and supports healing by acting on the biological pathways involved in skin inflammation and blemishes. It works best when paired with soothing ingredients and gentle hydration to keep the skin barrier balanced without irritation.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This treatment serum goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Using it at night helps keep your skin calm and supports your skin barrier while avoiding extra sensitivity during the day.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to help calm your skin and keep your barrier resilient. Using a supportive serum alongside active treatments like retinoids helps reduce irritation and skin discomfort while managing acne-prone skin.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum is a great fit for your acne-prone skin and can be used in your evening routine. It features soothing ingredients like niacinamide and madecassoside that help calm breakouts and support your skin barrier.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2007JID Innovations, 2023
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because niacinamide helps balance oil and soothe redness, while ingredients like ethyl linoleate help calm breakouts and support your skin barrier. Some shoppers do mention breakouts in their reviews, but the formula avoids harsh ingredients and is generally very safe for sensitive or blemish-prone skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2007JID Innovations, 2023
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 lotion containing triethyl citrate and ethyl linoleate reduced Leeds grading, total, inflammatory, and noninflammatory lesion counts, and sebum production compared with a placebo in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2007Bakuchiol and ethyl (linoleate/oleate) synergistically inhibit eCB degradation to favor eCB mobilization and repress inflammatory mediators in keratinocytes.
JID Innovations, 2023A combined chemo-exfoliation and home therapy regimen reduced the average GAGS score by 49% in 53 patients with moderate facial acne.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2013Cosmetic 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, 2016Topical 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, 2020A 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, 2017Moisturizer 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, 2019
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
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