🇫🇷France

The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum for combination skin

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for combination skin; a few serums fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 excellent barrier support and soothing for your combination skin, as niacinamide and bisabolol work to enhance barrier resilience and provide calming effects, while ethyl linoleate helps regulate sebum production.
  • The formula is highly suitable for your skin type, with ingredients like panthenyl triacetate and brassica campestris sterols contributing to overall skin health and hydration.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.

How to apply

  • Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
  • Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
  • Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
  • Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .

People Say

★4.4Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviews

Based 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 combination skin?

This serum is a great fit because niacinamide and bisabolol calm your skin and strengthen its barrier, while ethyl linoleate helps balance oil production. Ingredients like panthenyl triacetate and brassica campestris sterols further support hydration and overall skin health with very low risk of irritation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2007Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?

This serum is a great fit for combination skin because niacinamide and bisabolol calm the skin and strengthen its barrier, while ethyl linoleate helps balance oil production. Additionally, panthenyl triacetate and brassica campestris sterols boost hydration and support overall skin health.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2007Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012

What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?

Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

What does Asiaticoside do for combination skin?

Asiaticoside helps keep combination skin calm and balanced while supporting moisture levels without feeling heavy. This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation and may improve skin barrier function, which is especially helpful for areas that need extra repair.

International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2021Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This treatment goes in your evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. It can also be used in the morning or twice a day if needed, and is unlikely to cause irritation.

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this serum with retinol, and applying it before your retinol helps keep your skin calm and comfortable. This combination is unlikely to cause irritation because the serum contains soothing ingredients that help protect your skin.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

How often should I use this serum?

You can use this serum in your evening routine, applying it after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. It is gentle and safe for combination skin, helping to keep your skin calm and hydrated without causing irritation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2007Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

Yes, reviewers note that this serum may occasionally cause breakouts on combination skin. However, the formula is unlikely to irritate your skin or clog pores, as it relies on soothing ingredients and lacks harsh components.

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, 2007
  • A combined chemo-exfoliation and home therapy regimen reduced the average GAGS score by 49% in 53 patients with moderate facial acne.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2013
  • Panthenyl triacetate (PTA) demonstrated skin de-acetylation into panthenol, stimulated energetic and synthesis metabolic pathways, and achieved a statistically significant improvement in wound healing after 72 hours compared to saline treatment in human volunteers, outperforming panthenol in long-lasting wound healing action.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012
  • Treatment with a bioactive complex of Panthenyl triacetate and Ethyl linoleate at 3% protected human skin biopsies against UV-induced protein oxidation by 72% with pre-treatment and 78% with post-treatment, while also stimulating the expression of protein repairing enzymes compared to UV-irradiated controls.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010
  • The 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, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2008
  • Topical 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, 2005
  • Topical 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, 2020
  • 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, 2017
  • Moisturizer 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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Prices checked 15 Oct – 5 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for France.

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