Naturium Marshmallow Root Barrier Balm Versus The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum
Updated on June 13, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe . They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Naturium Marshmallow Root Barrier Balm 58 ingredients
The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum 45 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Naturium Marshmallow Root Barrier Balm 58 ingredients
The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum 45 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Undecane
EmollientGlycerin
Humectant
Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Olivate
Tridecane
Perfuming
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Althaea Officinalis Root
Skin ConditioningColloidal Oatmeal
Absorbent
Centella Asiatica Extract
Cleansing
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Masking
Silybum Marianum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Bisabolol
Masking
Magnesium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan
Skin ConditioningChamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Squalane
Emollient
Fructooligosaccharides
Humectant
Beta Vulgaris Root Extract
Skin ConditioningNigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Rosa Canina Fruit Oil
Emollient
Sambucus Nigra Seed Oil
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Emollient
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
Masking
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Phytate
Potassium Lactate
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningMelia Azadirachta Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningCorallina Officinalis Extract
Skin Conditioning
Eclipta Prostrata Extract
Skin ConditioningOcimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil
Emollient
Amber Powder
Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSolanum Melongena Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCurcuma Longa Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycolic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Propanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Undecane, Glycerin, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Cetearyl Olivate, Tridecane, Sorbitan Olivate, Althaea Officinalis Root, Colloidal Oatmeal, Centella Asiatica Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Magnesium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Squalane, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta Vulgaris Root Extract, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Panthenol, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sambucus Nigra Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Amber Powder, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa Leaf Extract, Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
EmollientPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Hexyldecanol
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Ceteth-20 Phosphate
CleansingAnhydroxylitol
Humectant
Ethyl Linoleate
Emollient
Asiaticoside
Antioxidant
Asiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningMadecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Naringenin
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningPanthenyl Triacetate
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningCetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Masking
Brassica Campestris Sterols
Emollient
Sphingolipids
EmollientPhospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Gallyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Propyl Gallate
Antioxidant
Xylitol
Humectant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Dicetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingIsoceteth-20
Emulsifying
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
P-Anisic Acid
MaskingPhytic Acid
Sodium Phytate
Sodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingBenzyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
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
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterPropanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin.
It’s often used to:
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolCetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.
Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.
Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.
Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl AlcoholBisabolol is famous for its skin soothing properties. It does this by blocking inflammatory signals, helping to reduce your body's reaction to irritation.
This ingredient also interferes with the process of hyperpigmentation. This can help with reducing dark spots and uneven tone.
Bisabolol is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. By fighting these free-radicals, Bisabolol may slow down signs of aging.
Studies have shown Bisabolol to have antimicrobial properties and may be a fungicide. These properties help preserve a product's shelf life.
All these properties makes bisabolol a great skin barrier helper ingredient.
Bisabolol also helps the absorption of other ingredients.
Note: Synthetic Bisabolol has been shown to be less effective.
Learn more about BisabololEthylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.
You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.
Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Sodium Phytate is the synthetic salt form of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an antioxidant and can be found in plant seeds.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water. This helps stabilize the ingredients and the product.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Naturium Marshmallow Root Barrier Balm 58 ingredients
The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum 45 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Naturium Marshmallow Root Barrier Balm 58 ingredients
I really wanted to like this product because it has really good ingredients. It has a lovely consistency and is really thick on the skin, really locking in that moisture. However, it irritated my sensitive, dry skin. It always left my skin red and burning. I'd often wash it off and use something else. This product is probably better suited for those who don't have sensitive skin.
Absolutely love! This has become a holy grail for me, super moisturizing and perfect for the end of my exfoliating routine!
The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum 45 ingredients
unfortunately broke me out really badly after 1 week use.
After using this for a few weeks I was amazed at how well it improved my skin’s texture. I have to take corticosteroids for life, which has thinned my skin substantially, which in turn has made my skin very susceptible to eczema and scarring from even the smallest acne spot. This has made my skin plump and healthy looking once again and made it so when a spot shows up, the scaring is almost Show more
