Versus

The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum Versus Niod Modulating Glucosides

Serum
Facial Treatment
Canadian Brand Canada
Canadian Brand Canada

Updated on June 13, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe . They have a total of 21 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any oils, parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain harsh alcohols, common allergens and 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

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Soothing & Barrier Support Serum
Modulating Glucosides

Water

Skin Conditioning

Squalane

Emollient
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Isodecyl Neopentanoate

Emollient

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

Propanediol

Solvent

Hexyldecanol

Emollient

Bisabolol

Masking
Helps reduce irritation Icon

Butylene Glycol

Humectant
1 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Rosmarinyl Glucoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Caffeyl Glucoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Gallyl Glucoside

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Tetrasodium Tetracarboxymethyl Naringeninchalcone

Skin Conditioning
Silicon Icon

Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone

Skin Conditioning

4-T-Butylcyclohexanol

Masking
Fragrance Icon

Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide

Skin Conditioning

Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid

Skin Conditioning

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8

Skin Conditioning
Peptide IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Superoxide Dismutase

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Sodium PCA

Humectant
0 / 0

PCA

Humectant

Arginine

Masking
Good for Scar Healing IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glycine

Buffering
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Alanine

Masking

Serine

Masking

Valine

Masking

Isoleucine

Skin Conditioning

Proline

Skin Conditioning

Threonine

Histidine

Humectant

Phenylalanine

Masking

Aspartic Acid

Masking

Sodium Lactate

Buffering

Mirabilis Jalapa Callus Extract

Skin Protecting

Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

Masking

Curculigo Orchioides Root Extract

Skin Conditioning

Isochrysis Galbana Extract

Skin Conditioning

Brassica Campestris Sterols

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Stearic Acid

Cleansing
2-3 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Dextran

Isoceteth-20

Emulsifying
May cause irritation Icon

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Emulsion Stabilising

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Propyl Gallate

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconFragrance Icon

Tromethamine

Buffering

Dehydroacetic Acid

Preservative
Preservative Icon

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning

Benzyl Alcohol

Perfuming
Alcohol IconFragrance IconPreservative IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconMay cause irritation IconEU Allergen IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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 Water
Solvent

Propanediol 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 Propanediol
Emollient, Skin Conditioning

We don't have a description for Isodecyl Neopentanoate yet.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.

The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.

This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.

Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.

Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.

Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.

Learn more about Pentylene Glycol
Emollient, Skin Conditioning

We don't have a description for Hexyldecanol yet.

Masking, Perfuming, Soothing

4-T-Butylcyclohexanol has perfuming and masking properties. According to a manufacturer, it has a scent similar to musk or patchouli.

A study from 2016 also found it to have skin-soothing properties both in-vivo and in-vitro. It works by intercepting the signals of irritation.

We don't have a description for Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid yet.

We don't have a description for Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide yet.

Masking, Skin Conditioning, Soothing

Bisabolol 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 Bisabolol
Emollient, Skin Conditioning

Brassica Campestris Sterols isn't fungal acne safe.

Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning

This ingredient is a modified version of the famous antioxidant found in green tea, EGCG.

EGCG has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been shown to protect skin from UV-induced damage.

Since this ingredient is modified to attach to a glucose molecule, it also has great hydrating properties.

Learn more about Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning

Gallyl Glucoside is an antioxidant.

Antioxidant, Perfuming

Propyl Gallate is an antioxidant and is a fragrance.

Masking, Skin Conditioning, Tonic

Zingiber Officinale is more commonly known as ginger.

Ginger root has antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and antimicrobial properties.

The antioxidant properties help protect your body from free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. As a result, ginger may help slow down signs of aging such as hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.

Studies show ginger inhibits the enzyme that breaks down collagen. It also helps with:

This ingredient has no negative side-effects and is safe to use unless one has a specific allergy to it.

Ginger originates from Southeast Asia but has spread throughout the world. It is now a common spice used in many cultures.

Learn more about Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Cleansing, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising

Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.

As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.

Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.

Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.

This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.

Learn more about Stearic Acid
Emulsifying

Isoceteth-20 comes from Isocetyl Alcohol. It is an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.

Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

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 Gum
Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

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 Tocopherol
Preservative

Dehydroacetic Acid is fungicide and bactericide. It is used as a preservative in cosmetics. Preservatives help elongate the shelf life of a product.

Dehydroacetic Acid is not soluble in water.

Perfuming, Preservative, Solvent

Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.

Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.

Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.

Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.

Other types of astringent alcohols include:

According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.

Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.

Learn more about Benzyl Alcohol
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol 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.

When to use

988 Routines
43% use in am
57% use in pm
88% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
75 Routines
37% use in am
63% use in pm
99% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum 45 ingredients

3.4 /5
from 15 ratings
Broke Me Out (4) Light (3) Irritating (3)
mikkoflam's avatar

mikkoflam

1 year ago
Review

unfortunately broke me out really badly after 1 week use.

#broke me out
JaxC's avatar

JaxC

11 months ago
Review

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

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#sticky

Niod Modulating Glucosides 54 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating
Absorbs Well (1) Expensive (1) Great Value (1)
Kaliope's avatar

Kaliope

28 days ago
Review

YOU DON'T GET IT!!! this is one of the greatest innovations in skincare of the century! saved my skin barrier from beyond hope, it's totally FA-safe even if SkinSort says it's not (arginine is usually okay for me) yes it's a little pricey but 100% worth it, I cannot live comfortably without this product

both photos no makeup taken 4 years apart but results happen much quicker! I just chose Show more

#great value
#expensive
#hydrating
#light