Versus

The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum Versus Skin Functional 80% Squalane Barrier Support

Serum
Serum
Canadian Brand Canada
South African Brand South Africa

Updated on August 20, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 4 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and sensitive skin

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens, silicones 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

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

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Soothing & Barrier Support Serum

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

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
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.

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
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

When to use

987 Routines
43% use in am
57% use in pm
88% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
1 Routine
0% use in am
100% use in pm
100% use every day

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

Skin Functional 80% Squalane Barrier Support 10 ingredients

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