The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum vs Foxtale 0.15% Beginner-friendly Retinol Night Serum

The Ordinary

Foxtale

A serum built around Niacinamide and Centella asiatica, for barrier repair and smoothing.

A serum built around Retinoid and Niacinamide, for barrier repair and smoothing.

Serum

45 ingredients

33 ingredients

Brand price

USD 15.30 · checked 25 Sept 2026 · brand's site

Brand price

INR 599.00 · checked 28 Sept 2026 · brand's site

No retailer listed yet

Brand from Canada

Brand from India

At a Glance

They come out differently on Fragrance-free, EU-allergen-free, Silicone-free and Oil-free; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.

Fatty alcohol1
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Cetearyl Alcohol
Vitamin E1
Tocopherols — fat-soluble antioxidants.
Tocopherol
Centella asiatica (Cica)3
Centella asiatica (cica), used to calm irritation.
Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid
Niacinamide1
Vitamin B3 — supports the barrier and evens tone.
Niacinamide

Chemical sunscreen1
Organic UV filters that absorb UV and release it as heat.
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
Sunscreen1
Any ingredient acting as a UV filter.
Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate
Vitamin E1
Tocopherols — fat-soluble antioxidants.
Tocopherol
Polysorbates (Tween emulsifiers)1
Polysorbate (Tween) emulsifiers.
Polysorbate 20

May Trigger Acne3
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis10
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteth-20 Phosphate, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Dicetyl Phosphate, Ethyl Linoleate, Hexyldecanol, Isoceteth-20, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Stearic Acid
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris3
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
May Worsen Irritation2
May cause stinging, redness or sensitivity.
Benzyl Alcohol, Tocopherol

May Trigger Acne1
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Tocopherol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis7
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Garcinia Indica Seed Butter, Glyceryl Stearate, Palmitoyl Glycine, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Olivate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris1
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Tocopherol
May Worsen Oily Skin1
May increase shine or excess oil.
Garcinia Indica Seed Butter

Show highlights for:

Aqua (in both products)
Solvent
0 / —
Propanediol (in both products)
Viscosity Controlling
0-1 / —
- Hydrating
Isodecyl Neopentanoate
Emollient
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
0-1 / —
Niacinamide (in both products)
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Hexyldecanol
Emollient
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
2 / 1
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Xylitylglucoside
Humectant
Ceteth-20 Phosphate
Cleansing
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Anhydroxylitol
Humectant

Aqua (in both products)
Solvent
0 / —
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
0 / 0
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
1 / 0
- Silicones
- Barrier Repair
- Hydrating
- Smoothing
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Occlusive
1 / 1
Cetearyl Olivate
Emollient
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
1 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Possibly animal-derived
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Propanediol (in both products)
Viscosity Controlling
0-1 / —
- Hydrating
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Aqua
Solvent
Water
Learn more about Aqua →
Propanediol
Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Propanediol is the organic compound that conforms to the formula
Learn more about Propanediol →
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Niacinamide is niacinamide.
Learn more about Niacinamide →
Tocopherol
Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Occlusive
Tocopherol is vitamin E.
Learn more about Tocopherol →
Sodium Hydroxide
Buffering, Denaturant
Sodium hydroxide
Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide →
Ethylhexylglycerin
Deodorant, Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin is the organic compound that conforms to the formula
Learn more about Ethylhexylglycerin →
Phenoxyethanol
Antimicrobial, Preservative
Phenoxyethanol is the aromatic ether alcohol that conforms to the formula:
Learn more about Phenoxyethanol →