The Ordinary
Soothing & Barrier Support SerumThe Ordinary
Retinal 0.2% EmulsionA serum built around Niacinamide and Centella asiatica, for barrier repair and smoothing.
A serum built around Retinoid, for smoothing and hydration.
Brand price
USD 15.30 · checked 25 Sept 2026 · brand's site
Brand price
USD 13.41 · checked 25 Sept 2026 · brand's site
At a Glance
They come out differently on EU-allergen-free; that row is shaded. Tap any answer to see why.
Key Ingredients
Fatty alcohol1
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Centella asiatica (Cica)3
Centella asiatica (cica), used to calm irritation.
Benefits
Hydrating6
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Anhydroxylitol, Propanediol, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Xylitol, Xylitylglucoside
Barrier Repair10
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Brassica Campestris Sterols, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ethyl Linoleate, Hexyldecanol, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Niacinamide, Sphingolipids, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Xylitol
Reduces Irritation4
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Redness Reducing5
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Bisabolol, Madecassic Acid, Niacinamide
Hydrating6
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Propanediol, Sodium Lactate, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair6
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Brassica Campestris Sterols, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hexyldecanol, Isohexadecane, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
Concerns
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.
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis8
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Ascorbyl Palmitate, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Hexyldecanol, Isoceteth-20, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polysorbate 60, Stearic Acid
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris3
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Ingredients Side-by-side
Emollient
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Emollient
2 / 1
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Humectant
Humectant
Skin Conditioning
Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol (in both products)
Perfuming
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Aqua
Solvent
Propanediol
Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Propanediol is the organic compound that conforms to the formula
Learn more about Propanediol →Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning, Solvent
1,2-Dihydroxypentane
Learn more about Pentylene Glycol →Hexyldecanol
Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Hexyldecanol isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Hexyldecanol →4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Fragrance, Perfuming
Cyclohexanol, 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-
Learn more about 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol →Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Benzoic Acid, 2-[[(3-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-1-Oxopropyl]Amino]-
Learn more about Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid →Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin Conditioning
Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide →Bisabolol
Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing
(R*,R*)-.alpha.,4-dimethyl-.alpha.-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)cyclohex-3-ene-1-methanol; 3-Cyclohexene-1-methanol, alpha,4-dimethyl-alpha-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-, (theta,theta)-(+/-)-; 3-Cyclohexene-1-methanol, alpha,4-dimethyl-alpha-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-, (S-(theta,theta))- (levomenol)
Learn more about Bisabolol →Brassica Campestris Sterols
Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Brassica Campestris Sterols is a mixture of sterols obtained from the Cabbage, Brassica campestris L., Brassicaceae
Learn more about Brassica Campestris Sterols →Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Fragrance, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Tonic
Zingiber Officinale Extract is an extract of the roots of the Ginger, Zingiber officinalis L., Zingiberaceae
Learn more about Zingiber Officinale Root Extract →
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