The Ordinary's new serum has something for everyone, but do you really need it?



Trust The Ordinary, which is always at the top of the hottest skincare trends. It was one of the first brands to actually use beta-glucan (a moisturizing ingredient that experts say is 20% more powerful than hyaluronic acid) in its latest moisturizer, Natural Moisturizing Factor. 

While we're all obsessed with niacinamide (it reduces excess oil production and fine lines, and has anti-inflammatory properties), it brings us the best-selling Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% (just one of the other serums on the market) A fraction of the price)). Only £5). 

So it makes sense that the brand's scientists would work on one of the biggest beauty movements right now: skin barrier support. What is the skin barrier? Everyone has a skin barrier. This is the name given to the outermost layer of the skin, which prevents moisture loss and prevents harmful substances like bacteria from getting inside. 

When your barrier is intact, your skin feels soft. If this is not the case, your skin may appear flaky, dry, rough, or red, and is often painful to the touch. You may associate a damaged skin barrier with cold weather, as strong winds and central heating systems can strip moisture from the skin. 

However, anything can throw your skin barrier out of balance, including over-cleansing, incorrect or overuse of skin-care ingredients like retinols and exfoliating acids, and too much UV exposure (we're looking at you: sunburn) . 

Trust The Ordinary, which is always at the top of the hottest skincare trends. It was one of the first brands to actually use beta-glucan (a moisturizing ingredient that experts say is 20% more powerful than hyaluronic acid) in its latest moisturizer, Natural Moisturizing Factor. 

While we're all obsessed with niacinamide (it reduces excess oil production and fine lines, and has anti-inflammatory properties), it brings us the best-selling Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% (just one of the other serums on the market) A fraction of the price)). Only £5). 

So it makes sense that the brand's scientists would work on one of the biggest beauty movements right now: skin barrier support. What is the skin barrier? Everyone has a skin barrier. 

This is the name given to the outermost layer of the skin, which prevents moisture loss and prevents harmful substances like bacteria from getting inside. When your barrier is intact, your skin feels soft. 

If this is not the case, your skin may appear flaky, dry, rough, or red, and is often painful to the touch. You may associate a damaged skin barrier with cold weather, as strong winds and central heating systems can strip moisture from the skin. 

However, anything can throw your skin barrier out of balance, including over-cleansing, incorrect or overuse of skin-care ingredients like retinols and exfoliating acids, and too much UV exposure (we're looking at you: sunburn) . 

Products claiming to repair and maintain the skin barrier are nothing new, but The Ordinary has added the Soothing and Barrier Support Serum (£17.30) to its growing range of skincare products. 

The brand claims the new product helps improve uneven skin texture, reduce redness in dry skin, and promotes radiance. This all sounds promising, but what exactly is it? I was one of the first beauty journalists to receive a sample in early July, and of course I immediately went to look for the ingredients list. 

What are the ingredients in The Ordinary Soothing Barrier Support Serum? First, lipids, a general term for fats and oils. Without giving you a science lesson, the lipids in this serum are ceramides, which are essentially the fat molecules that hold the skin barrier together. 

Ceramides occur naturally in the skin, but our stores often run low, leading to dry, itchy, and inflamed skin. Serums and moisturizers containing ceramides can help replenish these reserves. Then there's vitamin B12. 

Compared to vitamin C and vitamin A (also known as retinol), this vitamin is often overlooked in skin care. However, various studies show that topical application can be beneficial, especially for atopic dermatitis (a condition that causes dry, itchy, and cracked skin). 

Gallic acid derivatives are also part of this soothing serum. Gallic acid (from plants) is an antioxidant that helps protect skin from environmental aggressors like pollution and UV radiation. (That said, wearing broad-spectrum, high-SPF sunscreen during the day is still a must.) 

Combined with niacinamide and redness-reducing centella asiatica, this serum seems like the perfect addition to anyone's skin-care routine, and It’s not just those prone to skin problems. redness. Dryness or tenderness. 

Is The Ordinary’s Soothing Barrier Support Serum good to use? First, I had to get over the Pepto-Bismol-like appearance. No other serum in my routine is bright pink! A brand representative from The Ordinary said the purple-red hue is caused by the addition of cyanocobalamin (essentially vitamin B12) produced by fermentation. 

I have to admit, the serum has a slight cardboard smell, but that's not a bad thing by any means. I prefer this to the perfumed stuff as the smell often irritates my skin. Luckily, the smell dissipates quickly, as does the product. It doesn't leave a pink tint and doesn't feel sticky. 

I've been using this serum every day for almost a month, during the day after cleansing and before sunscreen (Trinny London See The Light Moisturizer SPF 50, £45), then after cleansing and before moisturizing (Vichy Minéral 89) at night. 72 Hour Moisturizer, £22). 

At first I thought: How special can a hydrating serum be?But I didn't realize how much my skin would benefit from this extra step of moisturizing. No matter how hard I try to stay out of the sun, outdoor dinners, drinks, and hanging out with friends have left my skin feeling pretty exhausted this summer. 

To control breakouts, I sometimes also use tretinoin, a powerful retinoid that can dry out the skin. Incorporating this serum into my routine has helped relieve dry patches and flaky areas of skin that are common with retinoids. 

While I can't say I noticed a difference in the faint wrinkles under my eyes or on my forehead, my skin tone has definitely improved. Last week I didn't feel the need to wear any foundation or concealer, just a bit of blush to add color to my cheeks. 

I'm sure this serum also reduces breakouts and blackheads in combination with a retinoid (which is niacinamide which regulates sebum production). At £17.50, this serum is more expensive than other products from The Ordinary. It doesn't necessarily target a specific skin concern, for example: Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA, £9.90, which is great for hyperpigmentation, or Aloe Vera 2% + NAG 2% Solution, £12.90, which helps fade post-acne spot. However, this means that anyone can use it. Of course, many skincare products these days contain similar ingredients, especially ceramides and antioxidants, but I love that they're all in one place in this serum, considering that's still relatively affordable. Does your skin have to be like this after summer? Probably not, but I love its mild hydrating stimulating effect.

1 Comments

Post a Comment