Index / The Ordinary / Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
The Ordinary

Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Serums

About this product

A lightweight serum containing 10% niacinamide and 1% zinc designed to help regulate oil production, calm inflammation, and support clear skin.

Full ingredients

Guru Score

70%

Mixed

28 experts · Strong agreement
28Gurus
18Yay
4Mixed
6Nay

What they liked

  • Very affordable for the concentration
  • Lightweight, hydrating texture
  • Helps regulate oil and calm redness

What they flagged

  • 10% niacinamide can irritate sensitive skin
  • May pill when layered with other products

What the gurus are saying

This serum splits experts sharply: some praise its strength at controlling shine and inflammation for oily, acne-prone skin at an unbeatable $7-10 price, while others warn that the 10% niacinamide concentration causes redness and rashes in a significant number of people, and that niacinamide is now common enough in other products that a dedicated serum feels unnecessary. Those with sensitive skin may want to patch-test first or look for lower concentrations mixed into other formulas.
Synthesized from 28 expert reviews · most recent take August 2026

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
~Yay
"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% plus Zinc 1% is a great product for niacinamide, and [...] it works well alongside a vitamin C, whether you use it in the morning or move it to night if you've got sunspots or hyperpigmentation."
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"The Ordinary also makes a really good niacinamide, 10% plus zinc 1%."
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"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% plus Zinc 1% is a great product for niacinamide, and [...] it works well alongside a vitamin C, whether you use it in the morning or move it to night if you've got sunspots or hyperpigmentation."
~Nay
"One ingredient focused serums like the Ordinary niacinamide serum are no longer worth your money. [...] The skincare industry has evolved so much since these were recommended 8 years ago. [...] Back then, getting international brands like Korean skincare was next to impossible, but now there are a million options with significantly better formulas. Niacinamide and [...] hyaluronic acid were [...] rare then, which is [...] why these serums were constantly recommended. But now niacinamide is in pretty much every single formula, especially Korean skincare formulas. Every product has niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients have become so popularized and integrated into skincare products as a whole that it's more rare to find products that don't have these ingredients, thereby rendering products like this not necessarily useless, but definitely not necessary and almost excessive in a way. Because if the majority of skincare products for sale today have niacinamide in them, there's not really a needed reason to add an extra dedicated niacinamide serum into your routine."
All 3 takes from Hyram
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"One ingredient focused serums like the Ordinary niacinamide serum are no longer worth your money. [...] The skincare industry has evolved so much since these were recommended 8 years ago. [...] Back then, getting international brands like Korean skincare was next to impossible, but now there are a million options with significantly better formulas. Niacinamide and [...] hyaluronic acid were [...] rare then, which is [...] why these serums were constantly recommended. But now niacinamide is in pretty much every single formula, especially Korean skincare formulas. Every product has niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients have become so popularized and integrated into skincare products as a whole that it's more rare to find products that don't have these ingredients, thereby rendering products like this not necessarily useless, but definitely not necessary and almost excessive in a way. Because if the majority of skincare products for sale today have niacinamide in them, there's not really a needed reason to add an extra dedicated niacinamide serum into your routine."
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"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, definitely smash, super good, solid, affordable product."
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"My overall thoughts on this product, it's a good one, I've recommended this one so many times in the past. Is it the best niacinamide product out there? No. When it comes to Ordinary products they are very simple, great particularly for skincare beginners."
~Yay
"Other products that come to mind would be The Ordinary. They have their serums and their creams."
All 8 takes from Dr. Daniel Sugai
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"I've seen a lot especially in 2020 when The Ordinary's niacinamide serum was going viral, was popping off, everyone was buying it. Whenever I had a young patient come in with a red swollen face I would always ask, 'Are you using a niacinamide serum?' Specifically, The Ordinary. I'm sorry to hate on that brand, but they've caused a lot of rashes for my patients. So don't use a niacinamide serum at that concentration. Just have niacinamide mixed in to your products at a small concentration. I do like the ingredient, not hating on the ingredient, just using a small concentration."
Dermatologist Explains: How to Manage Hyperpigmentation/Dark Spots on the Face
"If you have it as a dedicated serum like say The Ordinary's, I've seen it irritate the skin and cause a bad rash which could lead to hyperpigmentation."
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"A dedicated niacinamide serum alone I do not recommend that typically to my patients. I feel like it's too much of a good thing. When everyone was using that in 2020 I saw all my patients coming in with beat red faces swollen and irritated and inflamed and my first question was always are you on the niacinamide serum by The Ordinary and a lot of my teenager patients would say yes. Niacinamide can brighten your skin but I say it's not Batman, it's Robin. It's the backup dancer. It's not your main character. It's going to be more of a backup supporting actor. I think it's great in combination with cleansers, sunscreens, retinols but by itself I wouldn't do it."
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"I don't like the ordinary niacinamide serum because it caused a lot of contact dermatitis in my patients."
Game-Changing Moisturizers with Niacinamide Revealed
"When you look at niacinamide at 10% you think about like is that really necessary and is niacinamide a really good ingredient at reducing dark spots, is it powerful enough, and my answer is no. It's not necessary at those high levels. [...] I've never seen it cure melasma or reduce hyperpigmentation in a significant way by itself. [...] I have found so many patients, especially my young patients with very sensitive skin and very fragile skin barriers, apply this strong niacinamide serum onto their face and they came in with a bad irritant contact dermatitis. [...] The niacinamide was just breaking their skin barrier, causing a lot of inflammation."
Dermatologist Explains: How to Mix Skincare Ingredients
"Niacinamide is a vitamin B3, it's anti-inflammatory, can be soothing, it can regulate sebum production. I'm not a big fan of it by itself in a serum. I feel like I've seen people get a lot of irritation, specifically the ordinary niacinamide serum. I think it's a great ingredient but too much of a good thing can be harmful."
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"I do not care for having a dedicated niacinamide serum. [...] I've seen so many people run into trouble with that particular serum, especially by The Ordinary. Their products just don't work well for my face. They're affordable, but they just sting my skin and cause irritation. These 10% niacinamide serums are just unnecessary, it's too high, too much of a good thing. Niacinamide will give you the benefits of regulating sebum, repairing the skin barrier, decreasing inflammation, and brightening the skin at low doses of less than 5%, so these higher concentrations are overkill."
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"Other products that come to mind would be The Ordinary. They have their serums and their creams."
~Yay
"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% plus Zinc 1% is pretty affordable, easy to find."
All 3 takes from Dr. Aleksandra Brown
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"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% plus Zinc 1% is a really affordable, straightforward serum that helps regulate oil production, helps reduce the shine, and supports clear skin by calming inflammation and minimizing congestion. I think it's best for oily, acne-prone, or maybe younger skin starting with active ingredients. It is higher strength niacinamide at 10%, but some people do okay with it. I think it might be a little bit irritating if you have really sensitive skin. [...] The key ingredients here are the niacinamide 10% and zinc PCA."
Niacinamide: Does It Really Work? Dermatologist Explains the Hype, Benefits & Best Products
"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% plus Zinc 1% is a very affordable, really straightforward serum that helps regulate oil production, helps reduce the shine. It's going to help support clear skin by calming inflammation and minimizing congestion. It's really ideal for oily, acne-prone skin or maybe younger skin that's just starting out with active ingredients and wants something that's not too harsh. [...] It's a little bit higher strength formula. 10% is pretty high for niacinamide. So if the skin is really sensitive, maybe switch to a lower strength or a moisturizer with just niacinamide in it that doesn't even mention a percentage. But this one's also going to pair really well with moisturizers underneath your sunscreen."
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"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% plus Zinc 1% is pretty affordable, easy to find."
~Yay
"The 10% niacinamide is unique because of the formula. I can actually use it. As someone that just generally can't tolerate niacinamide, I can with this. The NAD is great and they've chosen peptides specifically for hyperpigmentation, which I really appreciate. This is a little hidden gem. When I'm in active treatment phase of this routine, I will use it, but when I go into maintenance, this is probably the product that I'll drop to just streamline things down."
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"The 10% niacinamide is unique because of the formula. I can actually use it. As someone that just generally can't tolerate niacinamide, I can with this. The NAD is great and they've chosen peptides specifically for hyperpigmentation, which I really appreciate. This is a little hidden gem. When I'm in active treatment phase of this routine, I will use it, but when I go into maintenance, this is probably the product that I'll drop to just streamline things down."
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"If you're using The Ordinary Niacinamide, give it a toss and use this instead. A two percent niacinamide in the long term is going to be better for the skin, less irritation and still great results. [...] My first impressions of this product: super hydrating on first application. [...] Your skin drinks it up. [...] It just leaves behind a really nice veil of hydration. It's great for the warmer months of the year because it's hydration without the weight that you can sometimes get with a moisturizer. This is just a really nice lightweight easy to apply serum. You get some instant color correction which I wasn't expecting. [...] You definitely get a light color correction, it takes down some of the redness, kind of neutralizes some of the purpley hues that we can have in our skin. It's not extreme but it's noticeable. It's calming and soothing straight off."
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"The Ordinary formulates with 10% niacinamide, and it's too much, we don't need it. Studies show that for the best results you should use niacinamide at a 2 to 5% strength. [...] It's nice to see a brand following the science, following the data, formulating with a strength which is appropriate based on what results we need to get the very best results."
Perfect THE ORDINARY SKINCARE ROUTINE - Anti Aging On A Budget
"This is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% solution, a must have if you have hyperpigmentation, dark spots and discoloration. It'll even everything out, hydrate you to the gods, and it's so gentle, anybody can use it. It has a nice milky consistency, two drops is enough. [...] The niacinamide is one of the best over-the-counter ingredients for fading hyperpigmentation and dark spots."
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"If your budget won't stretch to allies of skin, you could always use The Ordinary niacinamide 10% + zinc 1%, which kind of does something similar, not as powerful but does do something similar. [...] I think that's a more affordable option. I don't think it works quite as well as the allies of skin one, but if you're on a budget or you don't want to pay Allies of Skin prices, that one is really really good."
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"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% solution was reportedly selling 25 million units a year. Honestly, it was really hard as a content creator that wasn't a particular fan of niacinamide to get that opinion across. I'd say doesn't do much for my skin and I'd be attacked relentlessly in the comments."
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"Niacinamide in the 10% is quite disruptive on the skin barrier, can be quite sensitizing. Most people now realize that pairing it back, going for a 5% rather than 10%, is better. Same goes for the Niacinamide, these were never their best products in my opinion. I wouldn't recommend anyone reach for it unless they're already using it and getting the results they want."
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"The ordinary new pink serum which is their barriers pot serum great option"
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"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% used to be the best selling niacinamide. I would say to anyone that's using this, ditch it. Use this other one instead. You will get the exact same results, less side effects and irritation, and it's cheaper. I think this is a no-brainer. [...] I won't be surprised if in two years time this product doesn't exist anymore and it's just been replaced by the other one. [...] This one might be on its way out."
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"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% has been the best selling of The Ordinary skincare collection for the past 4 years, but this year it slipped to sixth in just 12 months. [...] If you read any of the scientific studies on niacinamide, they show that it can deliver fantastic benefits for calming and soothing the skin, regulating oil production, and fading hyperpigmentation with a 2 to 5% concentration. All the studies done on this ingredient have been in that range, and yet brands weren't content with that. They wanted to push it higher and higher."
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"I love this it's super lightweight it's not sticky at all on application and it's a really nice lightweight serum that will slot seamlessly into the rest of your skincare routine"
~Nay
"The Ordinary's Niacinamide 10% plus Zinc 1%, one of the most popular products to come out of The Ordinary. But people still are like, you don't need 10% niacinamide. You just don't need it. There's no need for this."
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"The Ordinary's Niacinamide 10% plus Zinc 1%, one of the most popular products to come out of The Ordinary. But people still are like, you don't need 10% niacinamide. You just don't need it. There's no need for this."
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"One thing I very much started to dislike about The Ordinary serums in particular, their Niacinamide and Zinc and their hyaluronic acid, is that they just wouldn't play nice with other serums, moisturizers and sunscreens in particular. Zinc sunscreens they would just boil up, everything would peel off my skin every so often. The hyaluronic acid one would foam for some reason. [...] It just wouldn't play nicely with other products and the rest of my routine after using one of their serums wouldn't sit nicely on the skin. But this product, it [...] sits perfectly with any other product I've ever used. I have seen a significant change in my rosacea. I usually get a lot of irritation and redness on my cheeks, especially in the corners of my nose. I've noticed a significant drop in the [...] things that usually flare me up."
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"I use my Niacinamide from The Ordinary."
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"I saw a TikTok where someone was using The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. She thought she was purging, but she was breaking out really badly. So she kept using it, but she says after a few months it stopped helping her skin, so she stopped using it. Others in the comments said they were having the same issue. One woman says that 10% niacinamide is too strong for most people. [...] However, I did have a chat with Michelle from Lab Muffin Beauty Science recently and niacinamide isn't necessarily a triggering ingredient, even at higher doses. [...] It's not known to be an irritating ingredient. [...] I do find it weird that you don't necessarily need a 10% niacinamide anyway when it's been shown to have really good benefits at 2 to 3%. The product reviews are generally very positive with a star rating of 4.3, but there are also some people giving negative reviews complaining that they broke out. Several of them admit to knowing that they have sensitive skin, so products tend to irritate their skin regardless of what the concentration is."
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"This is the kind of product that introduced everyone to [...] niacinamide. 10 is a high amount; my skin feels more comfortable with five percent. Zinc one percent is so nice for your breakouts and your oily skin. [...] This is probably the product that helped with my sebum production the most, like the over excessive sebum production. I [...] did have a slight flushing yesterday when I used this. The nice flush is a known thing; some people get some redness due to it. [...] I do wish they did a five percent. I feel like five percent has been proven to work more [...] sufficiently, and I feel like you won't get the flushing that some people experience with this. [...] The Ordinary has a great price point, great brand, really easy accessible. However, if you wear makeup, all Ordinary serums are known for making your makeup pill a lot. [...] For five pounds for a 30 milliliter bottle, I think that's a bargain."
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"I discovered The Ordinary Niacinamide and Zinc, and something about The Ordinary's niacinamide and zinc really did help regulate my natural sebum production. That's when I started to notice that this ingredient is really helping me. I used niacinamide twice a day, and after about three or four weeks, [...] my oil, my sebum production was so much better. Even when I got hot and sweaty, I wasn't getting greasy and oily. Niacinamide will always be in my routine."
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"This was a game changer when it came to my skin, helping even out skin tone and regulate my sebum production. The zinc is amazing if you have breakouts, and I swear niacinamide helps with pore size, especially on my nose. A couple of drops will last you a really long time. Whilst the tackiness is something a lot of people complain about, the texture of The Ordinary products is that they slip and slide everywhere, so in two to three drops you can cover your whole face and get really good coverage. This is 5.60."
~Yay
"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10 percent plus Zinc I think is the gold standard for affordable niacinamide serums. You can get it for about $10, the same concentration of the same ingredient as many of the more expensive brands. If you are paying more than $20 for niacinamide, I kind of think you are being scammed."
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~Nay
"The Ordinary's 10% niacinamide plus zinc is super popular, and I'm sure there are people who have seen results, but it's also caused a lot of people a lot of issues, like triggering their redness, pretty much the opposite of everything I love about niacinamide. I don't love that product. I do not recommend it."
~Nay
"However the original formula is the original best seller. More than half the people get irritation from it. So that is something I don't recommend."
Translated from the guru's original language.
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"You can use any niacinamide except the ordinary one. the ordinary one, say mostly people get irritation."
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"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is by far the highest concentration of niacinamide that I have tried if your skin is not sensitive. I loved it so much. I felt overall my pores got smaller, my texture improved. But this is a bit too strong for the daytime."
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"The Ordinary niacinamide that you're using, please stop using it. That's coming because of that. It's a very common thing and that's a result of that."
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"If you know me you know me I don't recommend niacinamide"
Translated from the guru's original language.
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"However the original formula is the original best seller. More than half the people get irritation from it. So that is something I don't recommend."
Translated from the guru's original language.
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"So I don't recommended that niacinamide it is their best seller but it doesn't suit half the world so I don't recommend it"
Translated from the guru's original language.
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"I love the brand Ordinary, I love all their products"
Translated from the guru's original language.
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"The one niacinamide serum that [...] I don't recommend is the one by The Ordinary. The concentration has ten percent with one percent zinc, but in my experience with all of the feedback that I have received, I know that 90 percent, in fact, a lot of people feel that niacinamide because of The Ordinary, it's just the formulation, it's not the ingredient."
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Translated from the guru's original language.
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"The Ordinary is not to be used. I've said it in every video where I've mentioned niacinamide. Don't use The Ordinary. You can use any niacinamide except The Ordinary if you have oily skin because it's a thick formula."
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"One of the safest and one of the most versatile serums you can give her is a niacinamide serum. Just make sure it's The Ordinary Niacinamide because you say 99.9 percent problems solved. For tweens or teenagers who are struggling with oily skin, open pores, blackheads, dull skin, [...] get them started on a niacinamide serum at five percent concentration. It's a great product that you can give a teenager whose skin will be improved, and they will have the sensory experience of doing a skincare routine."
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"Any niacinamide except The Ordinary."
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"NK 134 and Resveratrol are safe ingredients specifically found only in The Ordinary and they are completely safe."
~Yay
"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is great for oily and acne prone skin. It helps to reduce the appearance of pores, regulate sebum, and calm redness. It is lightweight, but [...] depending on how many serums you use, [...] it could become slightly tacky or [...] have a little bit of a tacky residue, so just be careful if you're layering. With 10% niacinamide, it doesn't mean it's not effective, but it could potentially add irritation, so be careful of that especially if you have sensitive skin. For most people that would use this product, it's probably more geared towards oily skin wanting something to help with controlling sebum, and you're going to find it pretty well tolerated on your skin. I do love the fact that it comes with zinc. Niacinamide and zinc is a great pair because zinc also is anti-inflammatory and helps to modulate sebum and support acne prone skin. [...] If you have oily skin, oily combination, or acne prone skin and you're looking for a serum that helps with pores and regulating that oiliness, this is a great one."
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"It's the Ordinary Niacinamide 10% and Zinc 1% serum. This is pretty already pretty affordable, $7 for 30 ml. A bestseller if you have oily acne prone skin, helps to reduce appearance of pores, texture skin, regulate sebum, calm and soothe. Just a great addition for anyone that struggle with oiliness and acne. Niacinamide here also helps to brighten the skin with that 10%, which is a little bit higher but certainly I think for most people it's tolerable. And also improves skin barrier function aside from like reducing that sebum production. And the zinc is a great anti-inflammatory soothing one. I also love zinc combination with niacinamide for those that have like oily and acne prone skin. And then plant derived extract that offer some hydrating texture."
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"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is great for oily and acne prone skin. It helps to reduce the appearance of pores, regulate sebum, and calm redness. It is lightweight, but [...] depending on how many serums you use, [...] it could become slightly tacky or [...] have a little bit of a tacky residue, so just be careful if you're layering. With 10% niacinamide, it doesn't mean it's not effective, but it could potentially add irritation, so be careful of that especially if you have sensitive skin. For most people that would use this product, it's probably more geared towards oily skin wanting something to help with controlling sebum, and you're going to find it pretty well tolerated on your skin. I do love the fact that it comes with zinc. Niacinamide and zinc is a great pair because zinc also is anti-inflammatory and helps to modulate sebum and support acne prone skin. [...] If you have oily skin, oily combination, or acne prone skin and you're looking for a serum that helps with pores and regulating that oiliness, this is a great one."
~Yay
"We have a Nordstrom exclusive by The Ordinary. This is their skin support set with their [niacinamide] 10%, zinc 1% and hyaluronic acid formula."
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"We have a Nordstrom exclusive by The Ordinary. This is their skin support set with their [niacinamide] 10%, zinc 1% and hyaluronic acid formula."
~Mixed
"The Ordinary looked at a study in vitro [...] using this followed by their Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum [...] and they showed that this allowed for two times better absorption of that serum in vitro at least so in cells in a dish after 1 hour. [...] However, it's cells in a dish right like facial skin is much different you've got this 3D shape you've got the pores you've got a lot going on keep that in mind. They also claim clinically on human volunteers it shows an improvement in skin hydration that's immediate as well as long-lasting improvement in luminosity all day and a visible smoothing effect. [...] The main players are water and glycerin. Propane diol which is also in this may also to a certain extent be influential as well in the efficacy of this product but for the most part the heavy lifters are water and glycerin. This product is very thin it's very watery. Put a blindfold on and you're going to have a very hard time realizing that this is any skincare product other than water."
~Yay
"I really enjoy niacinamide for its overall beneficial effect for my skin in my skincare routine, and the one with zinc is one that I enjoy in the warmer months because despite being almost 46 my T-zone still gets oily when it is hot, and the zinc helps with that."
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"I really enjoy niacinamide for its overall beneficial effect for my skin in my skincare routine, and the one with zinc is one that I enjoy in the warmer months because despite being almost 46 my T-zone still gets oily when it is hot, and the zinc helps with that."
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"The Ordinary Niacinamide plus Zinc. While Niacinamide does help with brightening hyperpigmentation a little bit, I don't use it mainly for that purpose, but when fighting hyperpigmentation every little bit counts, so even if it helps just a little that's quite well. I also like it because Niacinamide helps my skin tolerate the Tretinoin better, it's stabilizing for the skin barrier, and sometimes it gets a little windy and harsh and that can lead to irritation on my skin with a prescription, so that's great."
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"The Ordinary Niacinamide + Zinc Serum is another affordable product you could apply to dedicated parts of your body."
~Nay
"I personally dislike that serum I don't like it at all. I find it to be a little irritating but also it pills with all the skincare products that I have used with it so I really don't like that niacinamide serum."
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"I personally dislike that serum I don't like it at all. I find it to be a little irritating but also it pills with all the skincare products that I have used with it so I really don't like that niacinamide serum."
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"For me personally it was never a favorite of mine because it pilled with a lot of skincare products and even makeup that I used with it so it was too hit and miss with that serum. I truly don't use it anymore mainly because of that reason but also the added zinc ingredient can sometimes dry out my skin so I never really enjoyed that formulation."
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"This isn't exactly my favorite niacinamide formulation because I do feel like this serum pills a lot in my skincare routines. I think it's because of the products and textures that I am using with the niacinamide serum. For me personally I experienced pilling with this, but it doesn't mean that you're going to experience that; it just depends on what you're using with it. Prior to the products that I'm using now on an everyday basis, I used to use this serum all the time several years ago and I never had an issue with pilling. It layered up nicely and this serum actually worked for my combination skin and for my acne-prone skin. This isn't an acne treatment, but from my experience with using this it really helped to clear up my acne. But as soon as I stopped using this product I felt like my acne came back, so I feel like it's temporary. You do need to use other products with it. This one is great if you have oily combination skin, as niacinamide can help to reduce oil."
~Yay
"It contains a 0.5 oz of their popular Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum. People love this serum for a number of reasons, it can help to balance oily skin, but people also like to use it in a routine where they're trying to fade dark spots."
~Yay
"For a while there this was my favorite toner ever and I really noticed a difference"
~Yay
"There's nothing better for the Skin Barrier than niacinamide and the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% from The Ordinary is quite good. [...] Don't get scared with a 10% because it's almost [...] like a sugar coating on a label, they say it's 10% but really it's not too strong. Most patients don't really irritate from there, but I would still use it sparingly. But definitely to help your skin barrier, to help the way that your skin functions, and to reduce the chances of the sebaceous filaments coming back, then this is a good idea."
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"There's nothing better for the Skin Barrier than niacinamide and the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% from The Ordinary is quite good. [...] Don't get scared with a 10% because it's almost [...] like a sugar coating on a label, they say it's 10% but really it's not too strong. Most patients don't really irritate from there, but I would still use it sparingly. But definitely to help your skin barrier, to help the way that your skin functions, and to reduce the chances of the sebaceous filaments coming back, then this is a good idea."
Doctor Recommends The Ordinary for Acne Solutions
"Niacinamide is great for acne, it's great for reducing redness, it's also great for reducing pigmentation. This product, The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, is a great product. It's a water-based product with niacinamide and pentylene glycol, great things for the skin barrier, and it also has zinc in there. Zinc's also proven to be great for acne. Don't get scared about the 10% because when we formulate skincare, when we put 10% niacinamide in it's quite strong, but for some reason The Ordinary one isn't too strong and it isn't too sensitizing so you can definitely use that. It's water-based and that's what you want to use first. You're going to put about four or five drops on your fingers, spread equally over the areas of the face, and then pat or massage in gently."
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"Niacinamide is great for acne, it's great for reducing redness, it's also great for reducing pigmentation. [...] The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is a great product. It's a water-based product with niacinamide and pentylene glycol, great things for the skin barrier, and it also has zinc in there. Zinc's also proven to be great for acne. Don't get scared about the 10% because when we formulate skincare, when we put 10% niacinamide in it's quite strong, but for some reason The Ordinary one isn't too strong and it isn't too sensitizing so you can definitely use that. [...] You want to use the water-based stuff first and niacinamide is water-based and that's what you want to use first. You put about four or five drops on your fingers, spread equally over the areas of the face and pat or massage in gently."
Layering The Ordinary: Pigmentation Magic or Just Marketing?
"You've got the niacinamide 10% and zinc 1%. Now 10% always seems a little bit high, but really when I told patients to use niacinamide it really doesn't irritate the skin that much, but it's great for helping with textural changes, dullness, dryness as well as sensitivity and any signs of congestion. So it's just going to help kind of tie up your skincare routine. A lot of you are going to be saying well actually on the website it says that you shouldn't be using any vitamin C products with niacinamide, well molecular studies have disproved this. I don't want to really go against what The Ordinary is saying, there must be some sort of legal viewpoint as to why they say don't mix it, but you're not obviously mixing the product. You put your vitamin C on first, let that absorb, then put the niacinamide on and you should be absolutely fine. They don't cancel out each other in terms of effectiveness. This is proven in molecular studies. In fact they help each other work. So it's the complete opposite. So I would always patch test first and go a little bit slowly when you're starting this routine, but if you do get sensitivity then obviously stop and separate the ingredients and maybe use one in the morning and one at night instead. But I don't see any problems with layering this in this way."
~Yay
"Niacinamide from The Ordinary is pretty lightweight, niacinamide is extremely stable and there is no wrong way to do it. [...] Both of those ingredients play really well with most other things, and it's so stable if you wanted to use it in the daytime you sure could. Generally though what you would do, you'd probably wash face, use niacinamide twice a day as an earlier step."
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"Functionally I like The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. Niacinamide has been shown to be effective at concentrations 5% and less and there haven't been any studies on concentrations higher than 5%, even though you'll see 20, 30, 40% niacinamide products out there. There's no need for a concentration that high in your skincare routine. [...] You can use this morning and night or you could just use it one time a day."
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"Niacinamide from The Ordinary is pretty lightweight, niacinamide is extremely stable and there is no wrong way to do it. [...] Both of those ingredients play really well with most other things, and it's so stable if you wanted to use it in the daytime you sure could. Generally though what you would do, you'd probably wash face, use niacinamide twice a day as an earlier step."
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"The Ordinary's 10% niacinamide is a good inexpensive option. 10% may be a little bit too high for niacinamide, as most studies have been done at 5%, but I think a lot of people tolerate that one pretty well."
~Mixed
"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum retails for $6 for 30ml of product. [...] I think it's fine. I don't think it has a very elegant texture. I think it's kind of sticky, and I think some people run into issues just trying to layer this with other skincare products just because it is a very inelegant type of texture, but it legit straight up costs $6. [...] The 10% niacinamide is [...] really great for tone and texture, something that can really help with the pores as well and definitely something that can help with excessive oil production, so if you're a very oily person you might like something like this. It's not one that I super duper recommend a lot in the whole world of niacinamide serums, but if you can only shop at Sephora or don't have access to more international types of brands, I think this is a really great place to start. If you are younger and just trying to build a skincare routine, this is a very effective place to start."
~Yay
"I love their niacinamide and zinc serum. I think it's just good for all over balancing, toning, and a lot of really good properties, and I also just love the way it feels on my skin. It feels like a layer of protection. [...] The niacinamide serum from the ordinary is a classic. [...] I feel like it was revolutionary for the skincare industry."
~Yay
"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is a no-brainer. For 93 pounds, I expect more than just niacinamide, and The Ordinary delivers that at a fraction of the price with actual tyrosine inhibitors in the formula, whereas the competitor product doesn't have them at all."
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"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is a no-brainer. For 93 pounds, I expect more than just niacinamide, and The Ordinary delivers that at a fraction of the price with actual tyrosine inhibitors in the formula, whereas the competitor product doesn't have them at all."
HYPERPIGMENTATION LAYERING
"Clinical studies for niacinamide have been done between 2 to 5% and this can actually irritate a lot of you, and don't forget when it comes to skin of color the aim is to have 0% irritation. So I have a little trick for you: what we can actually do is mix these two together. You've got your niacinamide on one side and you've got your NMF moisturizer on the other. If we use equal parts of this, we're going to get to about 5% ratio, so you've essentially diluted the niacinamide and hydrated the skin at the same time."
ACNE THE ORDINARY AM/PM LAYERING
"The next is niacinamide. The problem is that most clinical studies are done between 2 to 5%, but The Ordinary only produces 10%. The trick I have is to mix a few drops into your moisturizer. It actually works quite well. It penetrates into the skin and you're getting the correct percentage."
TWEENS SKINCARE - YES OR NO
"I would avoid the 10% niacinamide from The Ordinary. [...] If you want to go for a 2% niacinamide in a moisturizer, that's fine. It's very strengthening to the skin barrier, but at 10% it's going to be too harsh. Clinical studies have shown that even for adult skin, the optimal percentage is between 2 to 5%."
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"I like it but I feel like nowadays we've got more options probably at cheaper price as well for you so it probably isn't going to be my first choice for you anymore."
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"The Ordinary niacinamide is still at 10% and I really want it ideally at 2% when during pregnancy. So what I would do is mix this with your moisturizer to dilute it down."
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"In the evening is when you go in with your actives. You can use 10% niacinamide plus zinc on dry skin, so you get that from The Ordinary, and they're under $10 at Target."
~Yay
"Coming in at 15 bucks I talk about this a lot but I love it the Ness a control isic acid serum uh 10% isic acid which is great for soothing it's great for redness prone skin it's great for rosacea prone skin"
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"Niacinamide and sorbic acid are a great team for brightening up your skin so if you have hyperpigmentation melasma things like that it's nice although ni cide now now days isn't everything"
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"Currently really enjoying the Ness Asic acid"
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"Coming in at 15 bucks I talk about this a lot but I love it the Ness a control isic acid serum uh 10% isic acid which is great for soothing it's great for redness prone skin it's great for rosacea prone skin"
~Yay
"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is a good recommendation for niacinamide. Niacinamide helps in repairing the skin barrier and also reduces oil synthesis from the skin and helps in reducing redness due to acne. [...] You can use this twice in a day."
~Nay
"I continue to be perplexed at The Ordinary's choice to make this a 10% niacinamide serum, because usually that brand is so good at making products where the percentages used match the literature for results. With niacinamide, the research says somewhere between two to five percent is effective for different skin concerns, and for whatever reason they decided to just double that."
~Mixed
"The Ordinary Niacinamide is a product that tends to be good for people who have acne and matches well with the skincare addiction demographic. However, it does tend to break some people out and some people become scared of niacinamide because of this. I would definitely recommend trying more products with niacinamide and not dismissing all products with niacinamide on the basis of this. I did that and then I realized my skin actually loves niacinamide, it just doesn't love this product. It wasn't bad, it was just meh. I think this one doesn't work for a big enough proportion of people."
~Mixed
"The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is an affordable niacinamide option at $6.50 for 10% niacinamide and 1% zinc. You use one dropper full and apply it to the face and neck and let it dry. The main complaint I have about this one is that it can feel a little bit tacky on the skin, which isn't my favorite thing if I'm going to be applying a full face of makeup over it. But if you are looking for something that works and that's affordable, you cannot go wrong with this. I really love this product."
~Yay
"The Ordinaries niacinamide and zinc, that is literally like one of the bestselling serums in the entirety of America and it's like $8, so that is another great option."
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"Olivia Rodrigo uses The Ordinary and has sworn by the niacinamide serum and literally said multiple times how much it helps her skin, her face, her nose, etc. This is one of my favorite serums as well. The Ordinary has done it with this one. The regular sized one is literally under 10 bucks. It's so good, it's so effective, and then if you do want to spend more, they do have the large size which you can get for like 15 dollars."
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"The ordinary's niacinamide serum is like the number one selling serum in all of America. Whenever I go to Sephora or Ulta, they're always sold out. [...] It's because it works, and then people like me recommend it to you, and then you try it and you're like oh my God this is so good, and you use it or you recommend it to someone else, and it just works. When people try it and use it correctly, they like it, and then it just continues to go."
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"This niacinamide and zinc is an oily skin's best friend and it's always listed as a best seller at Sephora, Ulta, and any beauty retailer. I feel like this serum really put niacinamide on the map and it's one of the top serums that exists right now and for good reason. It's like $7 to $8 to help control oil and sebum in my nose area and to help give B vitamins to my skin. [...] Niacinamide and zinc can help with oil production, and as an oily-skinned person I love this. If you have blackheads in the area, it's amazing. But even if you have dry skin, as long as you're using a moisturizer, this can still be used. If you have dry or combo skin, especially if you want to put it on areas where you have larger pores, [...] niacinamide can help decrease the appearance of them and it can help with sebum regulation so those areas don't overproduce or underproduce. This [...] doesn't get as gummy or as tacky as some other niacinamide products."
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"The Ordinaries niacinamide and zinc, that is literally like one of the bestselling serums in the entirety of America and it's like $8, so that is another great option."
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"The Ordinary niacinamide serum for like $7, it's not at CVS but it is at Sephora. I feel like we need more brands like The Ordinary, like Bubble, like The Inky List that create effective high quality and inexpensive skin care."
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"I would highly recommend [...] using a seven dollar niacinamide serum from The Ordinary instead of wasting an egg. [...] Let's put niacinamide on our face to reduce the appearance of pores and actually have the benefits of skincare that we know can penetrate into the skin instead of just getting crusty on the top of it."
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"The Ordinary comes up and it's the niacinamide and zinc. This is super popular and it's because of how well it works on specifically oily skin but it even works for dry skin types too. This entire bottle is under $10 and a little goes a long way. This niacinamide and zinc is fantastic to help regulate sebum production in the skin. Niacinamide can't shrink pores but it can make pores appear smaller. It's also called vitamin B3 and what's great about niacinamide is it can also help with a little bit of pigmentation so it doesn't stop your skin from producing pigment but it doesn't allow your skin cells to spread the pigment which is amazing. The zinc in here is why I love this for anyone with acne-prone skin and I use it on myself and others all the time. The zinc does help to regulate oil production and is really good for blemish-prone skin. If you're dry you can still use this, I'd recommend layering it with a moisturizer, but for anyone oily or combination this is amazing. Even if you have dry skin, layer it with a moisturizer, but this is so fantastic for a healthy skin barrier and you can use it under moisturizer or without one. This is also something that you can use day and night depending on how it fits best into your routine."
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"This is a nice cinematic product from the Ordinary. I absolutely love this one. The Ordinary also has the Buffet, which I think they just renamed. These are both great but they do tend to get a little bit gummy."
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"I obviously love The Ordinary's Niacinamide and Zinc, but I would recommend that for people who are a little bit more oily because the zinc PCA is a little bit better for those who are more greasy in the skin."
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"Another absolute favorite is The Ordinary's Niacinamide and Zinc. This is great for oily skin, and niacinamide is relatively easy to use. It's in a bunch of different products and it's very easy to access over the counter."
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"The Ordinary has been one of my favorite brands for years and I've always loved them for their inexpensive effective formulas that are very scientific in nature."
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"This has that ten percent niacinamide and zinc PCA, and if you are oily, this is amazing for a T-zone. Some people absolutely hate this, and we've done a video on niacinamide irritation and why that can occur. But overall, niacinamide is a fantastic ingredient. At ten percent it honestly is a lot. The therapeutic amount and what we've seen actually work in literature shows that five percent is a great amount and works well on the skin. If you use like 20 or 30, it can actually cause flushing. But this, this is a whole different story. The zinc and niacinamide is fantastic, and if you do have acne, this is totally fine. It's not going to cure acne, but for anyone who struggles with oiliness or oil regulation in the skin, this is where it's at. The niacinamide actually helps your skin produce more ceramides, so it strengthens that outer skin barrier. Niacinamide itself helps with stopping pigmentation from spreading. It's unique because it doesn't stop the pigmentation from being created; it just stops it from spreading to those other skin cells. Zinc PCA is really good for oil control, and especially if you just use this in the T-zone, it is phenomenal."
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"My skin loves The Ordinary niacinamide and zinc for anyone who has acne or struggles with hyperpigmentation. Niacinamide can be great, and the zinc PCA in here is also a zinc salt that can really help with oil regulation. Niacinamide can also help with hyperpigmentation and with those little blemishes that are left behind after acne. This product isn't for everyone—there are some people that react negatively to niacinamide or to this formula, and if you are someone who has sensitive skin, this probably won't be for you. But if you've always wanted to try it and you've just never bit the bullet, the price is right on this one. If you are oily, oh my gosh, this is an oily acne prone person's best friend. This serum has been one of my holy grails ever since I found it two to three years ago, and yes, I will be stocking up."
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"The niacinamide serum works so well for my oily acne-prone skin and it doesn't leave me overly streaky and it doesn't dry me out, so why would I continue using the powder."
~Yay
"I'm just going in with one serum tonight, it is the Naturium Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10. Azelaic acid can be great for redness, pigmentation, breakouts. I do work with Naturium but I think this is a lovely [azelaic] acid serum. Paula's Choice also makes a great over-the-counter azelaic acid serum. Azelaic acid is kind of traditionally hard to formulate with—it gets real gritty and grainy—so there are a lot of bad azelaic acid products out there."
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What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%?

A lightweight serum containing 10% niacinamide and 1% zinc designed to help regulate oil production, calm inflammation, and support clear skin.

Is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% worth it?

The gurus are split. 18 of the 28 gurus give it their stamp of approval while 6 would skip it, which lands it in the middle at a Guru Score of 70%.

What is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%'s Guru Score?

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% holds a Guru Score of 70%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 28 expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.

Who is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% best for?

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is generally suited to oily skin and acne-prone skin.

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