The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

What I thought about The Ordinary's Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum

The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum is one of the brand’s bestselling products. With an affordable price tag and a formula suited to all skin types, it’s not hard to see why.

I’ve been using the serum for over five months now (I’m close to finishing my third bottle of the stuff), so I’ve got some thoughts - and they’re pretty good.

About the serum

The Ordinary is known for the science-backed ingredients in their formulas. The serum’s main active ingredient is niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, which brightens the skin and is proven to reduce inflammation as well as the appearance of redness and blemishes. It's also thought to even out the skin, making it look and feel smoother.

Because it has a lot of the same effects, niacinamide is a great alternative to retinol and retinoids for those with sensitive skin - and it isn’t known to cause the dryness and irritation that they do.

Zinc is an anti-inflammatory that has a wide range of effects on the skin, including reducing the appearance of large pores, helping regenerate skin cells, and balancing the skin’s oil production.

Don't use it with vitamin C

If you’re using a topical vitamin C as part of your skincare routine, it’s recommended by The Ordinary to use their Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% at an alternate time. That means, for example, using this formula in the morning and your vitamin C in the evening. This is because niacinamide can hamper the integrity of vitamin C.

Who's it suitable for?

This The Ordinary serum is suited to all skin types, but would be particularly appreciated by those with dry skin, those experiencing redness, or those wanting to target pigmentation or an uneven skin tone.

It should also be noted that while niacinamide and zinc can reduce the appearance of blemishes, The Ordinary’s website states that this serum isn’t a treatment for acne.

About my skin: could be smoother

I have normal to combination skin, but I do get some dry patches here and there, with an eye area that’s particularly prone to dryness. Having dark eye circles (I get enough sleep, I swear!) can also make me look a bit gaunt at times, so it’s pretty rare for me to have that “healthy glow” everyone’s after without at least a little bit of help from my skincare routine.

I’ve also got a few acne scars on my cheeks and crow’s feet that are starting to be a bit more pronounced, so the advertised smoothing properties of the The Ordinary’s Niacinamide serum definitely piqued my interest.

Does it work?

I had pretty high expectations of the serum, because I had used and liked a couple of other The Ordinary products before.

Over almost half a year of use, the main difference I’ve noticed is an improvement in the dullness of my skin. I applied the serum every morning after cleansing and before my moisturiser.

The results weren’t staggeringly different (but I don’t expect this of any serum), but there was a noticeable improvement in the texture of my skin. After consistently using the serum, I felt like I had smoother skin and that my pores weren’t as large as they usually are.

Did it do much to reduce pigmentation? I’m not too sure, but I’m not expecting miracles after just a few months - or at all really. While it fell short of reducing redness or the appearance of my acne scarring, I thought it worked pretty well to give my skin an overall brighter, more healthy look.

Also, it didn’t irritate my skin at all. My skin sometimes gets quite red after certain cleansers and skincare products, particularly when I use something for the first time. I’ve yet to pinpoint exactly which ingredients are causing this, but my skin had no issue with The Ordinary’s fragrance-free formula.

How it feels

The serum has a lightweight, gel texture that easily glides on the skin - a little goes a long way so you don’t need a lot.

It absorbs into the skin almost instantly, which is why I applied the product using the dropper directly onto my face before rubbing it in. Otherwise, I found that a lot of the product would absorb into my hands before it even touched my face, essentially going to waste (side note: my hands have never looked better).

Because of its quick absorption, you don’t have to worry about that icky wet feeling lingering on your face. The serum also gives skin a bit of a dewy (but not shiny) finish, which helped me look a little more alive on no-makeup days.

Value: the cherry on top

The Ordinary is known for the affordability of their products, and this serum was no different. I bought a 60ml ‘Super Sized’ bottle for $19.10, but you can also grab a 30ml bottle for $10.70.

In terms of value for money, I’d say this product is about as good as it gets. I only used about 3 drops of product per application, which saw a bottle last around two months.

Of course, at this low a price point, you don’t get that luxurious feel or scent that comes with more higher end products. Some might disagree with me, but as someone who mainly cares about my skincare being functional, I consider that a good thing.

The bottom line

Did The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% do what I wanted it to? Absolutely, but that might be because I wasn’t looking to address anything specific by using this product - I just wanted my skin to have an overall healthier look. It’s now a staple in my skincare routine because of this.

So, should you get it? That depends. I’d recommend it to those who want a generally brighter complexion rather than those looking for a product that can heavily target problem areas like fine lines and hyperpigmentation. Of course, these people would probably benefit from using the serum, but they might not find that it delivers the results they want.

Being fragrance-free, gentle on sensitive skin, and having a formula filled with ingredients proven to be good for the skin, I’d say this is a product that most people would enjoy.

You can buy The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% from The Ordinary’s website, Adore Beauty, Priceline, Myer, The Iconic, and select online retailers.