We're reviewing The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + 1% Zinc and it's honestly such great value for the price. The Ordinary is a household name now and they really deliver affordable skincare.
You can build a whole routine with just a few of their products like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide or peptides and it still won't break the bank. But today we're looking at the niacinamide by The Ordinary.
I'm reviewing The Ordinary Niacinamide and honestly this one has so much hype around it. We keep seeing it everywhere so we just had to try it ourselves. Before we got started we were a bit skeptical but it really does live up to a lot of the talk.
Perfect if you struggle with oily skin, enlarged pores, uneven texture, or occasional breakouts and want a simple, no-fuss, budget-friendly serum that actually delivers.
It contains 10% niacinamide and 1% zinc PCA. It claims that it's the highest strength vitamin and mineral blemish formula. It's a serum formula designed to reduce oiliness, minimise pores, improve skin texture, and even out skin tone. You can see results in one to four weeks.
It is designed to enhance skin brightness, improve texture, strengthen the moisture barrier, minimise the appearance of pores and boost radiance. It works on signs of congestion, dullness, textural irregularities and uneven skin tone. A lot of people use it specifically for oil control and post-acne marks, and many say it gives them that healthy even tone they have been looking for.
This one is best for oily and combination skin. It's around six to eleven dollars which makes it such good value.
In terms of how to get started with it, it's super simple.
Step one: put it on day or night.
Step two: after cleansing and toning, apply a couple of drops to your face.
Step three: gently rub it in.
Step four: wait a few minutes then follow up with the rest of your skincare routine.
You only really need a couple of drops, or about three drops each time to cover your face.
Now in terms of texture, it's very lightweight. It absorbs quite quickly but at first it feels tacky or sticky. After 15 minutes to half an hour that sort of goes away. It does have a slight smell to it which is quite chemical like but I didn't mind it. The texture is really great, it just glides on the skin.
Is the ordinary niacinamide good or worth it? We're close to our third bottle now and I'm not really sure if it did a huge amount but it worked pretty good to give the skin an overall brighter, more healthy look. For the price it's not going to be a miracle in a bottle but it definitely helps with oil control and skin texture. It didn't irritate the skin at all and one bottle lasts a couple of months easily.
If you have oily or combination skin and you're looking for something affordable that actually does something, I would definitely recommend giving The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + 1% Zinc a go. It's such great value for money.
Niacinamide has become super popular because it controls oil, reduces the appearance of pores, improves skin texture and helps create a more even skin tone. Having smooth texture and even skin tone is really what creates that youthful look. The zinc in it also helps with blemishes.
Yes, this one works really well for oily and combination skin. It helps control shine and minimise pores without being too harsh. We did find it can cause pilling with some other products like sunscreen though, so watch out for that.
Contrary to old advice, you can use vitamin C together with this. If you want to use both, you could layer your vitamin C first in the morning and wait for it to absorb (around 15 minutes), then come back and apply the niacinamide.
Or just use vitamin C in the morning and The Ordinary Niacinamide at night. That seems to work better if you find it's pilling with makeup or sunscreen. We like the Garnier vitamin C.
It fits best after cleansing and toning, before your moisturiser or sunscreen. We use it both day and night.
Down to how great it is or not and honestly we like what this serum does. After using it consistently skin looks smoother, brighter and more balanced with less visible pores and much better oil control throughout the day. It does not necessarily get rid of all redness but it does make your skin clearer and more even-toned over time. We have seen good improvements with dark spots and scarring as well, which is interesting because it works gradually but noticeably.
It layers really well and sits nicely under makeup and other products without pilling (as long as you give it a minute to absorb). It gives that healthy glow a lot of people are after without looking shiny or greasy. We are now on our third bottle and it still feels like great value every time we repurchase.
Some people with really sensitive or dry skin say it can make their cheeks feel a bit blotchy or red when they first start using it. We did not have that problem at all, but everyone’s skin is different. It is always a good idea to patch test first.
The Ordinary also mentions that some purging can happen in the beginning, which is normal as it brings impurities to the surface and clears them out.
Overall it is a simple but effective product for your skincare routine. It is not going to be a miracle in a bottle that fixes everything overnight, but with regular use it delivers steady improvements in texture, clarity and oil balance. For the price it is such good value for money and it has earned a permanent spot in our routine.
If you have oily or combination skin, deal with occasional breakouts or just want something affordable that helps with texture and brightness, I would definitely recommend giving The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum a go. It is one of those products that proves you do not need to spend a lot to see real changes in your skin.
For more tips on dealing with oiliness or breakouts check out our oily skin page or our guide on how to deal with a blind pimple.
We hope this The Ordinary niacinamide review helped you decide what's right for you, if you have any thoughts or have tried it yourself, drop us a comment below.
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