Is The Ordinary’s Niacinamide and Zinc Serum the Key to Clearer Skin?

This water-based serum comes in a 30ml or 60ml glass bottle, in the typical no-frills packaging The Ordinary is known for, and it claims to “Achieve smoother skin after 8 weeks”.

It contains two star ingredients for fighting breakouts and soothing the skin. First is Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) at a 10% concentration, and this ingredient is known for its ability to reduce redness, improve skin texture, minimise pore appearance, and help regulate oil production. Then there’s zinc 1%, which works to balance the skin’s oil production and has anti-inflammatory properties, making it a great partner for acne-prone or oily skin.

It’s a universal serum for all skin types that aims to target textural irregularities, dryness, dullness, visible shine, and signs of congestion – all things that my combination skin suffers from.

Image – Courtesy of writer

My first impressions

This is a water-based serum so it’s more runny than a gel but still has a thin gel texture, and I was surprised it felt a little sticky on my face when I applied it to damp skin after cleansing. It’s got a sort of slimy texture (much like snail mucin) but sinks into the skin leaving no residue, and a little goes a long way. It has no scent except for a slight chemical smell if you hold the pipette really close to your nose!

I apply this before any heavier serums or moisturisers as it can cause pilling. I started off using this each night, but I pulled it back to every other night after I noticed some slight bumps and dryness that could only be caused by this serum. Niacinamide and zinc don’t usually cause purging, and this wasn’t purging (although there are some reviews out there that claim they experienced purging and irritation from this serum), but I think my skin needed to get used to the high-strength formulation.

Once I cut it down to every other night, the small bumps and slight dryness disappeared, and my skin started to love it.

My results

After reducing the frequency of using this, it’s worked wonders on my skin. It has a smoother texture, feels more hydrated, and I haven’t had a severe breakout for a while now. Result.

I haven’t noticed much in the radiance department and, while I haven’t experienced any new breakouts, it hasn’t done much to smooth out or blur old acne marks and scars. I’ve noticed a reduction in oiliness but my skin feels hydrated, and I’ve noticed less flaky patches around my chin.

Sometimes, I apply a few drops of the serum to my palm (usually at night) and mix in a small bit of The Ordinary’s Vitamin C Powder, which is a great combination. Or, if I use this as a standalone serum, I will cleanse using either CeraVe’s SA Bumpy Skin Cleanser or Jordan Samuel’s Matinee Cream Cleanser (or both if I’m double cleansing), leave my skin damp and apply the serum. Then I wait for this to absorb before applying a moisturiser like the CeraVe Moisturising Lotion or Jordan Samuel’s Matinee Gel Moisturizer.

I’ve found this routine to work great for my skin, and on the evenings I don’t use this serum I use The Ordinary’s 0.5% Retinol in Squalane. However, it’s also safe to use this serum with retinol.

Image – Courtesy of writer

What other people have to say

There are really mixed reviews on this serum, and it appears to be too strong for sensitive skin types. And, to be fair, 10% niacinamide is a pretty strong concentration – especially if you’ve never used niacinamide before.

One customer on The Ordinary website writes “For over a year I’ve gotten bad acne around my period and I have tried so many things. I’ve used all sorts of serums and face washes and nothing helps much. Literally two days after trying this there was a seriously noticeable difference in redness around my acne, three weeks later and my skin feels softer than ever and my acne looks so much better.

“I swear even my pores look better! I didn’t think it was possible that one product would help my skin so much. And so cheap! Amazing.” 

While another customer isn’t convinced about this product “Because of the hype, I kept using this for 3 bottles. But my blackheads and whiteheads kept becoming more and more and new ones that I never had before. I didn’t change my other routine products for a year and I only added this, and sometimes Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA and Argireline Solution 10%.

“I stopped all 3 after getting skeptical that if it is because of this; my skin got better and then I have to start retinol to help clearing my skin. It also didn’t help my combination skin with oil controlling even in the winter time. I use it as acne spot treatment now on my body cuz it helps in drying my acnes.”

The takeaway

The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum is a powerhouse for those looking to improve oily skin, breakouts, or even just uneven texture. It’s affordable, no-nonsense, and accessible, making it a solid choice for beginners and skincare enthusiasts alike!

While it might not be a perfect fit for everyone, especially those with very sensitive skin, its simplicity and effectiveness make it a cult favourite. If you’re going to start using this serum, I advise going slow and doing a patch test to avoid any irritation.

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