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The Ordinary Niacinamide 10 Zinc 1
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A review of The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Review: Does This Bestselling Serum Belong in Your Skincare Routine?

It promises to brighten, smooth and combat shine.

Niacinamide is one of the most popular and versatile ingredients in the skincare world—and we can thank The Ordinary for putting it on the map. The brand was one of the first to launch a serum that made niacinamide the star, and it has inspired dozens of copycat products ever since.

I’m talking about The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, of course, which debuted in 2016 and is still a bestseller to this day. In fact, one is sold every three seconds, which might make it the most popular serum in the entire world.1

But if you haven’t tried it yet, you may be slightly confused about what this serum actually does. On the bottle, it’s described as a “high-strength vitamin and mineral blemish formula,” implying that it’s for acne-prone skin. But on the brand’s website, it says that it’s “not a treatment for acne.”

So what does it actually do—and should you try it? 

After going through multiple bottles of this serum, I’m ready to give you the lowdown on what it’s really like and whether it deserves a spot in your skincare routine.

What It Is & Who It’s For

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10 Zinc 1

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%.

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From The Skincare Edit Archives

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is a lightweight serum that targets all of the following skin concerns:

  • Textural irregularities (such as enlarged pores, bumps or rough patches)
  • Dryness
  • Dullness
  • Visible shine (excess oil)
  • Signs of congestion (such as clogged pores or blemishes)

If you have oily or acne-prone skin, it can help regulate oil production and reduce the look of pores and breakouts. 

So why does the brand simultaneously claim that it’s a blemish formula but not a treatment for acne? It’s because there are other ingredients, such as salicylic acid, that work directly on acne by unclogging pores. Niacinamide doesn’t do that—it plays more of a secondary role by balancing sebum activity.

But this serum isn’t just for people who struggle with acne and excess oil. It can actually be used by all skin types. 

Not only does it deliver hydration, it also improves brightness and luminosity. Plus, there are long-term benefits. According to the brand’s clinical studies, it reinforces the skin barrier after seven days and achieves smoother skin after eight weeks of twice-daily use.

Packaging & Texture

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10 Zinc 1 packaging

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% comes in a glass bottle with a dropper.

Like most Ordinary products, this serum comes in a glass bottle with a dropper. There are two sizes available: 30 mL and 60 mL. (I’ve got the 60 mL in these photos.) 

Since it’s made of glass, the bottle is recyclable through most local curbside recycling programs—or you can simply bring it back to an Ordinary store to be recycled through the in-store recycling program. Droppers can also be recycled in-store. 

The Ordinary’s parent company, DECIEM, has committed to making 85-100% of its packaging recyclable, refillable, reusable, recycled or recoverable by 2025.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10 Zinc 1 texture

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% has a gel-like texture.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% goes on clear, with a gel-like texture. It’s slightly thicker than most water-based serums, but still spreads over your skin easily and readily penetrates.

It may feel a little sticky when you first put it on, but give it a moment to absorb—it will dry down completely and leave your skin with a smooth, soft feel.

Ingredients & Benefits

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.

Here are the key ingredients in The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, and what they’re doing in this formula:

  • 10% niacinamide: As a form of vitamin B3, niacinamide has many skin benefits. It controls excess oil production, reduces inflammation and minimizes the look of pores.2,3,4 It also treats pigmentation, wrinkles, redness and sallowness.5,6 Plus, it hydrates and improves the function of the skin barrier over time (since niacinamide stimulates ceramide production).7,8
  • 1% zinc PCA: Zinc PCA is made up of zinc, a mineral, and pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA), an amino acid. Its trade name is Zincidone, and according to the manufacturer, a 1% concentration reduces sebum production after 28 days. It also has an antimicrobial effect on acne bacteria.9 
  • Pentylene glycol: This ingredient is used as a solvent and stabilizer. It also has moisturizing and antimicrobial properties, but may be irritating for some people.10,11
  • Dimethyl isosorbide: This is another solvent, which also helps to enhance the penetration of the active ingredients.12
  • Tamarind seed gum: Derived from the seeds of the tamarind tree, this gum is a polysaccharide that works as a gelling agent while also moisturizing the skin.13