Tell me the must-have ingredient in your skincare routine? Vitamin C, BHAs, Retinol are a few that come to mind. But, if you know your skincare you know you can’t use them together and they’re irritating for some. What about Niacinamide? The way it can minimize pores, regulate sebum production and target congestion while brightening the skin? It’s a power ingredient.
The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum is one of the best products they offer. Niacinamide helps to reduce the size of pores, blemishes, and congestion. It helps to even and brighten the skin tone while fighting texture. It’s one of those miracle ingredients that makes you wonder what does it do wrong? Not much, so if you aren’t using Niacinamide, you’re going to want to start.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Review
This product from The Ordinary is rich in Niacinamide and zinc to reduce signs of congestion and balance sebum activity.
The Ordinary’s Niacinamide serum is one of the most popular products that they offer. Niacinamide is not an acid and very few people have irritation to it. It does so much good for the skin; improving the look of blemishes, pores, balancing sebum, brightens the skin and evening your skin tone and texture. It really does it all!
Niacinamide is one of the best products you can use to target pores. It regulates pore lining which means it keeps your pores from getting clogged. You can’t make pores smaller, but you can make sure they aren’t clogged which reduces the appearance of them, along with reducing acne. It’s a win-win.
The Ordinary’s formulation includes Zinc to balance sebum production. This helps to minimize pores (by keeping them unclogged) as well as fighting acne. This is why The Ordinary’s Salicylic Acid serum and Niacinamide Serum pair so well together for targeting acne.
Niacinamide helps to restore the skin barrier by strengthening ceramides and improving a compromised skin barrier. If you over exfoliate, you definitely want to grab this serum. As Niacinamide works to restore the skin’s surface, this means it helps your skin to resist the loss of moisture. This makes it incredibly effective for flaking, tight and dry skin.
Niacinamide is not an acid, it’s Vitamin B3, a water soluble vitamin. This means it can be used multiple times a day and you can use multiple Niacinamide products in your routine. For instance a Niacinamide serum and a moisturizer that includes it. Niacinamide is so good for the skin with low irritation which is why it’s found in so many serums and moisturizers. It’s harder to find serums that only contain Niacinamide which is why The Ordinary’s is such a catch.
This serum has a viscous, gel texture. It has a bit of a sticky texture and is a water-based serum used before creams and oils. Niacinamide does conflict with Vitamin C (LAA/ELAA/Derivatives). This does not go for all brands. (It’s generally old research and the new stuff shows you can use Niacinamide and Vitamin C, effectively in the same routine if it’s not irritating.) But, The Ordinary advises not to mix their Niacinamide products with Vitamin C.
The Ordinary’s Niacinamide product is one of those you continue to buy. I enjoy using it in my routine and I really enjoy the price. Niacinamide is one of those ingredients in many different serums and creams but on it’s own, a bit tougher to find. And when you do find it, it’s always on the more expensive side.
Pros:
- Affordable and simple formulation. Rival Niacinamide serums range on the higher end of the spectrum.
- Comes in two sizes for those who really love this product.
- Niacinamide does so much goodness for the skin. That includes – minimizing the appearance of pores by keeping them unclogged. Managing sebum production and evening the skin tone.
- The Ordinary advises their Niacinamide serum targets skin blemishes and congestion.
- If you have acne-prone skin, many reviews claimed that this serum helped to get it under control.
- Alcohol and oil free formula. It’s also vegan and cruelty-free.
- Niacinamide is not an acid. It comes from Vitamin B3 and can be used day and/or night.
- Many can use Niacinamide without irritation.
- Niacinamide can be used with acids.
- This serum has a viscous, gel texture that helps to hydrate.
- Works well for all skin types. But especially oily prone skin as it helps regulate sebum production.
- This gets rave reviews and there are tons of them!
- Parabens, sulfates and phthalate free.
- Works well to target pesky hormonal breakouts.
- Has no detectable scent.
- Niacinamide can help your skin retain moisture.
Cons:
- The thick gel texture may not be everyone’s favorite. Some reviews said they don’t like to use this serum in the morning as it affects their makeup application.
- Some reviews said this did nothing for their skin. Niacinamide gives subtle results so make sure you give it 8-12 weeks at the very least.
- ‘Niacinamide flushing’ is the most common sign of irritation but very few experience it. It just simply means your skin looks more red. If you think you’re experiencing that, try to limit your Niacinamide use.
How to use
Use this in the AM and/ or PM routine before creams and oils. Thanks to the gel, viscous texture you don’t need very much of it. The only conflict the Niacinamide serum has is with Vitamin C. The Ordinary advises not to mix their Niacinamide products with any of their Vitamin C products. Niacinamide is not an acid so it can be used with the direct acids!
Where to buy it
The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is one of their most popular product and is readily available at a few different places:
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Final Thoughts
The reviews on this serum speak for themselves! Niacinamide is such a well-versed and impressive ingredient. This serum offers an affordable, quality, and potent formulation. Similar Niacinamide serums run 4X the price and upwards. This one is effective, it works for all skin types and it really is hard to find something wrong with it.
You can make a strong case that Niacinamide can do good things for all skin types. Whether it’s minimizing pores or managing sebum production and targeting texture. The list goes on. It’s a power ingredient and if you’re looking to incorporate Niacinamide into your routine, this is a fantastic option.
This product from The Ordinary is rich in Niacinamide and zinc to reduce signs of congestion and balance sebum activity.