The Ordinary 100% Niacinamide Powder Review

Niacinamide is a power ingredient. Yup I said it. Niacinamide or B3 is so powerful because it can treat acne, redness and inflammation, brighten, minimize pores and oil production and help to retain moisturizer. Plus, niacinamide is not an acid so you can use it in your routine with other acids. Many can use it without any irritation and it does so much good for the skin. There is really no reason not to be using Niacinamide!

The Ordinary 100% Niacinamide Powder isn’t your average niacinamide serum. Its powder texture can be added to moisturizer or water based serums to create your own personalized serum. Why choose this over a traditional serum you ask? This powder is the best way to get the most direct form of Niacinamide in a topical form. Niacinamide is 100% an ingredient you want in your routine and this way gives you much more flexibility.

The Ordinary 100% Niacinamide Powder Review

The Ordinary 100% Niacinamide Powder Review

The Ordinary 100% Niacinamide Powder offers a more customized experience then their 10% Niacinamide + 1% Zinc Solution. The powder is the most direct form of topical Niacinamide targeting visible shine, enlarged pores and skin texture. Plus, you can use the Niacinamide powder to mix with The Ordinary’s peptide serums like Buffet. This allows you to address multiple and non-conflicting skin care needs at once.

Niacinamide is helpful for inflamed skin but it also controls oil, fights texture, brightens the skin and minimizes pores. It’s effective for all skin types. Niacinamide is particularly good at minimizing pores because it controls build up. If there’s no build up, pores can’t become enlarged and more visible. This also is why it’s so good at targeting acne and texture.

Niacinamide is not like a direct acid or anywhere near as irritating. You can even use acids and niacinamide in the same routine. The Ordinary’s Niacinamide serum paired with their Salicylic Acid serum is a great routine for acne prone skin. But, they do advise against dissolving the Niacinamide powder in their direct acids.

The Niacinamide Powder conflicts with all Vitamin C and direct acids. So, you can mix it in with the Hyaluronic Acid serum or Marine Hyaluronics but not their Lactic or Mandelic Acid. Or any of their Vitamin C serums. This is a powder so you’re going to want a good amount of liquid to dissolve it. If you don’t like a gritty texture, their niacinamide serum is probably a better option for you.

I thought I would love this product but I actually prefer the Niacinamide serum. I find the powder tough to mix because the outcome is always sticky and super heavy on my skin. I mixed the Niacinamide powder with Buffet and my face felt so sticky and heavy. Plus, the product pilled and it was not an enjoyable experience. I just prefer the ease of the serum rather than mixing up my own concoction.

The Ordinary 100% Niacinamide Powder Pros:

  • This powder allows you to make your own customized serums and topical treatments. It’s also better suited for using on your body rather than the serum.
  • The 100% Niacinamide powder gives the most direct form of topical Niacinamide. This is hard to come by and there aren’t many products like this.
  • As always, this is super affordable and you get tons of product.
  • Mix it in with a peptide serum to get multi skincare benefits. You can curate your own, customizable routine.
  • Niacinamide is a really great ingredient and can do so many things for your skin! A few standouts include, minimize pores, brighten the skin and treat inflammation and redness.
  • Many can tolerate niacinamide without any irritation. But this is 100% Niacinamide powder so it also has the potential to be irritating.
  • Niacinamide can be used with acids. It’s also a great option if your skin is too sensitive to use acids.
  • Great for treating acne.
  • Niacinamide is suitable for all skin types.

The Ordinary 100% Niacinamide Powder Cons:

  • This can feel powdery or gritty if it’s not dissolved all the way. You want the powder to be fully dissolved. It can be irritating if it’s not.
  • Does not have the ease of a typical serum. This is a multi-step experience.
  • Can be messy to mix and use.
  • You have to follow the rules as to what you can and cannot mix it with! Don’t mix this with direct acids or Vitamin C.
  • The powder can become very thick when mixed. Or even feel sticky on the skin and pill. Save it for the end of your routine and keep your routine simple.
  • The powder does not mix well with everything. Use water based, light formulas. Less is more with this product.

How to use

Mix this with a water based serum or moisturizer and use it in your PM routine. TO recommends the Marine Hyaluronics or one of their peptide serums to get multi-skincare benefits. You need a good amount of liquid to get the powder to dissolve. The Ordinary does not advise using it in any routine with Vitamin C or dissolving the powder with a direct acid.

Where to buy it

The Niacinamide powder is available at:

Final Thoughts

After trying both The Ordinary Niacinamide powder and Niacinamide serum, I think the serum is a better option. It’s easier to use, you don’t have to mix it and it’s simple. The powder while it is the most direct form of topical niacinamide, is a lot of work. Mixing it is more laborious than a serum and the consistency is heavy, sticky, and even pilled on my skin. I did like the way my skin felt the next morning but it was a lot of work.

The nice thing about The Ordinary is, it’s so affordable so you can try both out for a very low price tag. Regardless of what you pick, your skin will be very happy to have niacinamide in your routine and that’s a win!