The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum — Efficacy 3.7/5.0, Safety 4.7/5.0 | DemythSkin
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[ DemythSkin Verdict ]
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum
The Ordinary

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum

SerumAcne / Oil Control
Efficacy
Basic
3.7 / 5.0
Safety
Safe
4.7 / 5.0
System Verdict
Brutally simple, high-efficacy niacinamide workhorse that earns its cult status on formula, not hype. A true 10% niacinamide concentration in the top of the INCI, paired with 1% zinc PCA and a minimalist, water-based vehicle, delivers well-supported benefits for oil regulation, pore appearance, and uneven tone without relying on unstable antioxidants or weak derivatives. The pH ~5.5 keeps niacinamide in its optimal range, the base is free from fragrance, alcohol, and oils, and there are no filler ‘marketing idol’ botanicals — so the efficacy score is driven almost entirely by a strong-dose, evidence-backed active in a clean vehicle rather than bells and whistles.
Active Ingredients Detected
A Tier: Good BasicsProven Results
Niacinamide
B Tier: Supporting IngredientsPromising Ingredients
Zinc PCADimethyl IsosorbideTamarindus Indica Seed GumIsoceteth-20Ethoxydiglycol
What Each Ingredient Does
Aqua (Water)
Primary solvent base
Niacinamide
Multifunctional vitamin B3 active
Pentylene Glycol
Humectant and co-solvent
Zinc PCA
Sebum-regulating and humectant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
Solvent and penetration enhancer
Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Viscosity control and humectant
Xanthan Gum
Thickener and stabilizer
Isoceteth-20
Solubilizer and emulsifier
Ethoxydiglycol
Solvent and texture enhancer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Preservative and antimicrobial
Full Ingredient List (INCI)

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

Frequently Asked

Is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum worth it?

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum scores 3.7 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Basic) and 4.7 out of 5.0 for safety (Safe) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. Brutally simple, high-efficacy niacinamide workhorse that earns its cult status on formula, not hype. A true 10% niacinamide concentration in the top of the INCI, paired with 1% zinc PCA and a minimalist, water-based veh

What are the key active ingredients in The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum?

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum contains no gold-standard actives — its formula is built on supporting and base ingredients rather than clinically transformative actives.

Does The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum contain fragrance or known irritants?

DemythSkin's analysis found no flagged irritants in The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum. It scores 4.7 out of 5.0 for safety.

How is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum scored?

DemythSkin grades every product on two independent axes: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are classified S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. No brand pays for a score.

Analyze on DemythSkin →

Analysis last updated: 2026-08-05. DemythSkin is an independent ingredient analyzer. Scores are computed by a deterministic rubric from published clinical evidence — no brand pays for a score.