All scans / Serums / The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum ingredients: is it worth it?
A brutally basic but legitimately effective niacinamide serum—useful for oil and barrier support, not a miracle pore eraser.
A brutally basic but legitimately effective niacinamide serum—useful for oil and barrier support, not a miracle pore eraser.
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The efficacy score is 3.5/5: niacinamide is explicitly present at a high 10% concentration and Zinc PCA at 1%, with both placed near the top of the formula; however, the formula has no complementary treatment actives, ceramides, or substantial emollient system, and the high niacinamide level may irritate some users without clearly outperforming lower concentrations. Its simple water-based formulation is stable and practical, but hydration and barrier benefits are limited mainly to humectancy and niacinamide rather than a complete barrier-repair base. The formula contains no fragrance, essential oils, denatured alcohol, or aggressive exfoliating acids, supporting a strong safety score.
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DemythSkin rates The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum 3.5/5 for efficacy and 4.7/5 for safety.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS BY TIER
Gold Standards
High clinical proof | Skin-transformativeReliable
Proven resultsPotent
Developing evidenceOverhyped | Marketing
Hype | Limited dataDocumented Irritants
Evidence-backed flagFORMULATION BASE (5)⌄
FULL INGREDIENT LIST⌄
Aqua (Water), Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
WHAT EACH INGREDIENT DOES (11)⌄
- Aqua (Water)
- Solvent and formula base
- Niacinamide
- Brightening and barrier-support vitamin
- Pentylene Glycol
- Humectant and solvent
- Zinc PCA
- Sebum-regulating zinc salt
- Dimethyl Isosorbide
- Solvent and delivery enhancer
- Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum
- Film-forming texture agent
- Xanthan Gum
- Viscosity-controlling thickener
- Isoceteth-20
- Solubilizer and emulsifier
- Ethoxydiglycol
- Solvent and delivery enhancer
- Phenoxyethanol
- Preservative
- Chlorphenesin
- Preservative
EXTERNAL CITATIONS
Niacinamide: The Ordinary identifies a 10% concentration and positions it for visible brightness, blemishes, texture, and barrier support.
Zinc PCA: The Ordinary identifies Zinc PCA at 1% and positions it for regulating visible excess sebum activity.
Pentylene Glycol: Listed in the official formula as a humectant-solvent component.
DISCLAIMER: THIS ANALYSIS IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. AI-GENERATED DATA BASED ON PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INGREDIENT LISTS. VERIFY WITH A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum: common questions
Is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum worth it?
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum scores 3.5 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Modest) and 4.7 out of 5.0 for safety (Very Gentle) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. A brutally basic but legitimately effective niacinamide serum—useful for oil and barrier support, not a miracle pore eraser.
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 scores: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are graded S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. Brand and price are not part of the score, and no brand pays for one.
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