The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum — Efficacy 3.6/5.0, Safety 4.7/5.0 | DemythSkin
++++
[ DemythSkin Verdict ]
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum
The Ordinary

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum

SerumAcne / Oil Control
Efficacy
Basic
3.6 / 5.0
Safety
Safe
4.7 / 5.0
System Verdict
This is a blunt, effective niacinamide serum with a clean formula and real oil-control support, not a miracle cure. The efficacy score is strong because niacinamide is the second ingredient, zinc PCA is high enough to matter, and the base is simple and water-based; there is no fragrance or irritating acid stack to undermine performance. It does not score higher because the formula is still basically a straightforward niacinamide treatment, with no advanced brightening synergy, no barrier-lipid system, and no evidence of a special delivery technology beyond a standard solvent base.
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)
solvent base
Niacinamide
brightening and barrier support
Pentylene Glycol
humectant solvent
Zinc PCA
sebum-supporting active
Dimethyl Isosorbide
solvent and delivery aid
Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum
film former and texture aid
Xanthan Gum
thickener and stabilizer
Isoceteth-20
solubilizer and emulsifier
Ethoxydiglycol
solvent and penetration aid
Phenoxyethanol
preservative
Chlorphenesin
preservative
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 3.6 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Basic) and 4.7 out of 5.0 for safety (Safe) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. This is a blunt, effective niacinamide serum with a clean formula and real oil-control support, not a miracle cure. The efficacy score is strong because niacinamide is the second ingredient, zinc PCA is high enough to ma

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: 2026-08-09. DemythSkin is an independent ingredient analyzer. Scores are computed by a deterministic rubric from published clinical evidence — no brand pays for a score.