The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is a widely discussed, budget-friendly serum primarily used for oil control and improving skin texture. While many users praise its effectiveness in reducing redness and managing oily skin, the high 10% concentration is a point of contention, frequently causing irritation or breakouts for those with sensitive skin.
Pros
- Extremely affordable, often cited at approximately $6
- Effective at controlling excess oil and reducing midday shine
- Helps improve skin texture and the appearance of pores
- Reduces redness and can help manage whiteheads and inflammatory acne
Cons
- High 10% concentration can cause irritation, warmth, or red rashes
- Reported to cause breakouts or 'purging' in some users
- Can be excessively drying, especially when combined with prescription actives like tretinoin
- Some users see no visible improvement even after several months of consistent use
Caveats
- The 10% strength is considered high; users strongly recommend patch testing before full application
- May require a gradual introduction (e.g., every two days) to allow the skin to adjust
Best for
- Oily and combination skin types
- Users looking for an inexpensive treatment for redness and texture
- Managing skin congestion and whiteheads
Avoid if
- You have highly sensitive skin prone to reacting to high-strength actives
- You prefer lower concentrations of niacinamide (e.g., 5%) to avoid irritation
- You experience immediate cystic breakouts or rashes upon use
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 6-month half-life. The evidence is drawn from 30 selected mentions with a median age of 191 days, providing a stable view of the product's long-term performance.
Sentiment
43 positive (54%) · 20 mixed (25%) · 17 negative (21%)
Trust + time weighted score: +31% · raw score 33%
What redditors said (10 of 80)
the ordinary Niacinamide broke me out, so i never touched it again
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% Zinc 1% serum (might be a bit strong at first, so I would recommend using every two days in the beginning. This helps with clogged pores, texture, and lightening scars)
AM: cerave foaming cleanser, the ordinary 10% niacinamide, minimalist vitamin b5 oil free moisturizer, fixderma spf50 sunscreen gel
been using their niacinamide serum for like 6 months now and it definitely helped with my oily skin situation. my face used to get super shiny by midday but now its way more manageable.
The ordinary niacinamide
Using CeraVe foaming cleanser morning and night, The Ordinary niacinamide, and CeraVe PM moisturizer.
I’ve also been using The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% and The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% on alternating days. My skin seems to be handling it well and my acne has been a lot better in terms of white heads, but i’m suddenly getting huge blind pimples.
I’ve also been using The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% and The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% on alternating days. My skin seems to be handling it well and my acne has been a lot better in terms of white heads, but I’m suddenly getting huge blind pimples.
That’s a high percentage and you need to do a patch test with any new product . I would not use this product again at this %
The Ordinary niacinamide, used it for four months waiting for something to happen and my skin just continued to exist exactly as it always had.
Compare
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