So guys, this review is the first in a while that I’ve been quite so excited to write and share. Why? Because this is the biggest change I’ve seen in my skin in a longgggg time. Let’s get straight into my thoughts on The Ordinary Niacinamide & Zinc.
Purpose
The purpose of this product is to help reduce the appearance of blemishes and congestion, as well as potentially skin brightening. For my own skincare aims, I wanted to use it primarily for brightening but was also curious as to how it would help with the mild congestion I’ve been dealing with.
Product Info & Ingredients
Product name: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Amount: 30ml or 60ml. I have the 30ml.
Price: 30ml is $5.90 and 60ml is $10.60 on the US site (unbelievably low prices, I know)
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Xanthan gum, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Packaging
The packaging is very straight forward. A simple, dropper serum bottle made of sturdy glass. Droppers are totally fine by me, provided they pick up the product sufficiently and this one does! There’s not much more to say other than it’s fine and functional.
Texture & Scent
So, I was not sold on the texture at first. At all. Apply too much of this, and it pills horribly. It balls up so badly and leaves a crumbly mess on your face. It took me a few uses before I figured out that a penny-sized amount works perfectly. I drop it into my hands, warm gently between my palms, then pat onto my face. By using this amount, the serum leaves a slight stickiness, but generally absorbs well within about 5 minutes. And no pilling, yay! I do find it a little slow-absorbing for a morning routine, but it’s good for my evening routines. I apply it after thinner toners or serums and before cream.
I don’t notice a scent, which works fine for me! This is a functional product in my routine, not a luxurious item, so the lack of scent does not bother me (and I know most people prefer it!).
Results & Overall Performance
I’ve used this product now for 6 weeks, and it was at the 2 week point when I started seeing positive results. But first? PURGING. Now, technically you only purge from actives, which niacinamide isn’t. However, I’m not alone in believing I experienced purging from this particularly strong niacinamide product. After a couple of days of use, I broke out so badly. The pimples were in places I would typically break out, but way more blemishes at one time than I ever usually have. Here’s an Instagram story I snapped on November 7th:
I was worried it was a reaction, but I stuck it out and I’m so happy I did. After a few days, the blemishes cleared and by November 19th, my skin was looking so clear and bright:
I noticed such a huge difference and it shook me. After being a skincare blogger for over 4 years, it takes an intense product to make such a noticeable effect on my skin. This has been a total game changer. Below are some images of my skin in recent weeks:
The main result has been the luminosity in my skin, but I have also noticed reduced congestion around my nose/inner cheek area. It hasn’t completely disappeared but has significantly reduced, which I’m pleased about!
I think a lot of people feel very intimidated by The Ordinary products- I do too at times. However this product is fairly straight forward and doesn’t need any special conditions to work well. The only mention is not to use it during the same routine as Vitamin C, which isn’t a difficult condition! I think the best placement in your routine is just to apply it after thinner products and before thicker products, as you would with a regular serum or ampoule.
Overall, I think this product is incredible. I’m not even being dramatic! It’s so cheap, and yet has made such a noticeable improved to the clarity and brightness of my skin. Using the correct amount is key, but once I figured that out, this has become a staple in my nightly routine. I can see the glow and even tone and it’s done more than enough to get me to repurchase this product and keep it in my routine. It’s a solid 5 star rating from me!
25 Comments
I am so so so soooo happy it worked for you too, i was hoping you would love it as much as i do 🙂
Thank you lovely!! I really do love it, such an amazing product! Thank you for reading 🤗
Can you combine this with retinol ?
Hi Kali, I’m not sure unfortunately! It would be best to reach out to Deciem directly. I don’t use retinol and it is not mentioned in their description, so I can not say for sure.
My skin broke out on me after applying niacinamide just once. I was under the impression that only actives can cause u purging. 10% naicinamide and 1% zinc.
I hope it’s just purging and not a reaction. I am really expecting alot from naicinamide . Thanks alot for this article. Helps.
Hi Ceuli! How did it go? Yep you’re totally right that purging usually only happens with actives, however it’s happened for me and many others with this product which is so strange! I hope it worked out for you too, thanks for reading! X
the same breakout is happening to me right now, I was in shock and almost throw it away. But after reading you post, I think I am going to give it a try for another two weeks. I hope the result turn out perfect just like you. I feel like I take my face as an experiment right now. Any other tips for these break out to go away faster? I feel like my face is so rough right now.
Any updates on the product? I’m on the forth day of this serum (which I only use PM) and my face is a pimple field. I really wanna stick with it but I need some courage LOL
My skin broke out on me after applying niacinamide just once. I was under the impression that only actives can cause u purging. 10% naicinamide and 1% zinc.
I hope it’s just purging and not a reaction. I am really expecting alot from naicinamide . Thanks alot for this article. Helps.
For me the only way was to continue using the product. Before I used benzol peroxide 5% and it worked fine for any breakouts, but I noticed that it didn’t work any more on the breakouts (or purging) caused by this Ordinary product. It took me about 3-4 weeks for the skin to adapt and get used to niacinamide. Still having small breakouts now but the overall skin tone and result are much better.
Could it be the zinc that is causing the purging? I tried looking it up but can’t really find anything about zinc and purging one way or the other. I’ve been using this product for 2 days so far.
I love this! I just started last week and my skin is rough. What moisturizer do you use after applying? Thank you!
I had the biggest pimple under my nose the first week I used this (along with other products so I’m not quite sure which one caused it) but after 2 weeks, it’s now so tiny. But my skin does have a glow I haven’t seen before. How is your skin now? Did you push through with it?
Hi Kristine! Thanks for reading! I said not to use Vit C just because that’s the directions as per The Ordinary, but I’ve never had any issues using the two ingredients together.
I will say it’s best practice not to try tons of new products at once so that you can assess how your skin is reacting! I hope this product worked out for you- I’m on to my second bottle and absolutely love it!
Hi! I’ve only tried using this starting May since I just adopted a Korean-based skin care routine.. Why do you say it shouldn’t be used with Vitamin C? I used new products all at the same time so I can’t tell what each one can do on its own. I have heard at Beauty Within (a Skin care channel I have been watching that encouraged me to adopt a Korean regimen) that you can use it with anything.
Hi Kristine,
The reason Deciem doesn’t recommend using niacinamide with Vitamin C in the same application because the two vitamins can react with each other, degrading the stability and properties of both. They have a blurb somewhere on their website about it on the serum info page itself. The easy solution if you like to use both is to use one in the morning and one in the evening.
I experienced the same thing: my skin was clear from pimples for half a year and then the day after I first applied this product my skin broke out so much, like a bomb. I’m glad that I found your post and continued on using it, which is now 4 weeks from the first day and my skin has improved significantly. I think this product does work really well in reducing redness and softening skin texture (esp. dried patches on my forehead). Thanks a lot for posting this! <3
I’m on day 4 of using niacinamide and a couple other products from Ordinary and I’m breaking out all over my cheeks, above my lips and on my forehead. I really hope my skin is just purging not reacting. Have so much hope for this product…I feel so much better after reading your post. I’m gonna push through and hope for the best. Thanks for sharing this!!
Hi linh,any update ? How is your skin now ?
Hi. I have been using TO Niacinamide + Zinc from back a week. When I first started it, I just liked the difference it made after first application. My skin looked so much better than yesterday but after a week I’m having white heads and painful acne. I think I’m purging from it. I have been using it twice daily with Buffet serum. Should I cut down the volume because I feel I’m not reacting to it because the first experience was good and now it’s suddenly not.. Can you suggest me if I tone it down or keep using it twice daily as I have been before?
Mint_08 can u tell me what happened after keep using it? I’m in same situation as u
@ Milena – Hi. I know the feels dear. Anyways, my skin has never behaved properly without the acne treatment I always got from my dermatologists. When I started using Niacinamide from TO I started to have white heads and acne but at that time it was more than a month that I stopped using any anti-acne treatment. It was a bit concerning but I gave it a try and it’s been 3 weeks ever since and I’ve noticed improvement and I am not having major breakouts. While I still get acne at my usual areas but it’s getting better there as well. So far, the Niacinamide has started to work for me and I’m liking it, it’s clearing my skin, you know the red angry marks left by acne is becoming dull now. So, I don’t know how serious your situation may be, but I knew my skin condition and I was like ffs let’s give it a try because it had never been better without tretinoins, benzoyl peroxides etc.
I just used the ordinary niacinamide + zinc 2 days ago. I felt the mild tingly/itchy and slight burning around my mouth area. I also started to see milia or small white bumps near my mouth and on my cheeks (which I never had any issue before on my cheeks). I am not sure if its purging or not.
I am on day 2.i got white pimple in my cheeks after using the niacinamide once. I am so confused should I stop using niacinamide or should I continue? 😢
I’ve always been wary of Niacinamide but I’m going to give it a go! Thanks for the in-depth info 🙂