Product record / Serums, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
SerumThe Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum for Oily Skin - 1.0 oz
- $6
- retail price
- 10%
- niacinamide
- $0.20
- per mL
- 4.2 ★
- 5,976 ratings
- Data source
- Concentration disclosed in product name The Ordinary discloses 10% niacinamide + 1% Zinc PCA in the product name; INCI from Ulta product page.
- Best for
- Brightening & dark spots · Acne & breakouts
- How it feels
- Lightweight, fast-absorbing serum
- Value
- $6 for 30 mL · $0.20/mL
Bottom line The $6 serum that dominates Reddit's oily-skin rec lists — and breaks out a meaningful minority of the people who try it.
Editorial verdict / Social intelligence
The $6 serum that dominates Reddit's oily-skin rec lists — and breaks out a meaningful minority of the people who try it. 1
- Beauty benefit
- Controls sebum, minimizes the appearance of pores, fades post-acne marks, and smooths skin texture. The 10% niacinamide + 1% zinc PCA duo targets oily and blemish-prone skin with clinical-level actives at a coffee-money price.
- Does it work
- Yes — for the right skin type. Across 4.3 stars on nearly 50,000 Amazon reviews and 4.2 stars on 5,975 Ulta reviews, oily and acne-prone users consistently report reduced shine, smaller-looking pores, and faded post-breakout marks within 4-6 weeks. The catch: roughly 54% of broader Reddit survey respondents experienced breakouts or zero effect, and the 10% concentration can irritate sensitive or dry skin. It works decisively for oily-combo skin; it's genuinely hit-or-miss for everyone else. See the verified data below →
Consensus strength
Strong4.3/5 from ~48,500 Amazon reviews, 4.2/5 from 5,975 Ulta reviews, 8.3/10 from 1,300+ DermReview community, 4.7/5 in a separate 52,000-review Amazon sample — all converging on strong performance for oily/combo/acne-prone skin with consistent breakout and irritation reports for sensitive/dry skin. Ranked #6 on Reddit's The Ordinary product tier list. GlowRecs Reddit analysis: 54% of users report breakouts or no results.
01 / The key active
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) at 10%
This product discloses 10% niacinamide — concentration disclosed in product name.
Concentration disclosed in product name. The Ordinary discloses 10% niacinamide + 1% Zinc PCA in the product name; INCI from Ulta product page.
Other products with Niacinamide:
02 / The full ingredient list
Every ingredient, in label order
Exactly as printed, each token matched to the EU CosIng register and flagged where a CIR safety assessment exists. Highlighted rows are the key actives.
| # | Ingredient, as printed | CosIng functions | CIR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Aqua (water) CosIng: AQUA |
| — |
| 02 | Niacinamide |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 03 | Pentylene Glycol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 04 | Zinc Pca |
| — |
| 05 | Dimethyl Isosorbide |
| — |
| 06 | Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 07 | Xanthan Gum |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 08 | Isoceteth-20 |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 09 | Ethoxydiglycol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 10 | Phenoxyethanol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 11 | Chlorphenesin |
| ✓ reviewed |
11 ingredients as printed · 10 exact CosIng matches · 1 normalized spellings · source: concentration disclosed in product name
03 / Where to buy
Where to buy Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum for Oily Skin - 1.0 oz
Some links on this page earn us a commission. It never changes our analysis — the methodology is public.
04 / What people say
What buyers actually say
Aggregated from 57,808 verified reviews across 5 sources.
What works
-
helps to keep oil at bay all day and minimizes the look of pores Editorial
-
After 3 days my skin felt amazing. Not dry, not oily, just good and with a beautiful glow. Reviews
-
clinical-grade ingredients at accessible prices Editorial
-
well-researched formula combining niacinamide and zinc PCA for acne-prone, oily skin — backed by clinical studies showing niacinamide effectiveness comparable to topical antibiotics Dermatologist
-
9 of 10 ingredients have an EWG score of 1 Editorial
- Some Zinc PCA also acts as a humectant and replenishes the skin's natural moisturizing factor 5
Zinc PCA functions as both a humectant and sebum regulator, while also replenishing the skin's natural moisturizing factor Dermatologist
What to know
- Common Pilling occurs when layered over silicone-based products or over-applied; requires 2-3 drops max 7813
If layered with silicone-heavy products or applied excessively, pilling may occur Editorial
- Common Causes breakouts and irritation for many users — Reddit analysis puts no-result or breakout rate at 54% 913
54% of users report breakouts or no results — the most polarizing product in the lineup Reddit
-
Sticky texture noted as a top complaint Reviews
- Some 10% concentration is too strong for sensitive or dry skin — can cause tightness, dryness, or a 'hardening' sensation 63
something in the formula that irritates my somewhat sensitive skin Editorial
- Some Does nothing for some users — particularly those who expected dramatic results within days 5
This might as well have been tap water... Used 1x daily for a month... Zero effect. Editorial
What you'd only know from the reviews
-
The pilling is almost never the formula — it's the layer order. The Ordinary Niacinamide is silicone-free; pilling happens when it's applied over a silicone-based primer or moisturizer, or when too much product is used (more than 2-3 drops). Using it on clean, dry skin before any silicone products eliminates the problem for most users. 78
-
The clinical evidence behind niacinamide is stronger than most single-ingredient actives: studies show it performs comparably to topical clindamycin (antibiotic) for acne without contributing to antibiotic resistance — a fact almost never mentioned in beauty coverage of this $6 serum. 5
-
A new larger 120ml size exists at ~$24 CAD (roughly the same per-ml price), which is better value for confirmed repurchasers since the full bottle degrades faster once opened if not used within a few months. 10
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05 / Questions
Frequently asked
- What's in The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum for Oily Skin - 1.0 oz?
- The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum for Oily Skin - 1.0 oz lists 11 ingredients. Key active: 10% Niacinamide (Vitamin B3). The Ordinary discloses 10% niacinamide + 1% Zinc PCA in the product name; INCI from Ulta product page. The full ingredient list, matched to EU CosIng, is on this page.
- Does The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum for Oily Skin - 1.0 oz work?
- Yes — for the right skin type. Across 4.3 stars on nearly 50,000 Amazon reviews and 4.2 stars on 5,975 Ulta reviews, oily and acne-prone users consistently report reduced shine, smaller-looking pores, and faded post-breakout marks within 4-6 weeks. The catch: roughly 54% of broader Reddit survey respondents experienced breakouts or zero effect, and the 10% concentration can irritate sensitive or dry skin. It works decisively for oily-combo skin; it's genuinely hit-or-miss for everyone else.
- How much Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) is in The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum for Oily Skin - 1.0 oz?
- 10% Niacinamide (Vitamin B3). The Ordinary discloses 10% niacinamide + 1% Zinc PCA in the product name; INCI from Ulta product page.
- Where can I buy The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum for Oily Skin - 1.0 oz?
- $6.00 on Amazon (price recorded as of the date shown). The Ordinary discloses 10% niacinamide + 1% Zinc PCA in the product name; INCI from Ulta product page.