The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% Zinc 1% review

 

The Ordinary has been highly praised by a lot of YouTubers, so I decided to give this a try (I wasn't able to get their top-selling product, the AHA 30% + BHA 2% Treatment exfoliator, so I settled for their second most popular product) Niacinamide 10% Zinc 1%.

This wasn't made clear whether it is a serum or a toner... etc, but given the consistency, I think it is a serum.

According to the product description, Niacinamide and actually Vitamin B3. It is used to reduce skin blemishes and congestion. The Zinc is used to balance the visible aspects of sebum activity. Niacinamide can also brighten the skin tone.

Directions

Apply to face morning and evening before heavier creams. (the heavier creams is the important part...)

Ingredients

Aqua (Water), Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Xanthan gum, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.

impressions:

• affordable ($6.00 for 30ml)
• this product stings!
• there is a light weird acidic smell (think vinegar or a diluted nail polish remover)
• it has a thick consistency
• skin absorbs it immediately
• I love that it is in a glass container (including the dropper)
• leaves skin with a sticky feeling
• must use a moisturizer after (this is what they were talking about when they mentioned heavier creams in their directions)
• it smooths skin but results aren't long-lasting

So one of the first things I noticed was that it really stings! my skin eventually got used to the product and it stopped stinging after using it for a week. 

It is thicker than I thought, and my skin absorbed it quickly, though it did leave my skin with a sticky feeling... the first few times I used this, I made the mistake of not applying a moisturizer afterwards, and that remaining sticky solution started leeching the moisture from my face... so make sure you apply heavy moisturizer afterwards to prevent this from happening.

Verdict:

I like this product, but it is definitely not as good as I thought it would be. It definitely smooths out my skin but the effects aren't long-lasting (it only takes my skin 3-4 hours for the effects to revert back). I also didn't see how the condition of my skin has improved after using it (aside from the first few hours of using it).

score: 6.8/10
website: https://theordinary.deciem.com/product/rdn-niacinamide-10pct-zinc-1pct-30ml?redir=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAn7L-BRBbEiwAl9UtkKD8z9WodLiAI7f8eof-LAvnL9cmy3BgrcsnYxkMoWz1FcIN1WtLhxoCzVUQAvD_BwE