Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Name: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Brand: The Ordinary
Price: 5.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Dermatology gold standard at a pharmacy price. Niacinamide (vitamin B3) at 10% has robust clinical evidence for reducing pore appearance, evening skin tone, and improving barrier function. At $5.99 for 120+ applications, the value is extraordinary.

85/ 100

Biorank Score

Independently ranked

85/ 100

Biorank Score

Independently ranked by Biorank Laboratories

Our Verdict

Best in Class

The Ordinary Niacinamide earns an exceptionally high score because the active ingredient has decades of dermatological evidence AND the product delivers it at an absurdly good price point. No hype penalty -- DECIEM (parent company) is transparent about formulations. The only drawback is that 10% niacinamide can cause flushing/irritation in some users (5% would be sufficient based on the evidence). This is real skincare science at a drugstore price.

Key Findings

Niacinamide has decades of dermatological RCTs for pore size, tone, and barrier function
10% exceeds the clinically studied 2-5% -- may cause irritation in sensitive skin
Best value in evidence-based skincare at $0.05/application
No hype penalty -- DECIEM is transparent about what the evidence actually shows

Evidence Analysis

Niacinamide (nicotinamide / vitamin B3) is one of the most evidence-backed skincare actives. A landmark RCT (Draelos 2006) demonstrated significant improvements in skin texture, pore size, and hyperpigmentation with 5% niacinamide over 12 weeks. Multiple subsequent studies confirm benefits for: reducing sebum production (Draelos 2005), improving skin barrier function (Tanno 2000), reducing fine lines (Bissett 2005), and evening skin tone. The 10% concentration used here exceeds the clinically studied 2-5% but can cause irritation in sensitive skin. Zinc PCA adds mild sebum regulation.

Ingredient Breakdown

Ingredient	Dose	Effective Dose	Adequacy	Verdict
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)	10%	2-5% (clinically studied)		Optimal
Zinc PCA	1%	1-2%		Adequate

True Cost Analysis

Properly Dosed -- What You Pay Is What You Get

Listed Price

$0.05/serving

$1.50/month at 1 serving/day

True Cost Per Effective Dose

$0.05/effective dose

$1.50/month for effective dosing

Value Score

Excellent value

Where It Falls Short

10% concentration may cause flushing and irritation in sensitive skin (5% is actually the clinically studied dose). Water-thin texture is not cosmetically elegant. Zinc PCA is a minor addition. No sunscreen (niacinamide increases photosensitivity risk). The Ordinary's clinical packaging may not appeal to luxury consumers.