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Not so long ago, I bought a lot of The Ordinary products because the son of a friend was coming from Canada and he said he could bring some.

I bought 7 products including the Serum Foundation (to mix with any sunscreen that leaves a white cast on my face) and my friend, who’s bought some products too, kindly gifted me the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 and a 5 mL decant of NIOD Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex 2, a serum with 15 forms of hyaluronic acid. Yes, 15 forms of HA! I haven’t tried it yet but it looks promising. I felt bad because she bought the 15 mL bottle and if I knew she was about to send 5 mL to me, I would have denied it. However, she said she was happy to give it to me and she told me I deserve it. Anyway, I’m happy and very thankful because it’s a product that I always wanted to try!

The first* product that I’m reviewing is the Niacinamide 10%, which was the first product that chose to try. This is a serum indicated to treat and reduce the appearance of blemishes and also to decrease the sebum production.

*This is actually not the first product I’m writing about. I already wrote about the Vitamin C 23%. I love it so much that I already repurchased it. If you missed my review, don’t forget to pass by because it’s a MUST READ review.

Description

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) is indicated to reduce the appearance of skin blemishes and congestion. A high 10% concentration of this vitamin is supported in the formula by zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid to balance visible aspects of sebum activity.

Contraindications: If topical Vitamin C is used as part of skincare, it should be applied at alternate times with this formula (ideally Vitamin C in the PM and this formula in the AM). Otherwise, Niacinamide can affect the integrity of pure-form Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid).

Notes: While Niacinamide, and Zinc PCA reduce the look of blemishes and balance visible sebum activity, neither is a treatment for acne. For persistent acne-related conditions, we recommend the use of Benzoyl Peroxide and/or Retinoic Acid. We do not recommend the use of Salicylic Acid. This formulation can be used alongside acne treatments if desired for added visible skin benefits.

Independent studies suggest Niacinamide is also an effective ingredient for brightening skin tone.

Ingredient list

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

Vegan;

Cruelty-free;

Alcohol-free;

Oil-free;

Silicone-free;

Nut-free;

Fragrance-free.

Analysis of some ingredients

Niacinamide: Niacinamide is an effective skin lightening compound that works by inhibiting melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes. It improves the stratum corneum barrier, decreases transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stimulates new collagen synthesis, up-regulates epidermal ceramide synthesis, reduces skin hyperpigmentation, regulates the sebum production. Niacinamide has also been shown to provide potent anti-inflammatory activity in the treatment of acne vulgaris. It also exerts multiple benefits on the appearance of aging/photodamaged skin (improves skin texture, hyperpigmentation) and demonstrates excellent skin compatibility. It’s a well tolerated active and isn’t subject to oxidation. Below, there’s a link to a review of some effects of niacinamide in human skin.

A Review of the Range of Effects of Niacinamide in Human Skin;

Pentylene Glycol: Humectant that is also used as a solvent and/or preservative. It can have moisture-binding and antimicrobial properties;

Zinc PCA: This ingredient reduces sebum secretion by inhibiting 5-alfa reductase. Zinc PCA can also reduce matrix metalloproteinase-1, which is thought to be involved in collagen degradation in photoaged skin. It also inhibits bacterial growth and can reduce redness and irritation.

Zinc l-pyrrolidone carboxylate inhibits the UVA-induced production of matrix metalloproteinase-1 by in vitro cultured skin fibroblasts, whereas it enhances their collagen synthesis;

Tamarindus indica Seed Gum: Viscosity enhancer;

Xanthan Gum: A polysaccharide derived from glucose or sucrose that is used as a binder, emulsion stabilizer, emulsifying surfactant;

Isoceteth-20: A polyethylene glycol ether of isocetyl alcohol that functions as surfactant;

Ethoxydiglycol: An ingredient used as solvent;

Phenoxyethanol: Preservative;

Chlorphenesin: Preservative.

Acne triggers according to CosDNA

None.

Irritants according to CosDNA

None.

Safety according to CosDNA

Zinc PCA and Isoceteth-20 are yellow flagged and strike 3 out of 9. Phenoxyethanol is also yellow flagged and strikes 4 out of 9.

CosDNA analysis: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%.

Packaging

This bottle is very simple. You can’t expect a luxury bottle from an under 10 dollars product, right? It’s a transparent dropper container with nothing special about it.

It’s easy to use. You can drop the serum directly on your face without any mess.

Texture and scent

The texture is like a serum. It’s watery but a bit thick due to the viscosity enhancers, you know?

The colour is a bit milky.

Since this product is fragrance-free, the only thing you can feel is a faint chemical smell. It’s very weak and disappears as soon as you apply it on your face. Those who are acquainted with fragrance-free products will know what I am talking about.

How to use

Apply to entire face morning and evening before heavier creams.

Performance

Two of the best features of this product is about its texture and finishing. As you’ve previously seen, the texture is watery and nice. It’s very lightweight and other products that are used over it won’t ball up. The finishing is something that really impressed me. I wasn’t expecting it to be a matte finishing. However, it turns out to be a product that leaves my face shine-free and I believe it’s all because of zinc because zinc has this property of making a matte face.

Now let’s talk about the anti-acne effect. Since I first started using this product (one month ago) I haven’t had a single pimple on my face and this is pretty awesome. Even though I am not the kind of person who is constantly having pimples on the face, I suspect that this product, somehow, is interrupting the “demons” from growing. I do have monthly and sometimes even weekly pimples but again, I haven’t seen any on my face ever since. I have combination skin. My whole face is normal and my nose is really oily. I am lately experiencing a less oily nose and I’m pretty sure it’s because of the high concentration of niacinamide with zinc. I mean, I’ve got no doubt about it.

Everybody knows that niacinamide has the ability to reduce hyperpigmentation and also inhibits the transfer of melanosomes (the site for synthesis, storage, and transport of melanin) from the bottom layer to the outermost layer of the skin, right? There are no doubts that this compound helps to decrease and to prevent dark spots on the skin. When I started using this product I had only two dark spots on my face and they weren’t that dark. After using this product, the spots seemed to fade away quickly. I believe that this product, along with other skin lightening products that I am currently using, is a key figure to reduce the appearance of the dark spots.

It’s said that highly concentrated niacinamide helps to decrease the size of facial pores. I don’t have huge pores. They do get bigger when my cheeks get oily or when it’s too humid and hot but this is something natural, I can’t change that, niacinamide can’t change that. Anyway, my pores aren’t big so I can’t really tell whether this product works on this issue or not.

Now, about the moisturizing effect, I don’t feel a huge difference after applying it. Actually, I don’t think it adds or removes moisture from my face. However, it does suck up the oil as soon as you apply it. My skin’s surface gets “dry” but not dry because it lacks moisture, dry because the oil that was on its surface was absorbed by the zinc, you get me?. I don’t like this “dry” feeling but it goes away as soon as I apply a moisturizer. I believe that oily skins will love it and normal to dry skins will probably feel the same as I do, although it’s something easily circumvented with a moisturizer.

Hydration test using Susee Nano Spray Machine

Let’s check before and after using this product. I use Susee Machine to check the levels of both water and oil.

Before applying the product: 58.4% of water and 18.3% of oil.

After applying the product: 59.7% of water and 18.7% of oil.

As said before, this product doesn’t hydrate my skin. The machine says the level of oil increased in 0.4% after the product but I don’t think it’s true.

Final thoughts

I was scared about this product because it’s my first one with such a high concentration of niacinamide. I didn’t know how my skin would react but deep inside I felt like it would work well because my skin isn’t sensitive (I don’t even patch test stuff) and tolerates a bunch of actives and as said before, niacinamide is well tolerated and I believe when they say “well tolerated” they also mean that high concentrations are too. My skin care routine is composed mostly of Asian cosmetics and niacinamide is easily found amongst these cosmetics. My skin loves this compound and the chances of getting any kind of sensibility from a high-strength formula were minimal but still, I wasn’t sure about it.

Without further ado, this is another 5/5 product from The Ordinary. It does what it says. It reduces the oiliness of my skin, brightens it, helps diminishing dark spots, doesn’t break my skin out, not to mention that it’s cheap AF.

Rate: 5/5

Would I repurchase it? Very likely! I’ll probably buy it to use on my neck and to mix with a body moisturizer. I repurchased it.

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