The Ordinary
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc Serum
The cult serum that evens skin tone and visibly tightens pores.
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Where it ranks in our guides
A medal marks a podium; the score on the right is the product’s score for that recipient.Scores by criterion
Pros and cons
What we like
- Water-based, lightweight texture that slides into any routine
- 10% niacinamide paired with zinc PCA in one formula
- Aimed at brightness, smoothness and the look of pores
- Brand testing reports visible smoothness gains from day 7
What may bother
- Results build over weeks; the brand's study ran 8 weeks
- Not an acne treatment, as the brand itself notes
- One serum only: a moisturizer is still needed alongside it
Our verdict
81 / 100Pick this for the friend who already follows a skincare routine and enjoys testing one ingredient at a time. It is an easy, low-fuss add-on. Leave it off the list for anyone hoping for an acne fix or an overnight change.
Frequently asked questions
How often should it be used?
Apply a few drops to the face in the morning and evening.
Does it treat acne?
It's not an acne treatment, but it can be used alongside acne treatments for added skin benefits.
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How we score
The CTG score out of 100 is the weighted average of five criteria rated for every product: proven reliability (36%), perceived value (18%), bond and memory (18%), originality (14%) and novelty (14%). Each criterion has its own published scale, identical for every product: it rates generously, because every product in our selection is already good. The score does not depend on the guide. 60 to 69: average gift. 70 to 77: good pick. 78 to 85: safe bet. 86 to 89: favorite. 90 and above: the perfect gift, a label reserved for excellent products that customers like, one winner per occasion. In a guide, the score for the recipient combines this score with the place in the ranking. The budget is an indicative range: the exact price is shown by the store at checkout. Read our full selection method →