The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%: How to Use It Correctly

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is one of the most-searched skincare products in the world — and one of the most misused. It’s inexpensive, widely available, and backed by real ingredient science, which is why it shows up in so many routines. But browse any skincare forum and you’ll find the same complaints: “it made my skin red,” “it pills under everything,” “it foams like soap.” Most of these problems come from how the product is used, not the product itself.

This guide walks through exactly how to use The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% correctly — when to apply it, how much to use, what to pair it with, and what to avoid. If you’re building your first routine around The Ordinary, start with the The Ordinary skincare guide for beginners for the full picture of what to buy and in what order.

What Is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%?

This is a water-based serum built around two key ingredients:

• Niacinamide at 10%: A form of vitamin B3 and one of the most well-studied skincare ingredients. At this concentration, research supports benefits for oil regulation, pore appearance, uneven tone, and barrier support. (For a deeper breakdown of the ingredient itself, see what niacinamide does for skin.)
• Zinc PCA at 1%: A zinc salt of PCA (pyrrolidone carboxylic acid) that helps balance oil production and has mild antibacterial properties, making it a useful supporting player for oily and blemish-prone skin.

A few formulation notes worth knowing:

• The pH is around 5.5–6.0, which is skin-friendly and keeps niacinamide stable and non-irritating for most users.
• The texture is a thin, slightly viscous gel. It spreads easily but can feel a touch sticky if over-applied.
• It’s fragrance-free, alcohol-free, and oil-free, which is part of why dermatologists commonly recommend it as an entry-level active.

The 10% concentration is the upper end of what’s typically used in over-the-counter products — effective, but stronger than many people expect from such an affordable serum. That concentration is the root of both its popularity and most user complaints.

Who Is This Serum For (and Who Should Skip It)?

Best suited for:
– Oily and combination skin types looking to manage shine and the appearance of enlarged pores
– People dealing with uneven skin tone or mild post-blemish marks
– Beginners who want one affordable, multi-tasking serum
– Anyone whose skin tolerates actives well and wants barrier support alongside oil control

Approach with caution or skip if:
– Your skin is very sensitive or reactive. Reviewers commonly report that the 10% concentration causes redness, flushing, or a warm tingling sensation on sensitive skin. A lower-concentration niacinamide formula (2–5%) is usually a better starting point.
– Your skin barrier is currently damaged. If your skin stings when you apply basic moisturizer, pause all actives and focus on barrier repair first.
– You’re already using strong actives (retinoids, high-strength acids) and your skin is at its tolerance limit — adding another 10% active on top can tip things over.

A patch test on the jawline for 24 hours is always worth doing before committing, especially if your skin tends to react.

How to Use It: Step-by-Step

When to Apply It in Your Routine

Niacinamide serum goes on after cleansing and toning, before moisturizer — standard serum position. The full order:

Morning:
1. Cleanser
2. Toner (optional)
3. Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
4. Moisturizer
5. Sunscreen

Evening:
1. Cleanser (double cleanse if wearing sunscreen/makeup)
2. Toner (optional)
3. Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
4. Moisturizer

It can be used once or twice daily. If you’re new to it, start with once daily (evening) for the first one to two weeks, then add the morning application if your skin tolerates it well.

How Much to Use

A pea-sized amount — two to three drops — for the entire face. This is the single most important instruction in this guide. The Ordinary’s own directions specify a pea-sized amount, and over-application is behind most complaints about stickiness, pilling, and irritation.

Apply it to slightly damp skin for easier spreading, then give it 60–90 seconds to absorb before layering moisturizer on top. Pressing it in gently works better than rubbing.

Can You Use It Every Day?

Yes — niacinamide is not an exfoliant, so it doesn’t require cycling the way acids or retinoids do. Daily use is the norm in both dermatologist recommendations and long-term reviewer routines. The exception: if you notice persistent redness or irritation, drop back to every other day or pause until your skin calms down.

What to Pair It With

Niacinamide plays well with most of a routine’s supporting players:

• Hyaluronic acid: A classic pairing — hydration underneath, oil control and tone-evening on top. Apply the thinner hydrating serum first.
• Moisturizers (ceramide-based especially): Niacinamide and ceramides support the barrier from different angles. Finishing with a ceramide moisturizer is one of the most commonly recommended combinations by dermatologists.
• Sunscreen: No conflict. In the morning, niacinamide under sunscreen is a standard, well-tolerated layer.
• Azelaic acid: Often recommended together for uneven tone and blemish-prone skin. If using both, apply one in the morning and one in the evening to reduce layering bulk.
• Retinoids (with care): These can be used in the same routine — niacinamide in the morning, retinoid at night is the simplest split. Some people layer them at night, but that’s more likely to cause irritation for beginners.

What NOT to Mix It With

This is where most people run into trouble.

Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid)

The famous niacinamide–vitamin C conflict is widely misunderstood. The concern dates to old research showing the two can form niacinamide ascorbate (causing yellowing and reduced potency) — but that reaction required high heat and pure, unstable forms. Modern formulations make this far less of an issue than internet lore suggests.

That said, there’s a practical reason to separate them: The Ordinary’s own regimen guidance advises against using Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% in the same routine as direct vitamin C (ascorbic acid or ethylated forms), because the combination can cause flushing and irritation in some people — especially at these concentrations. The safest approach: vitamin C in the morning, niacinamide in the evening (or vice versa). This is one of the brand’s most repeated “do not combine” warnings, and it’s worth respecting.

Direct Acids in the Same Layer

Layering niacinamide directly over strong AHA/BHA products (like The Ordinary’s own AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution, or high-strength glycolic toners) can cause flushing and stinging because of the pH clash. Separate them: acids on one night, niacinamide on the other — or niacinamide in the morning, acids at night.

Copper Peptides

The Ordinary specifically advises against combining niacinamide with its copper peptide products (like “Buffet” + Copper Peptides), as the two can compromise each other’s efficacy. Use them at opposite ends of the day.

The Simple Rule

When in doubt: one strong active per routine step. Niacinamide is the active in this slot — keep its company gentle.

6 Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

1. Using Too Much

The number-one mistake. More serum does not mean more results — it means stickiness, pilling, and a higher chance of flushing. Two to three drops. Pea-sized. That’s the whole face.

2. The Foaming Problem

Many users report the serum foams or lathers when they rub it in. This is a known quirk of the formula — certain ingredients in the base create a slight foaming effect with friction. The fix: press and pat instead of rubbing. Dispense the drops, dot them across the face, and press gently with palms. Foaming is a texture issue, not a sign the product has gone bad.

3. Pilling Under Makeup or Sunscreen

This serum is somewhat notorious for pilling — rolling into little balls under sunscreen, foundation, or moisturizer. The causes are usually over-application, not waiting long enough between layers, or incompatible silicone-heavy products on top. Fixes that reviewers consistently report working: use less product, wait a full 1–2 minutes before the next layer, and apply thinner layers of whatever goes on top. For a deeper dive into the mechanics, see why niacinamide pills under makeup.

4. Applying It to Dry, Freshly Exfoliated Skin

Right after a strong acid or peel, skin is more permeable and reactive. Applying 10% niacinamide immediately after can cause intense flushing. Give exfoliation nights a rest from this serum, or wait at least 20–30 minutes.

5. Mixing It Into Your Moisturizer or Foundation

Some tutorials suggest mixing the serum into moisturizer to “dilute” it. This changes the concentration unpredictably and increases pilling risk. Layer it properly instead — or if 10% is genuinely too strong for you, switch to a lower-concentration niacinamide product rather than DIY-diluting.

6. Expecting It to Shrink Pores Permanently

Pore size is largely genetic. Niacinamide can make pores look smaller by regulating oil and keeping them clear, but it can’t physically shrink them. Going in with this expectation is the fastest route to disappointment.

What Results to Realistically Expect (and When)

Setting honest expectations matters more with this product than most, because it’s so hyped.

What’s realistic:
– Reduced oiliness and shine — often the first thing people notice, typically within 2–4 weeks of consistent use.
– Pores looking tighter/clearer — a visual improvement from oil regulation, not structural change. Reviewers commonly report this around the 4–8 week mark.
– More even skin tone — niacinamide interferes with melanin transfer, which can gradually fade mild unevenness and post-blemish marks over 8–12 weeks.
– Better barrier function — subtler, but niacinamide supports ceramide production, which shows up as skin that feels calmer and less reactive over time.

What’s not realistic:
– Erasing deep acne scars or melasma on its own
– Overnight transformation (any “3-day results” claim should be treated with skepticism — initial de-shine can happen fast, but tone and texture changes take weeks)
– Working identically for everyone — sensitive skin types genuinely may not tolerate 10%, and that’s a formulation mismatch, not a personal failure

The timeline dermatologists generally cite: allow 8–12 weeks of consistent daily use before judging whether it’s working. Skincare actives that affect tone and oil production need at least one full skin cycle (~28 days, longer with age) to show meaningful change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% every day?

Yes. It’s not an exfoliant, so daily use — once or twice a day — is standard. Start with once daily for the first couple of weeks if your skin is new to actives, then increase if there’s no irritation.

Why does The Ordinary niacinamide foam up?

It’s a known formulation quirk — ingredients in the base foam slightly with friction. Pressing the serum into skin instead of rubbing mostly eliminates it. It doesn’t mean the product is expired or defective.

Can I use it with vitamin C?

Not in the same routine, per The Ordinary’s guidance — the combination can cause flushing, especially at 10% niacinamide strength. Use vitamin C in the morning and niacinamide at night (or on alternate days) instead.

Is 10% niacinamide too strong for beginners?

For many beginners it’s fine, but it’s at the high end of over-the-counter concentrations. If you have sensitive or reactive skin, flushing and redness are commonly reported — a 2–5% niacinamide formula is a gentler entry point. You can always work up.

How long does one bottle last?

With the correct pea-sized amount used twice daily, a 30ml bottle typically lasts around 2–3 months for most users. If you’re going through it much faster, you’re almost certainly using too much per application.

Key Takeaways

• The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is a water-based serum for oil control, pore appearance, and uneven tone — best for oily, combination, and blemish-prone skin.
• Apply a pea-sized amount (2–3 drops) after cleansing and toning, before moisturizer — once or twice daily.
• Pair it with hyaluronic acid, ceramide moisturizers, and sunscreen; keep it away from direct vitamin C, strong acids, and copper peptides in the same routine.
• The most common complaints — foaming, pilling, redness — are usually fixed by using less product, pressing instead of rubbing, and waiting between layers.
• Expect reduced shine in 2–4 weeks and tone improvements over 8–12 weeks; it can’t permanently shrink pores.
• If 10% irritates your skin, the answer is a lower-concentration niacinamide — not mixing or diluting this one.

Ready to build a full routine around it? The beginner’s guide to The Ordinary walks through exactly what to buy first and how to layer everything without conflicts.

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