What is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum?
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is a clear, water-based serum built around two ingredients: niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, at a 10% strength, and zinc PCA at 1%. It is the brand's most famous product and one of the most searched serums in Pakistan, mostly by people with oily, shiny or breakout-prone skin who want a simple, affordable active that actually makes a visible difference.
The idea is straightforward. Niacinamide helps skin look more even, calmer and smoother, while zinc PCA helps keep excess oil in check. Together they target the everyday problems that heat and humidity make worse: a greasy T-zone by lunchtime, pores that look bigger on the nose and cheeks, and the marks that breakouts leave behind.
What is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% serum best for?
It is best for skin that gets shiny quickly, shows visible pores on the nose and cheeks, and carries leftover marks from breakouts. If your main goal is hydration or anti-ageing, other serums will serve you better; if it is oil and texture, this is one of the most efficient options available.
What does the 10% on the label mean?
It is the concentration of niacinamide in the formula. Ten percent is on the high side compared with many serums, which often use two to five percent. A higher strength can give quicker visible results on oil and texture, but it can also be too much for sensitive skin, which is why we suggest starting slowly.
What does niacinamide and zinc actually do together?
Niacinamide works on how skin looks: tone, texture, redness and the appearance of pores. Zinc PCA focuses on sebum, the oil your skin produces. One brings the brightening and smoothing, the other brings the shine control, so the pairing suits oily and combination skin particularly well.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% benefits: what it does for your skin
Less shine through the day
With regular use, the zinc and niacinamide combination helps oily skin stay matte for longer. In summer, many users notice that their face no longer needs blotting by mid-morning.
Pores that look smaller
No serum shrinks pores permanently, but clearer, less oily pores look noticeably smaller, especially on the nose and inner cheeks.
A more even-looking tone
Niacinamide supports a brighter, more uniform complexion and helps leftover marks from old pimples look softer over a few weeks.
Calmer, smoother texture
It helps skin look less red and feel smoother, which is why many people use it alongside acne treatments that can leave the face rough or irritated.
An easy first active
If you have only ever used a face wash and moisturiser, this is a sensible first treatment step: it is simple, it layers easily and it does not make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% key ingredients
| Ingredient | Strength | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Niacinamide (vitamin B3) | 10% | Helps visible tone, texture, redness and the look of pores |
| Zinc PCA | 1% | Helps balance oil for a less shiny finish |
Is there any fragrance in it?
No added fragrance, which keeps it simple for oily and acne-prone skin. The texture is a slightly thick, clear liquid that can feel a little tacky for a minute before it settles.
Want to understand the ingredient in more depth? Our niacinamide skincare guide explains strengths, formats and how to use it in a routine.
Is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% good for your skin type?
Is The Ordinary Niacinamide serum good for oily skin?
Yes, oily skin is the skin type it was made for. If your forehead and nose turn shiny within a couple of hours, the zinc helps balance oil and the niacinamide helps pores look tidier. Use it morning and night for the best effect on shine.
Is The Ordinary Niacinamide serum good for combination skin?
Yes. Combination skin can apply it all over or concentrate it on the oily T-zone and use a hydrating serum on drier cheeks. Pair it with a light moisturiser so the dry areas stay comfortable.
Is The Ordinary Niacinamide and Zinc good for acne?
It is a good support product for acne-prone skin. It helps with oil, redness and the look of marks left after breakouts, but it is not an acne treatment on its own. For active breakouts, combine it with an exfoliant such as salicylic acid or a treatment your dermatologist recommends. See our acne and blemish edit for routine ideas.
Is it good for acne scars and dark marks?
It can help flat red or brown marks look softer and more even over several weeks, especially when you wear sunscreen daily. Deep, pitted scars need professional treatment. Browse our dark spot edit for products that pair well.
Is it good for dry skin?
It can be used on dry skin, but it adds little moisture by itself. Layer it under a hydrating serum such as The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 + Ceramides and a richer cream.
Can men use it?
Absolutely. Men with oily skin and visible pores often get the most from it, and it fits easily into a two- or three-step routine after shaving, once the skin has settled.
Who should patch-test first or skip it?
- Very sensitive skin, or anyone who has reacted to niacinamide before: start once a day or every other day.
- Skin with an active rash or eczema: wait until it has calmed down.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: niacinamide is generally considered a gentle ingredient, but check with your doctor before adding any new active.
How to use The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% (morning and night)
In your morning routine
- Wash your face and, if it is part of your routine, use your toner.
- Press two or three drops over your face.
- Let it settle for a minute, then apply a light moisturiser.
- Finish with SPF every morning.
In your evening routine
- Remove sunscreen and makeup, then cleanse.
- Apply the serum on dry skin.
- Follow with moisturiser, or a retinol step if you use one.
How much and how often should you use it?
Two to three drops cover the whole face. Using more does not work better and can cause pilling under sunscreen. Begin once a day for the first week, then move to twice a day if your skin is happy.
What to pair it with, and what not to mix
Niacinamide layers well with hyaluronic acid, retinol and most moisturisers. If you also use a pure vitamin C serum, the brand recommends keeping the two apart: one simple split is COSRX The Vitamin C 23 Serum in the morning and niacinamide at night. With exfoliants such as The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, use the acid at night on alternate days and keep niacinamide in the morning to avoid over-working your skin. Retinol users can follow it with a serum like celimax The Vita-A Retinol Shot on retinol nights.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% results: how long until you see a difference?
Shine control is usually the first change, often within one to two weeks of daily use. Pores and texture look smoother after about four weeks, and marks and uneven tone take six to eight weeks to soften. Take a photo in the same light on day one and again at week six; the difference is often clearer in photos than in the mirror.
Does The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% have side effects?
Most people use it without problems. The most common complaints are temporary redness or a warm, tingly feeling on sensitive skin, and pilling when too much is applied under sunscreen. If your skin stays red or itchy, reduce use to every other day, or switch to a lower-strength niacinamide such as ANUA Peach 70% Niacinamide Serum. Stop completely if you develop a rash.
Does it cause purging?
Niacinamide is not an exfoliant, so true purging is unlikely. New breakouts in the first weeks are more often a reaction to layering too many products at once; simplify the rest of the routine and see if they settle.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% price in Pakistan
Prices for this serum vary widely online, and very low offers are often the first sign of a copy. The current YESBEAUTY price is shown live at the top of the page, and you can pay by cash on delivery, card or bank transfer. Two to three drops a day means one bottle lasts a long time, which makes it one of the best-value serums you can buy.
Original vs fake The Ordinary Niacinamide: how to check
Genuine bottles have sharp, evenly spaced lettering on the label, a dropper that fits snugly and a printed batch code on the box and bottle. The serum itself is clear and slightly viscous; a watery, cloudy or strongly scented liquid is a warning sign, as is a price that is far below everyone else's.
YESBEAUTY is an authentic seller of The Ordinary in Pakistan. Every bottle is sourced directly from The Ordinary's official distribution channels, and we back it with a 7-day return guarantee if a product is ever found inauthentic. Read how we check stock in The YESBEAUTY Authenticity Promise.
Best niacinamide serum for oily and acne-prone skin in Pakistan: where this one fits
| The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% | ANUA Peach 70% Niacinamide Serum | |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | High (10%) | Gentler, glow-focused |
| Best for | Oily skin, shine and pores | Dull skin that wants radiance and hydration |
| Texture | Clear, slightly tacky | Light, milky glow serum |
| Extra | Zinc PCA for oil control | Peach extract for a dewy finish |
Choose The Ordinary if shine and visible pores are your main concern. Choose a gentler niacinamide if your skin is sensitive or your goal is glow rather than oil control. You can compare every option in our serums collection, explore the oil control edit, or see the full The Ordinary range.
How does it fit a summer routine in Pakistan?
In June and July, when humidity makes oily skin feel slick within an hour, a lighter routine works best: a gentle gel cleanser, this serum, an oil-free gel moisturiser and a fluid sunscreen. Many people with oily skin find they can skip a heavy cream entirely in summer and let the niacinamide do the oil control. In winter, when indoor heaters dry the air, keep the serum but switch to a richer moisturiser on top so the skin does not feel tight. Hard water in many cities can leave skin feeling squeaky after washing; applying the serum on skin that is very slightly damp, followed quickly by moisturiser, helps it feel more comfortable.
Can you use it with retinol on the same night?
Yes. Niacinamide is one of the most retinol-friendly ingredients. Apply the niacinamide first, let it settle, then your retinol, then moisturiser. If your skin feels sensitive, alternate nights instead.
How should you store it in Pakistan's heat?
Keep the bottle closed, upright and out of direct sunlight, ideally in a cool drawer rather than a hot bathroom shelf. Do not leave it in a car in summer. Use it within the period shown on the open-jar symbol, and replace it if the colour or smell changes.
