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The Ordinary Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion for combination skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

The Ordinary Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion

Low

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A weak match for combination skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate moisturizing and treatment for your combination skin, as niacinamide and glycerin hydrate and improve skin barrier resilience, though these ingredients are not targeted for your oily shine.
  • The formula is highly suitable for combination skin, balancing oil production and hydration.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use this moisturizer in your AM and PM routine every day to control shine. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
  • Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
  • Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin and avoid harsh rubbing. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help it lock in moisture better. This keeps your combination skin balanced.
  • Avoid the eye area when applying the moisturizer. Do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.7Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users with sensitive, oily, and acne-prone skin highly praise this emulsion for its ultra-lightweight hydration and ability to fade dark spots without irritation. It is frequently noted for improving skin texture and reducing redness, though some users with drier skin or stubborn hyperpigmentation find it requires layering with a richer moisturizer or takes time to show visible results.

Highlights

  • Lightweight & fast absorbing Mostly Mentioned
    • “melts right in”
    • “feels like water”
    • “light as air”
    • “absorbs quickly”
  • Gentle & non-irritating Often Mentioned
    • “caused no irritation”
    • “great for sensitive skin”
    • “gentler than the serum”
    • “no stinging”
  • Improves texture & tone Often Mentioned
    • “smoothed skin texture”
    • “faded acne scars”
    • “reduced appearance of pores”
    • “cleared acne marks”
  • Small bottle size Often Mentioned
    • “need bigger bottle”
    • “finished too quickly”
    • “too small for body”
    • “wish it came in 500ml”
  • Versatile application Sometimes Noted
    • “perfect under sunscreen”
    • “great for body acne”
    • “layers easily”
    • “multi-functional”
  • Insufficient hydration Sometimes Noted
    • “not hydrating enough”
    • “need heavier cream”
    • “dry after use”
    • “not for dry skin”
  • Packaging design Rarely Noted
    • “hard to get out”
    • “pump would be better”
    • “tube gets messy”
  • Slow or minimal results Rarely Noted
    • “didn't fade melasma”
    • “no change in spots”
    • “bland results”
    • “too gentle”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, theordinary.com, ulta.com, boots.com, lookfantastic.com, and more

Questions and answers

Why is The Ordinary Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion a weak match for combination skin?

This product is a weak match for combination skin because it offers only moderate moisture and is not specifically targeted to reduce oily shine. A better product for this skin type needs effective brightening and moisturizing ingredients that target both hydration and excess oil while remaining gentle and safe.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for combination skin?

This cream is a weak match for combination skin because niacinamide and glycerin hydrate the skin well, but they are not targeted to reduce oily shine. Combination skin needs moisturizing treatments that contain effective brightening ingredients and multiple peptides to target hydration while actively reducing oily shine.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?

Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

What does Glycerin do for combination skin?

Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This moisturizing treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before your regular moisturizer, as well as anytime you want extra hydration. This type of product needs lightweight hydrators like glycerin and barrier-strengthening ingredients like niacinamide to balance oil production and hydration without making your skin feel heavy.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cream with retinol by applying the retinol first and following it with this moisturizer, which helps keep your skin comfortable and soft. The formula is very safe for daily use and is unlikely to cause irritation when combined with active treatments. Combination skin needs a product that balances oil production and hydration while managing oily shine.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this cream?

This moisturizing treatment is used in the evening as a treatment step in your routine. It is unlikely to cause irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin because it has a very safe formula with no harsh or irritating ingredients. However, since it is a weak match that does not specifically target oily shine, combination skin needs a lighter product that controls excess oil and balances hydration.

Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?

Yes, you can use this cream on your body and around your eyes because it is very safe and well tolerated. However, because this is a weak match for your combination skin, this type of product needs extra oil-balancing ingredients and lightweight hydrators to properly care for combination skin without adding extra shine.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

  • Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021

  • Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008

  • Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2005

  • Topical 2% niacinamide significantly decreased sebum excretion rate in Japanese individuals and casual sebum levels in Caucasian individuals compared to placebo or baseline.

    Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006

  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001

  • Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012

  • Exposure of epidermal full-thickness skin equivalents to a blend of betaine, pentylene glycol, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Rhodiola rosea root extract significantly increased antioxidant, skin barrier, and oxidative stress biomarkers while reducing the negative impact of hydrogen peroxide on MMP3, MMP12, FBN2, ANXA1, and HGF, whereas a blend of Narcissus tazetta bulb extract and Schisandra chinensis fruit extract significantly increased 8 growth factors, 7 signaling, 7 structural/barrier function, 7 oxidative stress biomarkers, and specific microRNAs over control levels.

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018

Ingredients

Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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How does it fit your skin?

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