The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% for dry skin
Niacinamide
Zinc Pca
Pentylene Glycol
Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Xanthan Gum
High
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for dry skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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
- High suitability for your dry skin is provided by niacinamide and zinc PCA, which help regulate sebum production and offer some humectant benefits to combat flakiness.
- The formulation includes tamarindus indica seed gum and pentylene glycol to enhance hydration, though additional emollients would further support dry skin needs.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 10.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily and acne-prone skin frequently praise this serum for its ability to regulate sebum production and minimize the appearance of pores, often resulting in a clearer, smoother complexion. A notable minority of users experience adverse reactions, including breakouts and irritation, suggesting the high 10% concentration may be too harsh for sensitive skin types.
Highlights
Minimizes pores Mostly Mentioned
- “pores look significantly smaller”
- “refined skin texture”
- “tightens enlarged pores”
Unbeatable price Mostly Mentioned
- “extremely affordable”
- “great value for money”
- “best budget skincare item”
Clears acne Often Mentioned
- “cleared up my cystic acne”
- “reduces frequency of breakouts”
- “fades dark spots quickly”
Reduces oil Often Mentioned
- “controlled my sebum production”
- “less greasy throughout the day”
- “mattifies my T-zone”
Texture issues Often Mentioned
- “pills under makeup”
- “leaves a sticky residue”
- “foams up when rubbed”
Causes breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “broke me out in cysts”
- “caused tiny whiteheads”
- “worst purging of my life”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “caused redness and burning”
- “too harsh for sensitive skin”
- “dried out my face”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, theordinary.com, influenster.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% a great fit for dry skin?
This treatment is a great fit for your dry skin because niacinamide and zinc PCA help regulate oil while providing moisture to combat flakiness. Pentylene Glycol and tamarindus indica seed gum also enhance hydration, and the formula has an excellent safety profile with soothing ingredients that are unlikely to cause irritation.
Antioxidants, 2021International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry skin?
Niacinamide and zinc PCA help combat flakiness, while tamarindus indica seed gum and pentylene glycol enhance hydration for dry skin. This formula is unlikely to cause irritation and is well tolerated.
Antioxidants, 2021International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018
What does Niacinamide do for dry skin?
Niacinamide helps dry skin by strengthening the skin barrier, increasing hydration, and reducing water loss. It supports ceramide production and helps keep the surface smooth and calm. This ingredient tends to be very well tolerated and is unlikely to irritate dry skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
What does Zinc PCA do for dry skin?
Zinc PCA helps oily skin by keeping oil levels balanced, but it is not typically used for dry skin. Dry skin needs ingredients that add moisture and soothe dryness, rather than ingredients meant to control oil.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing components.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment serum in your evening routine. It is unlikely to cause irritation due to its very safe ingredients.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or purging, and it has an excellent safety profile with very low irritation risk for dry skin. Reviewers do mention some breakouts, but the formula helps balance your skin while soothing it.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2018A topical xanthan gum nanogel containing gamma-oryzanol-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers and nanosized TiO2 and MBBT filters demonstrated high photoprotection with an SPF of 34 and no skin irritation or sensitization in a rat model.
Pharmaceuticals, 2023Topical treatment of nicotinamide, alone or in combination with other active ingredients, reduces the progression of skin aging and hyperpigmentation in clinical trials while being well tolerated.
Antioxidants, 2021Glycerol crosslinked vitamin E loaded xanthan gum and gellan gum nanoemulgels scavenged 88.5% of free radicals, reduced transepidermal water loss by up to 33.3%, and improved moisture content and skin structural characteristics in a murine dry skin model.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2025Topical 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, 2021Topical 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, 2008Topical 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, 2005Zinc PCA inhibits UVA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 production through suppressed AP-1 activation and enhances type I collagen synthesis by increasing SVCT2 mRNA expression in cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012Biodegradable wound dressings functionalized with silver nanoparticles showed >99% pathogen growth inhibition, bactericidal effects, free radical scavenging, reduced inflammatory response in macrophages, and accelerated wound healing in animals.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2022Dense chitosan-xanthan membranes associated with multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells accelerated wound healing in Wistar rats compared to untreated conditions, demonstrating safety and feasibility for dermo-epidermal wound treatment.
Journal of Biomaterials Applications, 2015Topical curcumin-loaded hydrogels formulated with xanthan and Schizolobium parahybae galactomannan demonstrated chemical stability, non-cutaneous irritation, stratum corneum to dermal skin permeation, and 63.2% to 76.8% inhibition of topical inflammation.
Carbohydrate Polymers, 2015
Ingredients
Water, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc Pca, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, 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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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