The Ordinary Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion for mature skin
Niacinamide
Glycerin
Pentylene Glycol
Low
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A weak match for mature skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. 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
- Suitable for normal skin due to the presence of niacinamide for its anti-inflammatory and seboregulation properties, and glycerin for its humectant action, this product offers moderate moisturizing and treatment benefits.
- While it provides general skincare benefits, these are mostly supportive and not directly targeted at addressing your concerns with wrinkles and fine lines.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help smooth fine lines.
- Apply this product after your toner and serum, but before your SPF in the morning. Follow your cleanser and toner steps to keep your skin balanced.
- Gently press a small amount into your face and neck. Avoid rubbing the skin too harshly to prevent extra tension.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. Clean skin helps the product absorb much more evenly.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a quick patch test before your very first use to stay safe.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased 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 mature skin?
This product is a weak match for mature skin because its benefits are mostly supportive and do not directly target wrinkles and fine lines. A moisturizing treatment for this skin needs potent ingredients to smooth fine lines, rich emollients and humectants to maintain moisture balance, and peptides or antioxidants to provide adequate nourishment.
Which ingredients make this emulsion a poor fit for mature skin?
This emulsion is a weak match for mature skin because it lacks potent ingredients that directly target wrinkles and fine lines. To better suit mature skin, a product of this type needs rich emollients, peptides, and antioxidants for deep nourishment and anti-aging benefits.
What does Niacinamide do for mature skin?
Niacinamide helps mature skin by smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles, reducing dark spots, and improving overall skin elasticity. It is also very well tolerated and supports a strong skin barrier to keep skin looking healthy.
What does Glycerin do for mature skin?
Glycerin helps keep mature skin feeling soft and smooth by drawing moisture into the outer layer and locking it in. This daily hydration boost supports the skin barrier, keeping dry areas comfortable and protected against irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this emulsion go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This product is a treatment that goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer. It is a weak match for mature skin because it offers mostly general support rather than targeting wrinkles and fine lines, so mature skin needs a product with ingredients specifically aimed at smoothing fine lines and boosting firmness.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this product with retinol by applying it as your moisturizer after your retinol treatment. It is unlikely to cause irritation on mature skin, but a product of this type needs richer ingredients like peptides and antioxidants to properly target wrinkles and fine lines.
How often should I use this emulsion?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice daily, in the morning and evening, as it is safe for your skin and unlikely to cause irritation. However, because it is a weak match that does not directly target wrinkles and fine lines, mature skin needs a rich product with firming peptides, potent antioxidants, and targeted anti-aging actives to properly address those concerns.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This product is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on mature skin since it is safe and free of harsh ingredients. However, because it provides only general, supportive care rather than targeted anti-aging benefits, mature skin needs a rich moisturizer packed with firming peptides and antioxidants to properly smooth fine lines and maintain deep hydration.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this emulsion around the eyes or on my body?
This emulsion is safe for the thin skin around the eyes and on the body because it lacks harsh ingredients, though it offers mostly supportive moisture rather than targeted firming. To care for mature skin here, a product of this type needs firming ingredients and rich moisturizers that actively smooth lines and wrinkles.
Is it 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, 2017Topical 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, 2005Topical 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, 2006The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Niacinamide/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, 2012Exposure 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
Why other moisturizers fit mature skin better
Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021Nanoemulsions containing Macadamia integrifolia seed oil successfully enhanced skin hydration and reduced wrinkles in human volunteers, outperforming conventional emulsions in skin hydration enhancement.
Nanomaterials, 2024Chronomodulated daytime application of baicalin and nighttime application of palmitoyl tripeptide-1 synergistically improved skin luminance by 16.29%, nasolabial fold depth by -36.35%, and firmness by 24.35% in 30 female participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
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.
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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
How does it fit your skin?
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