🇺🇸United States

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% for sensitive skin

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

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Superior

  • SuperiorNormal Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best serums for sensitive skin.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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

  • Excellent suitability for your normal skin and relevant for your redness and irritation due to the high concentration of niacinamide and zinc pca, which effectively regulate sebum production and minimize pore appearance while targeting inflammation.
  • The presence of tamarindus indica seed gum and xanthan gum further supports skin barrier function and hydration, enhancing overall skin comfort.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your sensitive skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.

How to apply

  • Use your serum in the PM routine, starting 3 times a week before building up to daily use if your skin is happy.
  • Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer for the best results.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏱ for it to soak in.
  • Since your skin is sensitive and easily irritated, apply the serum on completely dry skin to help keep it calm.
  • Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid getting the serum too close to your eyes .

People Say

★4.3Overall rating based on 10.0k+ reviews

Based 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% one of the best fits for sensitive skin?

This treatment is an exceptionally good fit because its high concentration of niacinamide and zinc pca calms redness and irritation while balancing oily areas. It also includes soothing components and lacks harsh ingredients, giving it a very safe profile that is unlikely to trigger irritation.

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for sensitive skin?

Niacinamide and zinc pca make this serum a great fit for sensitive skin by helping calm redness and irritation, while tamarindus indica seed gum and xanthan gum support the skin barrier and keep it comfortable.

What does Niacinamide do for sensitive skin?

Niacinamide helps calm sensitive skin by strengthening the skin barrier and reducing redness and irritation. It is very well tolerated and may improve overall comfort and resilience with regular use.

Cutis, 2005Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004

What does Zinc PCA do for sensitive skin?

Zinc PCA helps calm oily and sensitive skin by keeping excess oil under control. It works well alongside other gentle ingredients to clear breakouts while keeping your skin feeling comfortable.

The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, followed by a moisturizer. It is placed in the evening for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure, and it is unlikely to irritate sensitive skin due to its soothing ingredients.

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

You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first and following it with your retinol to keep your skin calm and comfortable. This approach is unlikely to cause irritation because the formula avoids harsh ingredients and includes soothing components that support your skin barrier.

How often should I use this serum?

You can use this serum in your evening routine, applying it once a day to help calm redness and keep your skin comfortable. This product has an excellent safety profile for sensitive skin, so it is unlikely to cause irritation.

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?

This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts for sensitive skin because it is free of harsh ingredients and uses soothing components. However, shoppers occasionally report texture issues or breakouts, which may happen as skin adjusts to new active ingredients.

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Glycerol 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, 2025

  • Biodegradable 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, 2022

  • Thiolated tamarind seed polysaccharide-chitosan composite scaffolds exhibited a swelling index of 310.42% and enhanced wound contraction of 96.32% by day 14 in rats, demonstrating improved tissue regeneration and antibacterial effects.

    Journal of Biomaterials Science. Polymer Edition, 2026

  • A 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, 2023

  • 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

  • Zinc 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, 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

  • Dense 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, 2015

  • Topical 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

  • A liranaftate microemulsion-based hydrogel exhibited higher skin permeation rate, six times greater skin deposition, and an increased zone of inhibition against Candida albicans compared to a saturated drug solution.

    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2018

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.

  • 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

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

Buy online

Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play