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The Ordinary Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion for dry sensitive skin

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

The Ordinary Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion

Average

  • HighDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for dry sensitive skin; other moisturizers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, 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

  • Highly suitable for your dry skin as glycerin and dimethicone work to hydrate and smooth the skin, improving barrier resilience. Niacinamide further supports these benefits by enhancing hydration and skin barrier function.
  • This formula offers general skincare benefits that are supportive for your dry or flaky skin and sensitivity.
  • The product is safe for your dry and sensitive skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using this moisturizer 3 times a week and move to daily use if your dry skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toner in the morning, or after your serum in the evening. Always pair it with SPF in the morning.
  • Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it harshly to protect your sensitive skin.
  • Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help with hydration absorption. This also works well for dry and flaky skin types.
  • Do a patch test before your first use. Avoid the eye area to prevent any irritation.

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

How well does The Ordinary Niacinamide 5% Emulsion work for dry sensitive skin?

The Ordinary Niacinamide 5% Emulsion works for your dry sensitive skin, though other products fit it better. It contains glycerin and dimethicone to hydrate and smooth the skin while supporting your skin barrier without irritation. A product of this type needs rich nourishing ingredients and hydrators like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to provide deep moisture and keep dry skin comfortable.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry sensitive skin?

Glycerin, dimethicone, and niacinamide make this cream a good fit because they help hydrate and smooth dry skin while supporting the skin barrier. Because your skin is sensitive, the formula is unlikely to cause irritation and needs nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and extra moisturizing agents to provide deeper hydration and better moisture retention.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Niacinamide do for dry sensitive skin?

Niacinamide helps dry sensitive skin by calming irritation and keeping moisture locked in so your face feels soft and smooth. It works to build up your skin barrier and calm redness while being very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013

What does Glycerin do for dry sensitive skin?

Glycerin helps dry sensitive skin by drawing moisture into the skin and keeping it there, making the skin soft and smooth. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation while improving how well the skin holds onto water. This type of skin needs ingredients that boost hydration and repair the barrier without causing stinging.

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

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

This moisturizing treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, followed by a moisturizer. It is unlikely to cause irritation on dry sensitive skin due to the lack of harsh ingredients, but this skin type generally needs richer barrier-supporting creams with heavy emollients and nourishing oils.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this treatment alongside retinol by applying it after your retinol step in the evening routine. This helps keep your dry sensitive skin calm and hydrated, as a moisturizing product of this type works best for this skin type when it includes ingredients like glycerin and dimethicone to boost hydration and smooth the skin.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this cream?

This moisturizing treatment is well suited for your dry sensitive skin, and a product of this type needs soothing ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide to keep skin soft and calm. You can use it as part of your evening routine to help maintain skin hydration and comfort.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?

This product is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and has a safe profile. However, it may sometimes fall short on hydration for this skin type, so dry skin often needs richer oils and heavier soothing ingredients to stay thoroughly soft and comfortable.

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

You can safely use this moisturizing treatment on both the body and around the eyes because the formula is gentle and suitable for delicate areas. To truly fit dry and sensitive skin best, a product of this type needs rich hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, soothing plant extracts, and barrier-protecting oils.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

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, 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

  • 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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QR code: get the Lovi app
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