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

Niacinamide
Zinc Pca
Pentylene Glycol
Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum
Xanthan Gum
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best serums for mature skin.
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
- Highly suitable for your normal skin as niacinamide and zinc PCA offer excellent pore-cleansing and oil-control effects, which also address your concerns about wrinkles and fine lines by supporting overall skin health.
- The formulation includes tamarindus indica seed gum and pentylene glycol to provide hydration and improve skin texture, further enhancing its benefits for your skin.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like niacinamide and zinc PCA.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week, and work up to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this serum after your toner and before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- You can apply the serum on dry skin for the best results against fine lines.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the sensitive eye area.
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 mature skin?
This treatment is a great fit because it helps smooth the look of wrinkles and fine lines while balancing oil and keeping pores clean. It also hydrates and improves skin texture using gentle, soothing ingredients that are unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Scientific Reports, 2024
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for mature skin?
Niacinamide and zinc PCA are the key ingredients that make this serum a great fit for mature skin by helping to smooth wrinkles and fine lines while supporting overall skin health. Additionally, pentylene glycol and tamarindus indica seed gum provide hydration and improve skin texture to further enhance these benefits.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Scientific Reports, 2024
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 Zinc PCA do for mature skin?
Zinc PCA is typically used to help balance oil and calm breakouts, so it is not usually targeted toward mature skin. Mature skin generally needs ingredients like retinoids, antioxidants, and hydrating agents to support firmness, smooth fine lines, and keep skin soft.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine, applied after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening helps keep things simple and adds extra safety around sun exposure.
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 with your retinol product. Niacinamide helps support skin health and improves texture, making it a supportive addition alongside anti-aging routines.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Scientific Reports, 2024
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment is a great fit and is best used in your evening routine. Using it daily is unlikely to cause irritation and helps improve fine lines and texture while keeping skin smooth and calm.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Scientific Reports, 2024
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This treatment is a great fit for mature skin, as it helps control oil and clear pores while supporting overall skin health. While it is unlikely to cause irritation, some users may experience breakouts with this type of product.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2021Treatment with a combination of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid improved skin aging signs and demonstrated a senomorphic effect by decreasing SASP and autocrine signaling genes in women.
Scientific Reports, 2024Topical 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, 2021Exposure 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, 2018Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Topical 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, 2006Zinc 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, 2022A 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, 2023Dense 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
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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