Sometimes it’s hard to believe, but some affordable skincare products can be as good as luxurious ones. I was 100% convinced of this when I first tried The Ordinary Niacinamide Serum. It provides a remarkable effect of glassy, flawless skin right after application and makes you addicted (in a good way) to endless compliments. I’ve been familiar with this product for several years and remain a loyal customer. Let’s see what is so special about this serum and what shortcomings I could miss.

Box, Bottle, and Dropper

Box: Packaging is what attracted me in the first place. I recently started to analyze why I react more positively to one cosmetic box than another. I caught myself thinking that it was related to a particular association. The design of The Ordinary package is minimalistic and looks very concise and stylish. It makes me feel like I use professional skin care products from the medical office. On the front side of the box, you can see the company’s name and the remedy’s aim – nothing extra, just absolute simplicity. Other sides contain basic information about the serum, starting from the ingredients and ending with directions of use.

Bottle and Dropper: When you open the box, you will find a product in a recyclable glass vial. The bottle is translucent, which is very convenient. You can always control how much serum is left. The label on the vial repeats the packaging design. It is very good because you don’t have to keep the box to find the necessary information about the product. The bottle has a dropper, and I believe it is an advantage and a disadvantage at the same time. Undoubtedly, the pipe head can prevent direct contact with the skin, reducing the contamination of the formula. However, it can’t reach the bottom of the bottle when the product is used to the last point.

Ingredients Review

The list of ingredients is short and modest but highly effective. Of course, niacinamide and zinc are the real stars of this formula. I’ve never used them in such a pair before, but the practice has shown – together, they work perfectly. Let’s wait no more and go through each component to figure out if there is something unsafe for the skin.

The Ordinary Niacinamide Serum

To begin with, let me state a few words about myself. I am a 29-year-old healthy woman with combination skin and slightly large pores. Sometimes, I have blackheads on my T-zone, but I do regular extractions to keep it clean. I also have occasional pimples, which usually appear just before my period starts. Some of them can leave reddish or brownish marks that fade away within a long time. As a skincare enthusiast, I always look for a perfect combination of cosmetic ingredients, and The Ordinary Niacinamide serum couldn’t pass me by.

I prefer to apply this serum at night because my morning routine includes vitamin C, which is incompatible with niacinamide. My technique is simple. After cleansing and toning my skin, I put a small amount of serum on each section of my face and gently tap it with my fingertips. Then I let it absorb and use a moisturizer to trap all the goodies in the topmost layer. Sometimes, when I have a special event, I skip vitamin C products and apply The Ordinary Niacinamide serum. It gives an instant luminous and translucent effect that can’t go unnoticed.

After a month of regular application, I finally got rid of the oily sheen on my T-zone. The pores look a little smaller because my sebaceous glands started to work less aggressively, reducing the stress on them. I still have blackheads, but they’ve become less prominent and only appear on my nose. The texture and tone of my skin are dramatically improved, and I’ve started wearing less make-up. I didn’t notice any changes in my wrinkles because they initially were shallow. What struck me the most was that my post-acne marks disappeared the way faster than usual.

Pros:

The Ordinary Niacinamide serum is a science-backed skincare formula that works. It is like a good friend who will get along with almost everyone. I mean, you can mix it with nearly any cosmetic ingredient, except wayward vitamin C. Moreover, this product is multifunctional. It can resolve various skin problems like breakouts, dark spots, uneven skin texture, and excess oil. It gives an instant glassy effect and makes your skin look luminous. Finally, this serum is affordable so everyone can give it a try.

Cons:

There were just a few drawbacks I could find in this product. First, the bottle doesn’t have a printed expiration date or PAO symbol (period after opening). I know this product might last approximately three months, but I would feel more comfortable if I was sure. Another concern is related to application technique. This serum dries out fast and makes it a bit challenging to spread. So, this needs time to get used to it.

Final Verdict

I am in love with this product because it makes a difference. Due to the moderate strength of niacinamide, I would recommend it for those with normal, combination, or oily skin with signs of pigmentation, redness, and uneven texture. For people with dry, sensitive, or rosacea-prone skin, it would be best to try a formula with a lower concentration of niacinamide (2-5%). Overall, I can say that the benefits outweigh the minor drawbacks and make this serum perfect for such an incredibly low price.

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