How much The Ordinary Niacinamide should I use?

Do I need an exact number of drops?

The direction is a few drops, not a precise drop count or a measured amount in millilitres. You do not need to fill and empty the dropper for each application. Stick to that small application rather than adding more to try to get faster results. As general skincare guidance, excessive product does not necessarily speed up improvements and can cause dryness, redness or irritation.12

How should I apply it?

1. 1Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and gently pat dry.
2. 2Apply a few drops of Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% to your face. Use it only on intact skin.
3. 3Apply your moisturizer.
4. 4Finish your morning skincare routine with a broad spectrum sunscreen. Apply makeup afterwards if you use it.

Treat the serum as one step in your routine, not an entire routine with an unusually mathematical name. Niacinamide does not work as sunscreen or prevent sunburn, so the serum cannot replace sun protection.24

Should I use it twice a day straight away?

Morning and evening is the brand's intended schedule, but sensitive skin calls for a slower introduction. General niacinamide guidance supports use once or twice daily and starting slowly with a lower concentration if your skin is sensitive. This serum contains 10% niacinamide; choosing a lower concentration is a separate decision from using fewer drops of this formula.15

Niacinamide is vitamin B3, and 10% is not the only concentration with useful skin effects. A 2% niacinamide moisturizer reduced facial oil production over four to six weeks in clinical testing. A 4% gel has also been studied for acne. Those are different formulas, not reasons to increase the amount of this serum.4

How do I test it before using it on my face?

The Ordinary recommends a patch test before use. For a longer home test, apply the product to a small spot on the underside of your arm or at your elbow twice daily for seven to 10 days. Use the normal thickness you would use in your routine and leave the serum on. If the area becomes red, itchy or swollen, wash the product off and do not use it again.16

If irritation develops during facial use, rinse the serum off, stop using it and consult a doctor. Niacinamide can occasionally cause itching, redness, mild burning or an allergic reaction. A severe reaction, or one that does not settle with simple soothing measures, needs assessment by a dermatologist.156

Can I use it with my other products?

Avoid stacking several products containing niacinamide in the same routine. For this particular serum, The Ordinary advises keeping vitamin C products in a separate routine. Follow that product specific direction rather than assuming that general advice about combining niacinamide and vitamin C applies to every formula.15

When should I expect results?

Changes in oiliness, texture and pore appearance are separate goals, even if skincare marketing prefers to squeeze them into one adjective. In clinical testing with twice daily application, this serum reduced excess oil within 72 hours, improved visible smoothness within seven days and reduced pore visibility within four weeks. Judge progress against the concern you want to address rather than increasing the amount because every change has not appeared together.2