Which niacinamide serum has less than 5% niacinamide?

Which product should you choose?

Choose The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum if your firm requirement is a serum below 5%. The product combines niacinamide with vitamin B12, a ceramide complex and Centella asiatica phytotechnologies to support the skin barrier and visibly soothe skin. Its name also supplies a job description, which is unusually considerate of a serum.1

Does "suitable for sensitive skin" mean below 5%?

No. The INKEY List lists its 10% serum as suitable for sensitive skin, but that does not make it a match for your concentration limit. A sensitive skin description is not a percentage, even when the marketing would like it to handle both jobs. Keep the two checks separate: the stated niacinamide concentration and whether the finished formula suits your needs.4

How do you use the 2% serum?

1. 1Patch test the new product before adding it to your routine.
2. 2Cleanse your skin.
3. 3Apply the serum before oils and heavier moisturizers.
4. 4Use it in your morning or evening routine.

As general niacinamide guidance, start with once daily use if your skin is sensitive. Follow with moisturizer, and finish your morning routine with sunscreen. Do not copy the amount printed for a different serum: The INKEY List's pea sized directions belong to its own formulas.25

Can you keep your other skincare?

Niacinamide can share a routine with hyaluronic acid or retinol. The Ordinary advises keeping niacinamide and direct vitamin C, also called L ascorbic acid, in separate morning or evening routines. Follow the compatibility directions for the specific products you use rather than borrowing another brand's layering rules.1

What should you expect?

For niacinamide generally, allow 4 to 8 weeks of consistent daily use to judge visible changes. Hydration and texture can improve within a few weeks; dark spots and fine lines can take longer. This is general ingredient guidance, not a timetable specific to the 2% serum.1