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

How to use it on dry skin

1. 1Test the serum on a small area before applying it across your face.
2. 2Apply 2 to 3 drops for the face and neck before oils or heavier moisturizer. Let each layer absorb before adding the next.
3. 3Follow with moisturizer. The Ordinary allows morning and evening use; sensitive skin can start with 1 to 2 days a week.

For extra hydration, The Ordinary suggests Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 before or after this serum. A hydration serum and a moisturizer can share a shelf without holding interviews for each other's job. The brand advises against pairing this niacinamide serum with direct or indirect vitamin C.2

How to test it before using it

Apply your usual amount to a quarter sized spot on the underside of your arm or the bend of your elbow twice daily for seven to 10 days. Choose somewhere the serum will not be rubbed or washed away, and leave it on as you normally would. If there is no redness, itching or swelling, begin facial use.3

If a reaction develops, gently wash the serum off and stop using it. A cool compress or petroleum jelly can help relieve the reaction. See a dermatologist if the reaction is severe and those measures do not relieve it. If the cause remains unclear, a dermatologist can arrange medical patch testing to identify the trigger.3

What if your skin feels drier?

General guidance for topical niacinamide gels is to reduce twice daily use to once daily or every other day if excessive drying occurs. Stop this serum if it irritates your skin. Also check whether you are exfoliating: exfoliation can worsen dryness, particularly alongside prescription retinoids, retinol or benzoyl peroxide. Scrubbing flaky skin can be too irritating for dry skin, and more aggressive exfoliation calls for less frequent use.124

How long does it take?

There is no established timeline here for this serum to improve dry skin. Research on other niacinamide formulations includes a 12 week study of 5% niacinamide that improved pigmentation, texture and red blotchiness. Those results are useful context for the ingredient, not a deadline for this 10% serum. Niacinamide can improve hydration by reducing water loss through the outer skin layer.1

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

Excess oil and shine are central targets of this formula. If your skin has both dry and oily areas, that is combination skin rather than a contradiction.24

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

Dry skin is typically flaky, itchy or rough; sensitive skin can sting or burn after product use. You can have both. The Ordinary includes sensitive skin among the serum's intended skin types, but testing first and starting less frequently matter more than that category on a product page.24

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% for acne marks

For brown marks left after acne heals, niacinamide is one topical option for postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, meaning extra pigment after inflammation. Improvement is variable, and combinations of treatments are often needed. These marks can darken in sunlight, so use broad spectrum SPF 50+ sunscreen daily on exposed areas. This guidance concerns pigment, not indented scars, and there is no specific fading timeline here for this serum.5