THE ORDINARY | NIACINAMIDE 10% + ZINC 1%

This review was originally part of my blog article titled, The Ordinary's The Balance Set – Best Products from The Ordinary. You can catch the full piece here.

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I’m a long-time fan of Deciem’s The Ordinary. The democratically priced skincare brand for everyone literally revolutionized skin care.

The Ordinary was one of the first brands that offered a broad range of single-note products — that is, products focused on one primary active ingredient. In doing so, they met the curiosity of consumers to learn about ingredients and how they benefit their skin.

The Ordinary empowers us to weed through the chaos and confusion created by big beauty marketers and truly focus on skin’s unique needs. And to me, The Ordinary is about skin health, first and foremost.

I first began my not-so-ordinary journey with the brand about four years ago, just as The Ordinary was bursting onto the skincare scene. Early favorites were the Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3% serum, Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum and the 100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder.

In fact, that entirely basic pure Vitamin C powder was the first-ever Skincarma Product of the Year, in 2018!

During the month of November, which Deciem brilliantly refers to as KNOWvember, the company discounts all of its already affordable skincare products by an additional 23%. The sale began last year as a way to combat the blatant consumerism of Black Friday. And I’m so excited to see the company making what appears to be a tradition of it!

From Deciem,

Last November, we asked you to shop slowly. We said that skincare purchases should be based on education over impulse, and highlighted the importance of conscious consumption. For us, Black Friday no longer felt like a people or planet-friendly event, and so we closed our stores and website for a moment of nothingness. We did, however, still want to bring you a saving. And so we did something we had never done before by offering 23% off every product for the entire month.

This November, that 23% saving is back, along with a commitment to bring as much educational content to you as possible, over a month we have named as KNOWvember. By offering a month-long discount and daily education, we hope to empower people with the time and information required to buy less, but better.

Hyper-consumerism remains one of the biggest threats to the planet, and we know that an urgent change in how humans produce and consume products is required. The UN communicated that “according to latest projections, the global population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050. The equivalent of almost three planets could be required to provide the natural resources needed to sustain current lifestyles.” (UN.org).

On 27th November (the day formerly known as Black Friday), we will be pressing pause. Our stores and website will be closed, once again, for a moment of nothingness.

Enjoy, and please remember to shop slowly :-)

Recently, the brand introduced its complete collection of skin-health basics, The Balance Set. It’s the perfect assortment of four daily skincare essentials for promoting and maintaining optimal skin health — and all for $29. (Psst…with the KNOWvember discount, The Balance Set is just $23.33!)

What’s in The Ordinary’s “The Balance Set”?

Well, The Balance Set includes two of my all-time faves from The Ordinary — the pore-clearing Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum and the ooey-gooey skin-licious Squalane Cleanser, one of the best cleansers for dry skin. Come to think of it, it’s a perfectly legitimate cleanser for all skin types, including oily skin, combo skin and sensitive skin. Rounding out the collection are the super-messy-but-worth-it Salicylic Acid 2% Masque and The Ordinary’s only conventional cream moisturizer, Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA.

FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF NOVEMBER

GET 23% OFF ALL SKINCARE FROM THE ORDINARY – INCLUDING THE BALANCE SET

CLICK HERE TO SHOP!

The Ordinary | Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

While I’m a fan The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, admittedly it’s not my go-to Niacinamide serum. That distinction always has, and always will, belong to the OG Niacinamide serum – the Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster serum.

Why? Because it’s much, much more than a Niacinamide treatment. It’s a perfectly well-rounded anti-aging product with antioxidant Vitamin C, humectant Sodium Hyaluronate and nourishing phospholipids. IMO the Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster the best anti-aging serum ever!

That’s not to say that The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% isn’t a solid, pro-skin health treatment — because it certainly is. It’s among the best face serums with Niacinamide.

As with most of The Ordinary’s products, it’s a basic, daily treatment. Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is an effective Niacinamide serum with added zinc that effectively flushes out pores, brightens the complexion, and delivers antioxidant protection to the skin.

Perhaps what’s most unique about The Ordinary’s version is the inclusion of one percent Zinc PCA. Zinc is believed to have a potential benefit for acne-prone skin, though the science is unsettled. Whether or not zinc in any form can help relieve blemish prone, Zinc PCA does have proven benefits for the overall health of the skin.

In fact, the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team rate it among the best ingredients for the skin. They describe Zinc PCA as “a synthetic skin-conditioning ingredient derived from zinc. Research has shown it has anti-aging benefits due to its ability to thwart destructive enzymes in skin that can damage its surface and lead to an aged, wrinkled appearance.”

In terms of zinc’s effect on blemishes, there’s an insightful article from the team titled, Does Zinc Help With Acne? — which you can read here.

Whether or not zinc has a direct benefit for acne-prone skin, the high level of Niacinamide in The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% certainly does. One of the most versatile and broadly pro-skin health actives, Niacinamide is highly effective at keeping pores clear. And clear pores don’t clog — a leading cause of acne.

What is Niacinamide?

Every time I talk about Niacinamide, I like to stress the multiple qualities of Niacinamide — and the remarkable benefits that Vitamin B3 can have for the skin. It’s the single active I use both AM and PM. Of course, I turn to the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team:

“Also known as vitamin B3 and nicotinic acid, niacinamide is a very effective skin-restoring ingredient that offers multiple benefits for aging and blemish-prone skin. Among these benefits is the ability to visibly improve the appearance of enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, fine lines, dullness, and a weakened skin surface.
Niacinamide can also mitigate and to some extent help visibly repair damage from UV light and offset other sources of environmental attack, including the negative impact of various types of airborne pollutants. Unlike many beneficial ingredients, niacinamide is stable in the presence of heat and light.”

The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is a relatively simple, effective treatment that seriously amps up any skincare routine with regular, daily (even twice daily use!).

SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% for just $5.90 here.

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