Naturium Niacinamide vs The Ordinary Niacinamide: A Side-by-Side Comparison

If you have oily skin, visible pores, or occasional breakouts and you are trying to figure out which niacinamide serum to buy, you have almost certainly landed on these two. Naturium Niacinamide Face Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2% and The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% are the two most-mentioned options in this category, and for good reason. Both are under twenty dollars, both have strong review counts, and both do what niacinamide is actually supposed to do. The differences are real, though, and they matter depending on what your skin needs most.

I tested the Naturium formula for eight weeks on combination skin with enlarged pores along my nose and chin. I used The Ordinary version for a comparable stretch the previous year. What follows is a direct comparison based on formula details, texture, and results over time, not just ingredient label reading.

Naturium Niacinamide 12% vs The Ordinary Niacinamide 10%

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Where Naturium Wins

The extra 2% concentration is the obvious starting point. Naturium runs at 12% niacinamide where The Ordinary tops out at 10%. On its own, a 2% difference is not enormous, but it is compounded by the zinc. Naturium includes 2% zinc PCA versus The Ordinary's 1%. Zinc is what actually handles the sebum regulation side of the equation. Niacinamide shrinks the look of pores and calms inflammation. Zinc tells the sebaceous glands to slow down. More zinc means more oil control, which is the number one reason most people reach for a niacinamide serum in the first place.

The supporting cast in the Naturium formula is also meaningfully different. It includes sodium hyaluronate for surface hydration, panthenol for barrier support, and a small amount of licorice root extract for brightening. These additions matter in practice because pure niacinamide serums at high concentrations can feel tight on drier skin types. The extra ingredients in the Naturium formula round off the experience without diluting the active ingredient load. After eight weeks I noticed measurably less midday shine on my t-zone and a visible reduction in the depth of the pores across my nose. My skin did not feel stripped. That balance is harder to hit than it sounds.

Texture is another category where Naturium has a clear edge for everyday wear. The formula has a slightly silky, almost gel-like feel on application. It layers cleanly under a lightweight moisturizer without pilling. The Ordinary version, by contrast, has a very thin, watery consistency that can feel slightly tacky on dry-down. It often pills when paired with anything thicker than a lightweight gel moisturizer, which limits your routine options. If you wear foundation or a tinted sunscreen in the morning, that pilling problem is more than an inconvenience.

After eight weeks I noticed measurably less midday shine on my t-zone and a visible reduction in the depth of the pores across my nose. My skin did not feel stripped.

Where The Ordinary Wins

The Ordinary's niacinamide serum has one clear advantage: it is less expensive. For someone who is on an extremely tight budget or testing niacinamide for the first time to confirm their skin responds well to it, the lower price point is genuinely meaningful. If you spend money on a niacinamide serum and realize your skin does not tolerate it, losing less money is better than losing more. The Ordinary formula is a reasonable entry point for that reason.

The formula itself is also intentionally minimal. There are very few other ingredients, which means very few opportunities for a reaction to something other than the niacinamide. If you have reactive skin or have had sensitivities to botanical extracts in the past, the stripped-down Ordinary formula removes some variables. That said, niacinamide itself is one of the better-tolerated skincare actives on the market. Reactions are uncommon, and most people who experience flushing from niacinamide are reacting to a concentration issue, not a supporting-ingredient issue.

What the Concentration Difference Actually Means on Your Skin

A lot of the marketing around niacinamide concentrations implies that higher is always better. That is not entirely accurate. Studies show meaningful benefits starting around 2% and increasing through roughly 10%. There is evidence that 12% may offer marginally better results for pore visibility and oil control, but the difference is not dramatic. What tends to matter more is the supporting formula and how well it integrates with your routine. Naturium's advantage at 12% is real but not large enough to be transformative on its own. The zinc at 2% versus 1%, and the fuller supporting cast, are what actually make it the stronger formula in practice.

For people with very sensitive or reactive skin, starting at 10% is reasonable. Niacinamide at higher concentrations is not inherently more irritating, but if your skin is already compromised or you are working through a period of sensitivity, starting at a lower concentration and moving up makes practical sense. Most people with oily or combination skin who are buying specifically for pore control or oil management will see better results with the Naturium formula from the start.

Layering and Routine Placement

Both serums are water-based and belong in the early steps of a routine, applied to clean skin before thicker moisturizers or oils. The standard guidance is thinnest to thickest, and these serums fit clearly on the thin end of that spectrum. Where they diverge is in how well they hold up under layering. Naturium's slightly silky texture creates a more forgiving base for whatever comes next. The very thin, slightly sticky texture of The Ordinary version becomes more of a problem the longer you wait between application steps or the heavier your moisturizer is.

Neither serum is photosensitizing. You can use both morning and night without any concern about sun reactivity. That said, if you are using other actives like vitamin C or exfoliating acids in the same routine, standard guidance is to avoid mixing niacinamide with vitamin C in the same application step. You can use them at different times of day without issue. The niacinamide-causes-redness-with-vitamin-C concern is largely overstated at the concentrations in everyday serums, but separating them by a few minutes is harmless and avoids the question entirely.

Who Should Buy Which

Choose Naturium Niacinamide 12% Plus Zinc 2% if you are specifically targeting oil control, pore appearance, or you want a formula that layers cleanly in a morning routine that includes moisturizer and sunscreen. The higher zinc content, the fuller supporting formula, and the better everyday texture make it the more practical choice for most people shopping in this category. It costs a bit more but the difference at this price range is small relative to the results gap. I kept going back to it after I finished testing The Ordinary version the year before. There is a reason it has 16,000 Amazon reviews at a solid 4.5 stars. See the full breakdown of how it performed over eight weeks in my Naturium Niacinamide serum review.

Choose The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% if you are new to niacinamide and want to spend as little as possible to test whether the ingredient works for your skin, or if you have a history of reactions to botanical extracts and want a stripped-down formula with fewer variables. It is a functional serum. It just does not do as much as Naturium at the same price tier, and the texture issue is a real limitation if you wear anything over it in the morning.

If you are trying to build a full oil-control routine around niacinamide, it is worth reading through 10 reasons a niacinamide serum clears skin better than most acne treatments to understand what else you can pair it with for consistent results.