P.Calm Cato Cream Versus The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Updated on March 04, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 2 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain niacinamide
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, parabens or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
P.Calm Cato Cream 63 ingredients
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% 11 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
P.Calm Cato Cream 63 ingredients
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% 11 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Emollient
Vinyldimethicone
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Arachidyl Alcohol
EmollientGlyceryl Caprylate
EmollientC12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingArginine
Masking
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Silica
Abrasive
Polyacrylate-13
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Cholesterol
Emollient
Squalane
Emollient
Bisabolol
Masking
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Emollient
Octyldodecanol
EmollientGlucose
Humectant
Brassica Campestris Sterols
Emollient
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Sorbitan Isostearate
Emulsifying
T-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil
Emollient
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Glutathione
Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract
Skin ProtectingAsiaticoside
Antioxidant
Madecassic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Asiatic Acid
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables
Emollient
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Skin ConditioningLactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Skin Conditioning
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin ConditioningHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract
Skin ConditioningRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialWater, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Vinyldimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Niacinamide, C14-22 Alcohols, Phenyl Trimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Stearic Acid, Arachidyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Carbomer, Arginine, Palmitic Acid, Allantoin, Silica, Polyacrylate-13, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ceramide NP, 1,2-Hexanediol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cholesterol, Squalane, Bisabolol, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Octyldodecanol, Glucose, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Oleic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, T-Butyl Alcohol, Arachidic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Myristic Acid, Glutathione, Caesalpinia Spinosa Fruit Extract, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Cardiospermum Halicacabum Flower/Leaf/Vine Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamideIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
P.Calm Cato Cream 63 ingredients
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% 11 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
P.Calm Cato Cream 63 ingredients
This burned my face like crazy! Had to wash it off immediately. I do have a somewhat compromised skin barrier I’m trying to heal, but based on my research, I expected this cream to be calming and helpful in that! I also didn’t realize it had vegetable oils until I got it, which is the last thing I want on my sensitive, acne prone face.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% 11 ingredients
Gotta give credit where credit is due
WOW… lot of people ganging up on this incredibly affordable/popular serum. I understand the criticisms, but personally I don’t believe the intensity is warranted. For so many people this was the start of their skincare journey; it certainly was mine! And because I had never used ingredients like niacinamide or zinc on my face before, of course I noticed an Show more
I've repurchased this so many times and tried different niacinamide serums but this one is my fav. It improves my hormonal acne so much and controls sebum production. Also, when I had the worst fungal acne flare-up ever, this and the lactic acid 5% SAVED ME. It burned a lot but now I don't have any bumps whatsoever. It won't work immediately so consistency is key. (I have combo-oily skin)
