The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Versus The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2%
Updated on March 04, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, fungal acne (malassezia) safe, and reef safe serums. They have a total of 0 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
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Ingredient Info
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% 11 ingredients
The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2% 3 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
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% 11 ingredients
The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2% 3 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% 11 ingredients
The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2% 3 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
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
(Tried Jan 2021) This was actually the product that made me realize that my skin does not mix with Niacinamide (especially at high concentrations because I can usually tolerate it at %4/less or when it isn't a primary ingredient). I tested it on my wrist and a small patch on my cheek to check, and I had hives in both areas. I wouldn't want to give this a poor rating solely on the account of my Show more
The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2% 3 ingredients
I'm orange...
When I first started using this I was like, “great, a vitamin C that doesn’t burn”. So I began using it frequently. Slowly, I noticed my skin was turning orange, but just on my face. Turns out this product was oxidizing ON MY SKIN. The serum itself was still pretty clear, so I wasn’t applying an old or bad product, but when exposed to oxygen while on my face it began to STAIN it as Show more
Reaction
My face has never been redder and hurt more in my life...
