For my experience with The Ordinary brand, check the posts I wrote here.

There is a reason that The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is one of their most popular products — it’s good! And in my case, it helps heal my occasional acne faster. Some of its reviews, however, are split, and I think it’s because it is not being used correctly. Hear me out.

I will begin by saying that I don’t break out much these days. I only apply makeup on weekends, and that is, if we go out, and the rest of the time, I go completely makeup-free and stick to my skincare routine religiously. I wash my face morning and night and apply my favorite products according to my skin needs.

my current skincare routine…

In the morning, after washing my face with a gentle face wash, I use this calming and clarifying toner, apply this eye serum, a face serum — lately, it’s been either this one that I talked about in this post or this one and, finally, this moisturizer or this one.

At night, after cleansing my skin with my Clarisonic brush (sadly, no longer available), I use this micellar water with a cotton pad to remove my mineral SPF (love it, but removing it is tough). Once that step is done, I apply The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution and allow it to fully absorb before I apply a serum + night moisturizer or The Ordinary’s Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA (I use this one with actives to avoid counteracting of ingredients).

On nights when I’m tired or in a rush, I skip the toner and serums, but always make sure I apply either this or this moisturizer, or my favorite retinol cream, depending on how my skin feels. I truly love these products. Of course, when it feels especially dry and lackluster, I apply The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane — it’s still a favorite, and a product my skin loves.

I have oily skin, which lately has been having dry tendencies. Other than that, my main concerns with it these days are aging, and hyperpigmentation (nothing can get rid of it fully, though I have managed to minimize it a bit).

However, once in a while I would randomly get some zits and a blind pimple. The latter are painful, unsightly, and hard to get rid of. And that’s when The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% comes in.

So about this product…

This niacinamide serum has a “sticky” consistency, though it absorbs quickly. The key to using it is finding the right amount, and not applying too much, as it can cause “pilling”, especially when you apply any other product on top of it. For that reason, I recommend using a small amount and applying your next product while the serum is not completely absorbed yet.

If you notice benefits from this product, but it still pills for you, may I suggest using it at night instead? Also, note that if you’re prone to acne, you might experience purging at first, which can last for a few weeks. I found that the benefits of using it outweigh the [temporary] inconvenience.

Now how do I use The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% to heal my acne? Easy — I dab it on the spot where I notice the bumps forming, as well as to the entire face (especially at night). Because I apply it at the beginning, it usually heals and stops it from fully developing. This has proven to work for me, though it is not the only benefit this product provides. It also smooths my skin and reduces any redness, improves overall texture as well as minimizes pores with continued use.

In all transparency, sometimes it’s too late and the zit/pimple fully forms. When that happens, I resort to massaging tea tree oil on it. Doing so reduces inflammation significantly. However, please be aware that you should only be using tea tree oil that is intended for skin use (like the one I linked above). The essential oils made for aromatherapy are usually too strong and can “burn” your skin. In general, tea tree oil can be drying, so make sure that you moisturize properly, and don’t apply it to the entire face unless you dilute it. To speed up the healing, continue using the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% as your face serum.

In closing…

With every skincare product that you use, patience is required as they take some time to work. Also, consistency is key. If you’re struggling with bad acne, I’d recommend taking a look at your diet as well, though, the best recommendation I have is to talk to a dermatologist and nutritionist. Please note that this post relates to my experience with using the products mentioned, and in no way, should be considered medical advice for treating acne.

xo,

Em