Side-by-side comparison

Byoma Brightening Serum vs The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Both serums contain Niacinamide, but each adds something the other doesn't. Here's where they overlap and where they split.

1Shared hero active
Byoma
Brightening Serum
SerumBudgetMorning or evening
Dark SpotsDullnesssensitive

Tranexamic acid + niacinamide + ceramide serum at an unusually low price point for this combination. Genuinely effective for post-inflammatory pigmentation and melasma-prone skin — and gentler than vitamin C for many people.

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The Ordinary
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
SerumBudgetEvening only
OilinessAcneDark SpotsRough Texture

High-dose niacinamide serum targeting sebum regulation, visible pore appearance and post-acne marks. Water-based, fragrance-free, and compatible with almost every other active on the shelf — the default oil-control serum for combination and oily skin.

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The verdict

Which should you choose?

Both contain Niacinamide. Byoma Brightening Serum adds Tranexamic Acid. Pick the one whose extra matches what you're treating. Byoma Brightening Serum is the better fit for dullness and sensitive skin; The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% for oiliness, acne and rough texture. Both sit in the Budget price tier. Byoma Brightening Serum is flagged morning or evening; The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is flagged evening only.

The overlap

What they share

This hero active appears in both formulas:

Niacinamide
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

Byoma Brightening Serum — top of the list

  • Water~50–80%
  • Propanediol~5–25%
  • Glycerin~3–10%
  • Niacinamide~2–6%
  • Tranexamic Acid~1.5–4%
  • Pentylene Glycol~1–2%
  • Butylene Glycol~1–2%

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% — top of the list

  • Aqua (Water)~50–80%
  • Niacinamide10%
  • Pentylene Glycol~3–10%
  • Zinc PCA1%
  • Dimethyl Isoso…~1.5–4%

● marks ingredients that appear near the top of both lists. Percentages are positional estimates from INCI order, not disclosed doses.

At a glance

The specs

Byoma Brightening SerumThe Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
CategorySerumSerum
Price tierBudgetBudget
Best forDark Spots, Dullness, sensitiveOiliness, Acne, Dark Spots
Usage notesMorning or eveningEvening only
Shared hero activesNiacinamide
Questions

Common questions

Is the Byoma Brightening Serum or The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% better?
It depends on what you're treating. Both contain Niacinamide; Byoma Brightening Serum adds Tranexamic Acid.
What's the difference between the Byoma Brightening Serum and The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%?
Byoma Brightening Serum's hero actives are Tranexamic Acid and Niacinamide. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%'s are Niacinamide.
Are the Byoma Brightening Serum and The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% dupes for each other?
Partly. They share Niacinamide, but Byoma Brightening Serum's Tranexamic Acid isn't in the other, so they aren't full substitutes.
Can I use the Byoma Brightening Serum and The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% together?
Usually, yes. Apply the thinner texture first, then the thicker one, and patch-test when introducing anything new.
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1 shared hero active

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