Side-by-side comparison

Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% vs The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Both are serums built on the same key active: Niacinamide. That makes them genuine alternatives, so price, texture and the supporting ingredients decide it.

1Shared hero active
Naturium
Niacinamide Serum 12%
SerumBudgetMorning or evening
Dark SpotsOilinessAcneRough Texture

Higher-dose niacinamide than the classic 10% formulations, with zinc PCA, centella and ginger. At 12% there's modestly better pore and sebum performance, though some very sensitive skin can flush — patch test first.

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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 formulas lean on Niacinamide, so for the ingredient doing the work they're close alternatives. Both sit in the Budget price tier. Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% 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

Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% — top of the list

  • Water~50–80%
  • Niacinamide12%
  • Glycerin~3–10%
  • Butylene Glycol~2–6%
  • Propanediol~1.5–4%
  • Zinc PCA~1–2%
  • Centella Asiat…~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

Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12%The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
CategorySerumSerum
Price tierBudgetBudget
Best forDark Spots, Oiliness, AcneOiliness, Acne, Dark Spots
Usage notesMorning or eveningEvening only
Shared hero activesNiacinamide
Questions

Common questions

Is the Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% or The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% better?
Neither is clearly better on ingredients, since both rely on Niacinamide. Choose on price, texture and how your skin responds to the rest of the formula.
What's the difference between the Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% and The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%?
Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12%'s hero actives are Niacinamide and Centella Asiatica. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%'s are Niacinamide.
Are the Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% and The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% dupes for each other?
Yes, on the ingredient that matters. Both are built around Niacinamide, though concentrations, texture and the supporting ingredients can still differ.
Can I use the Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% 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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