Side-by-side comparison

The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum 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
The Inkey List
Niacinamide Serum
SerumBudgetMorning or evening
OilinessCongestionDark Spots

A 10% niacinamide serum with added hyaluronic acid for oil control and blemish support. A clean, affordable single-active option; broadly comparable to other 10% niacinamide serums with a slightly more hydrating base.

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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. The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum is the better fit for congestion; The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% for acne and rough texture. Both sit in the Budget price tier. The Inkey List Niacinamide 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

The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum — top of the list

  • Aqua~50–80%
  • Niacinamide~5–25%
  • Glycerin~3–10%
  • Sodium Hyaluron…~2–6%
  • Pentylene Glycol~1.5–4%

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

The Inkey List Niacinamide SerumThe Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
CategorySerumSerum
Price tierBudgetBudget
Best forOiliness, Congestion, Dark SpotsOiliness, Acne, Dark Spots
Usage notesMorning or eveningEvening only
Shared hero activesNiacinamide
Questions

Common questions

Is The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum 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 Inkey List Niacinamide Serum and The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%?
The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum's hero actives are Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%'s are Niacinamide.
Are The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum 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 Inkey List Niacinamide 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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