Side-by-side comparison

The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum vs The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Both are serums. They share a 77% active-ingredient overlap, so the real decision is about price, texture and the supporting ingredients. Here's the side-by-side.

77%Active overlap
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 sit in the Budget tier, so cost isn't the deciding factor here — choose on texture, finish and the supporting ingredients. On how you'd use them, the The Inkey List is flagged Morning or evening while the The Ordinary is flagged Evening only. The The Inkey List leans toward Congestion. The The Ordinary leans toward Acne, Rough Texture.

The overlap

What they share

At 77% active overlap, these are the ingredients doing comparable work in both formulas:

Niacinamide
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

The Inkey List — top of the list

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

The Ordinary — 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 ListThe Ordinary
CategorySerumSerum
Price tierBudgetBudget
Best forOiliness, Congestion, Dark SpotsOiliness, Acne, Dark Spots
Usage notesMorning or eveningEvening only
Active overlap77% — Niacinamide
Questions

Common questions

Is the The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum or the The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% better?
Neither is clearly better — they overlap 77% on active ingredients and sit in the same price tier. The difference comes down to texture, finish and the supporting ingredients, so the right choice depends on your skin type and preferences.
What's the difference between the The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum and the The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%?
Both are serums that share Niacinamide. Where they differ: the The Inkey List is Morning or evening; the The Ordinary is Evening only; the The Inkey List targets Congestion; the The Ordinary targets Acne, Rough Texture.
Are the The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum and The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% dupes for each other?
They share 77% active-ingredient overlap based on published INCI lists, so one can stand in for the other on the actives that matter — chiefly Niacinamide. A dupe matches the hero actives, not the full sensory experience, so expect differences in texture, fragrance and exact concentrations.
Can I use the The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum and The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% together?
They both fill the serum slot in a routine, so you'd normally pick one rather than layer both. If you want to use both, treat one as your daytime option and the other for evening, and patch-test when introducing anything new.
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85% overlap

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