Side-by-side comparison

Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% 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
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 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 Naturium is flagged Morning or evening while the The Ordinary is flagged Evening only.

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

Naturium — 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 — 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

NaturiumThe Ordinary
CategorySerumSerum
Price tierBudgetBudget
Best forDark Spots, Oiliness, AcneOiliness, Acne, Dark Spots
Usage notesMorning or eveningEvening only
Active overlap77% — Niacinamide
Questions

Common questions

Is the Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% 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 Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% and the The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%?
Both are serums that share Niacinamide. Where they differ: the Naturium is Morning or evening; the The Ordinary is Evening only.
Are the Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% 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 Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% 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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70% overlap

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