My forehead was a grease slick by noon. Every single day.
This serum fixed that. Not a gentle improvement — a hard stop on the oil refinery.
It’s a clear, watery serum from The Ordinary. Under $7. They claim it reduces blemishes and shine. I was skeptical.
Niacinamide 10%
A high dose of the pore-refining, barrier-supporting star.
Zinc 1%
The mineral that acts like a blotting paper from the inside.
No Nonsense
The bottle has no fragrance, no alcohol, no fluff.
Photo: Evangeline Sarney / Unsplash
Two main players. Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3 that tells your sebum glands to chill. Zinc PCA helps regulate oil.
- Niacinamide: Calms inflammation and minimizes pores
- Zinc PCA: Mattifies and regulates sebum
- Tamarinus Indica Seed Gum: Just a texture thing — makes it slippery
- Aqua: Water.
Photo: Andres Herrera / Unsplash
Texture is like slightly sticky water. Absorbs in 8 seconds — leaves a faint, velvety grip.
By week two, my midday blotting sheets were basically clean. The unexpected part? My foundation stopped sliding off my nose.
Shine reduced by 80%. Breakouts became smaller, less inflamed. Did it erase my pores? No. But it made them look tidy.
It’s not a miracle, but it’s the most effective budget buy for oil control I’ve used. Period.