Does Niacinamide Really Reduce Pore Size? We Tested The Ordinary's Serum

Myth Busted

This viral serum promises to shrink pores, but does the science back up the hype?

Expert Analysis · Honest Reviews · Real Results

1.🔬The Pore Shrinkage Myth

Let’s be real — you can’t physically shrink a pore. It’s not a muscle.

But you can make them look way less obvious. That’s the real goal. This serum from The Ordinary claims to do just that.

2.❌The Viral Bottle

It’s $6.50. For that price, I’d try anything that promised to minimize my nose pores. The hype was deafening.

Watery, slightly sticky serum.

Absolutely none — smells like a lab.

Dropper bottle that you will absolutely knock over.

Photo: Natallia Photo / Unsplash

3.🧪What’s Actually In It

It’s a simple, high-dose formula. The niacinamide regulates oil and calms redness. The zinc helps with that.

4.📊The Sticky Truth

Applies like water, dries tacky in 20 seconds. Pills like crazy if you layer wrong.

By week two, my T-zone was noticeably less oily by noon. The surprise? My random chin redness faded before my pores looked better.

💡

One Thing: Use it *before* your moisturizer. Wait 60 seconds. Then press, don’t rub, your next product on.

5.💡Did It Work?

After a month, pores appeared cleaner and less dark — not smaller. Oil production was halved. Zero effect on blackheads.

✅

Buy if

You’re oily, shiny, and have visible pores.

⏭️

Skip if

You have dry or sensitive skin — this will likely irritate.

💰

Worth it?

For $6.50, it’s a no-brainer for oil control.

6.✅Final Call

It doesn’t shrink pores. But it makes them less visible by keeping them clean and dry. A brilliant budget buy for one specific job.

7.5/10

A one-trick pony, but it does the trick.

🛍️

Where to Buy: Sephora or the brand site. Buy the small size first to test the texture.