You can’t shrink pores. It’s a fact. They don’t have muscles.
But you can absolutely make them look less like craters. That’s the real goal.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. $5.90. The claim? Refines pores, reduces shine. For that price, I had to try.
The Price
It’s cheaper than my oat milk latte.
The Vibe
Clinical, no-frills bottle — you get what you pay for.
The Claim
“Visible pore refinement” in 8 weeks. Okay, prove it.
Photo: Rebecca Aldama / Unsplash
It’s a two-ingredient show. Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) is the star — it regulates oil and calms inflammation. Zinc is the backup singer — it’s a mild astringent.
- Niacinamide 10%: Oil control & barrier support
- Zinc PCA 1%: Mattifying & anti-inflammatory
- Tamarinus Indica Seed Gum: The gel texture
- Pentylene Glycol: Hydration + penetration booster
Photo: Natallia Photo / Unsplash
Texture is weird — a thin, slippery gel. Absorbs in 20 seconds but leaves a faint, sticky film. Not silky. You feel it.
By week two, my midday shine was cut in half. Unexpected? How much less I needed to blot. The stickiness became a non-issue.
Photo: averie woodard / Unsplash
After 6 weeks: Oil production way down. Pores? They look cleaner, less stretched out — but they’re still there. It’s an illusion of refinement, and I’ll take it.
It doesn’t perform miracles, but it delivers exactly what it promises for the price. A solid, boringly effective buy.