You’ve been slapping this on whenever. Stop. Maryruth’s 10% Niacinamide + Zinc Serum has a secret allegiance — and it’s not both sides.
Use it wrong and you’re either dulling your glow or sabotaging your repair. The real trick? It’s not the ingredient — it’s what you pair it with.
It’s $16.99 for 1 oz. The claim that got me: “pore-refining and shine control without irritation.” I’ve been burned by 10% before (hello, peeling).
Zinc PCA Boost
Calms redness faster than aloe ever did — like a chill pill for angry pores.
No-Frills Formula
No fragrance, no essential oils, no drama. Just active and carrier.
Dropper That Doesn’t Suck
Actually picks up the right amount. Oddly satisfying.
Two stars here. Niacinamide (vitamin B3) at 10% — that’s the max before diminishing returns. Zinc PCA plays backup, mopping up excess oil without stripping your barrier dry.
- Niacinamide: shrinks pores + evens tone over time
- Zinc PCA: sebum control + antibacterial support
- Vegetable Glycerin: humectant that doesn’t feel sticky
- Water: dissolves everything without silicones
Water-thin. Slightly slippery. Absorbs in 8 seconds flat — no tacky film, no pilling. First application felt like nothing, which honestly scared me.
Week two: my T-zone stopped producing its own slip ‘n slide by 2 PM. Unexpected win — it didn’t dry me out. Most mattefiers leave my cheeks tight. This didn’t.
Pores: visibly smaller at week 3, not gone (they never are). Texture: smoother. Breakouts: fewer, but not zero. My sunscreen sat flatter — no more midday grease slick.
AM use wins. Under sunscreen, it controls oil without fighting your SPF. Night use is fine, but you’re wasting its shine-stopping superpowers while you sleep.