The Ordinary Niacinamide: Full Price Comparison Across Retailers
Skincare
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is probably the single most talked-about product The Ordinary makes — a straightforward, no-frills serum that helped popularize the idea that effective skincare doesn't need a three-figure price tag. It's also one of the most-searched skincare products online, which means it's also one of the most-marked-up in the wrong place if you're not paying attention.
What it actually is
The formula is exactly what it says: 10% niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3 that helps regulate oil production and support the skin barrier) plus 1% zinc PCA, which helps balance sebum. It's a water-based serum, not an oil, and it's formulated without added fragrance. There's genuinely not much to it — which is exactly why the price should stay low no matter where you buy it.
Why the price shouldn't move much
Unlike prestige serums that vary in packaging tier, gift-with-purchase bundling, or "clinical" positioning, The Ordinary intentionally keeps its whole line priced close to cost — the brand's entire premise is stripping out marketing markup. That means there's very little legitimate reason for the same bottle to cost meaningfully more at one retailer than another. When you do see a big price gap, it's almost always one of these:
- Bundle padding — a "skincare set" that prices the serum individually well above its normal cost, hidden inside a bundle discount that isn't actually a discount.
- Third-party marketplace sellers — on open marketplaces, resellers sometimes list it above retail, especially when a size is briefly out of stock at the official retailer.
- Expired or counterfeit stock — niacinamide serums can be a target for counterfeiting given how frequently the real product sells; buying from a listing with an unusually low price and no verified seller badge is the actual risk, not overpaying.
How to shop it
Because the margin for legitimate price variation is so small on this particular product, the smart move is simple: check the current price across a couple of retailers before buying, stick to verified sellers, and treat any listing priced far below the norm with more suspicion than excitement.
Check today's price →
This post is for general information, not medical advice. Some links on BeautyPriceMatch are affiliate links; see our Terms of Service for details.