Head to head
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 vs The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
The bottom lineThe Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% does more across the board (it leads on brightening / tone, oil-control & blemishes, anti-aging), while The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is the simpler, more pared-back pick.
Reach for The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% if you want the actives; The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently.
Which should you pick?
Pick Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 if
- plump, lasting hydration is what you want
- you want more actives working at once
Pick Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% if
- you are dealing with breakouts and oiliness
- dark spots, dullness or an uneven tone are your focus
- you want the more affordable option
What each delivers
Side by side
| Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 | Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Serum | Serum |
| Key actives | Glycerin, Hyaluronic acid 2%, Pro-vitamin B5 | Vitamin B3 10%, Zinc PCA |
| Texture | A light, fast-absorbing texture that layers cleanly under the rest of your routine, with no greasy film. | A light, fast-absorbing texture that layers cleanly under the rest of your routine, with no greasy film. |
| Fragrance | None detected | None detected |
| Fungal-acne safe | Likely | Likely |
| Pregnancy | No flagged actives | No flagged actives |
| Ingredients | 16 listed | 11 listed |
| Price | ~€8 | ~€6 |
What's in one but not the other
Only in Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Both share
No active in common.
Only in Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
The molecule doing the work
Better for…
- Dark spots & uneven toneNiacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
- Fine lines & firmnessNiacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
- Breakouts & congestionNiacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
- Dryness & dehydrationHyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is the cheaper of the two (~€6 vs ~€8).
Ready to pick one?
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Common questions
Is The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 or The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% better for dark spots & uneven tone?
For dark spots & uneven tone, The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is the stronger pick by our read of the two formulas. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% does more across the board (it leads on brightening / tone, oil-control & blemishes, anti-aging), while The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is the simpler, more pared-back pick. Reach for The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% if you want the actives; The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently.
Which is cheaper, The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 or The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%?
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is the cheaper of the two (~€6 vs ~€8).
Can I use The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 and The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% together?
They are both serums, so you would normally pick one rather than layer both in the same step. You can keep both and alternate them (morning and night, or on different days) if you like variety, but you do not need two.