The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Versus KORA Organics Noni Bright 12% Vitamin C Serum

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Versus KORA Organics Noni Bright 12% Vitamin C Serum

This oil-control serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to balance excess oil and refine the look of pores.

This brightening serum is formulated around Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Ascorbyl Glucoside to brighten dull-looking skin and fade the look of dark spots.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Niacinamide 10%

Pentylene Glycol

Zinc PCA 1%

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum

Xanthan Gum

Isoceteth-20

Ethoxydiglycol

Phenoxyethanol

Chlorphenesin

Water, Niacinamide 10%, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA 1%, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Ascorbyl Glucoside

Glycerin

Lactobacillus Ferment

Lactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment

Potassium Hydroxide

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract

Lactobacillus

Citrus Limon Peel Extract

Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract

Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract

Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Olea Europaea Leaf Extract

Zinc PCA

Lysolecithin

Sclerotium Gum

Pullulan

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Ascorbic Acid

Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate

Salvia Sclarea Extract

Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract

Potassium Sorbate

Sodium Phytate

Sodium Benzoate

Citric Acid

Sodium Salicylate

Euterpe Oleracea Juice

Tocopherol

Silica

Maltodextrin

Alcohol

Glycine Soja Oil

Quartz

Citral

Limonene

Linalool

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Water, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lactobacillus/Acerola Cherry Ferment, Potassium Hydroxide, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Extract, Lactobacillus, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract, Zinc PCA, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Pullulan, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ascorbic Acid, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Salicylate, Euterpe Oleracea Juice, Tocopherol, Silica, Maltodextrin, Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Quartz, Citral, Limonene, Linalool

Reviews

Be the first to review

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Zinc PCA is a clever two-in-one molecule: the zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA).

Think of it as two useful things bonded together; the PCA half is one of your skin's own natural moisturizing factors (NMF) so it helps hold water in the upper layers. On the other hand, the zinc half does the heavy lifting on oil and bacteria.

The zinc part slows down an enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT, the hormone that tells your oil glands to pump out more sebum. Less of that signal means less oil. It also gently fights acne-causing bacteria and soothes redness/irritation.

This is why Zinc PCA often shows up in products for oily, breakout-prone skin and greasy scalps.

One lab study also hinted it might have a small anti-aging perk because it seemed to protect collagen from UVA damage and even helped the skin make a bit more of it. That last bit is still early research done in a dish and not real skin, so take it as a nice bonus rather than a promise for now.

As for scar healing, the picture is more "maybe" than a firm yes. Zinc itself plays a real role in wound repair because it is a cofactor for the enzymes involved in collagen building, calming inflammation, and helping new skin cells cover a wound. Lower zinc levels are also linked to slower healing.

Most of the scar healing research is on zinc oxide or oral zinc rather than zinc PCA specifically, with a focus on healing fresh wounds instead of scars that are already there.

Direct evidence that zinc PCA improves the look of established scars is still limited at this time. Though it would be fair to say zinc PCA supports the general skin-repair environment thanks to its zinc content .

This ingredient is water-soluble and plays nicely with other actives like niacinamide and salicylic acid. It works best at mildly acidic formulas (~4-6 pH) and is effective at low levels. Around 0.1% is enough to be active and finished products commonly use it anywhere up to 4%.

Overall, this is a well-tolerated, low-drama multitasker that suits oily and acne-prone skin.

Similar Comparisons