The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Versus Nacomi Crema Normalizzante Sebo Control

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Versus Nacomi Crema Normalizzante Sebo Control

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

This oil-control moisturizer is formulated around Panthenol and Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract to balance excess oil and calm redness.

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

Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil

Panthenol

Glycerin

Cetyl Alcohol

Cocos Nucifera Oil

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Cetearyl Alcohol

Glyceryl Stearate

Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil

Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract

Stearic Acid

Benzyl Alcohol

Parfum

Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate

Lentinus Edodes Extract

Tremella Fuciformis Extract

Dehydroacetic Acid

Zinc PCA

Copper PCA

CI 73015

CI 42090

CI 47005

Water, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Panthenol, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Stearic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Dehydroacetic Acid, Zinc PCA, Copper PCA, CI 73015, CI 42090, CI 47005

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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!

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.

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