Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Low PFAS risk. Skincare serum with no known exposure routes.
Niacinamide and zinc serums are cosmetic actives without known PFAS ingredients or coating applications. The Ordinary discloses no PFAS information, but this product class poses minimal risk.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Water-based serum, niacinamide and zinc actives in glycerin base
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is made of, ingredients and materials
This is a water-based serum combining niacinamide (a B-vitamin derivative) and zinc as active ingredients suspended in glycerin and humectants. Niacinamide and zinc are well-established, non-toxic skincare actives with decades of topical safety history. The glycerin base is a humectant that draws moisture into skin and is not a known source of chemical hazard. No emulsifiers, silicones, or coatings are named in the formulation, reducing complexity and potential irritant load.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
1,4-dioxane as a manufacturing byproduct
Water-based serums can theoretically contain trace 1,4-dioxane if ethoxylated emulsifiers are used during manufacture, but this serum's minimalist formulation and The Ordinary's transparency record suggest low likelihood. No third-party test data on this product confirms or refutes presence; standard cosmetic regulations allow up to 10 ppm and typically do not report it if below that threshold.
Irritation and sensitization from actives themselves
Niacinamide at 10% is a high concentration and has been associated with flushing, erythema, and itching in a subset of users, particularly on sensitive or compromised skin barriers. This is a known pharmacological response, not a toxicity hazard, but warrants patch-testing before full-face application.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
No fragrance, essential oils, or masking agents are listed in this serum. Risk of fragrance-driven contact sensitization is not on record for this product.
Heavy metals
Niacinamide and zinc gluconate (or similar zinc salts) are pharmaceutical-grade actives with established purity standards. No recall or contamination report for this product exists, though trace heavy metals in any raw material are a theoretical but unconfirmed concern in the skincare category.
Source, FDA ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
No preservative system is named on the label, which is consistent with The Ordinary's approach of relying on high concentrations of glycerin and pH to resist microbial growth. No formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are identified in available ingredient disclosures.
Source, ATSDR ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
The Ordinary is owned by Deciem, a subsidiary of Estee Lauder, and publishes detailed ingredient lists and concentration claims transparently. The brand does not advertise formal third-party certification (e.g., dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic) but maintains public ingredient transparency and has not faced major recalls or safety controversies tied to this product line. No documented issues with formulation instability, mold, or bacterial contamination have been widely reported for this specific serum.
How it compares in its category
Niacinamide serums in this price range typically use similar glycerin or propylene glycol bases; this formulation is straightforward and not laden with fragrance, essential oils, or botanical extracts that increase irritation risk. Zinc-niacinamide combinations are common in acne-prone skincare and represent a lower-complexity active approach compared to multi-peptide or exfoliating serums. No preservative system is explicitly named, which is routine for The Ordinary's minimal-additive strategy.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight; glycerin-based serums are stable at room temperature but may thicken in cold or warm extremes. Apply to clean, dry skin; niacinamide can occasionally cause flushing or mild irritation in sensitive individuals, so patch-test first. Discontinue if persistent redness, itching, or burning occurs. Shelf life is typically 2-3 years unopened; discard if the formula separates, discolors, or develops odor, though this is uncommon with this formulation.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 85% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- The Ordinary has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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More moisturizer grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.