Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion — Reddit Reviews
by The Ordinary
Updated October 6, 2026
5% niacinamide emulsion for daily layering; some sensitive skins react.
What the community says
A niacinamide emulsion people use on face and body, often as the lower-strength swap for the 10% serum. Redditors like the smoother application and daytime layering; sensitive or reactive skin can still hate it.
What this means for you
What people love
- 5% niacinamide without the 10% drama
- Emulsion texture applies nicely
- Face-and-body format for routine simplicity
Watch out for
Product details
Key Ingredients
Skin type data limited
Where to buy
What the science says
Acne
Some evidence
Niacinamide: 6 studies tested it on its own. See all 17 studies
Hyperpigmentation
Some evidence
Niacinamide: 5 studies tested it on its own. See all 24 studies
What the studies found
- All of these studies found niacinamide helped fade dark spots or patches
- Niacinamide 5% faded dark spots more than a placebo in studies of sun-damaged skin and dark patches
- Used with salicylic acid peels, niacinamide improved dark patches more than peels alone
- A niacinamide mix faded dark spots better than niacinamide alone in one study
- One study found the fading effect reversed after niacinamide was stopped
Studied at 2–10%this product: 5%
Skin Barrier
Not proven yet
Few or mixed studies. This claim isn't established.
Niacinamide: 1 study tested it on its own. See all 17 studies
Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not necessarily this exact product.
Real Reddit threads — 12 mentions across 6 threads
The Ordinary Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion on Reddit, in one place — 6 threads from r/SkincareAddiction and r/30PlusSkinCare, summarized.
“I’ve had really good luck with niacinamide!”
Positive
“I get the Ordinary’s face and body emulsion because it’s affordable”
Positive
“and seems to work well”
Positive
“Try the Ordinary Niacinamide Body Emulsion 5% for face”
Mentioned
“this one is too heavy!”
Mentioned
“but i need a moisturizer for daytime”
Mentioned
“niacinamide: The Ordinary Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion”
Positive
“Night 2: cleanser → niacinamide → hyaluronic acid”
Positive
“The Glycolic acid I haven't started yet, I'd normally just use niacinamide in its place”
Positive
“Right now I have: The Ordinary Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion”
Positive
“For my face, I’ve had some success with: AM: Cleanser → Alpha Arbutin → Niacinamide → Moisturizer → SPF”
Positive
“For my body, I’ve been doing: Cleanser → Alpha Arbutin → Niacinamide → Body Lotion”
Positive
“**Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion**”
Positive
“3. **Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion**”
Positive
“Everything else looks gentle and fine, niacinamide and your moisturisers are good.”
Positive
“I also have the Ordinary Niacinamide 5% face and body emulsion”
Cautionary
“but I don't like how my skin reacted to it.”
Cautionary
“pretty oily somewhat sensitive skin”
Cautionary
