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Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion

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Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion — Reddit Reviews

by The Ordinary

85nextscore7 verdicts

Updated October 10, 2026

5% niacinamide emulsion that the community uses as a lower-strength swap.

What the community says

Backed by 58 studies

Redditors use this as a lower-strength niacinamide step for face and body, especially if 10% feels like too much. It layers easily and some people prefer the emulsion texture; sensitive skin can still react.

From Reddit

Backed by 6 threads from r/SkincareAddiction and r/30PlusSkinCare.

Read the threads ↓

What people love

  • 5% niacinamide — lower-strength swap
  • Emulsion texture spreads nicely
  • Face-and-body format

Watch out for

  • Sensitive skin can still react
  • Not everyone likes the feel on skin
  • Doesn't beat 10% if you want a stronger niacinamide hit

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

    What the studies found
    • Most studies found niacinamide helped acne
    • It often cleared acne about as well as clindamycin when put on the skin
    • Some studies found it helped reduce red, sore spots and pimples
    • Some evidence is still uncertain because some studies found no clear difference

    Studied at 4–10%this product: 5%

  • Hyperpigmentation

    Some evidence

    Niacinamide: 5 studies tested it on its own. See all 20 studies

    What the studies found
    • All 5 studies that tested it on its own found it helped fade dark spots
    • On its own, it reduced facial darkening and made skin look lighter than a placebo
    • It also improved dark spots linked with sun damage in one clinical trial

    Studied at 2–10%this product: 5%

  • Anti-Aging

    Some evidence

    Niacinamide: 3 studies tested it on its own. See all 9 studies

    What the studies found
    • All 3 studies that tested it on its own found it helped with signs of aging
    • Studies found it improved the look of wrinkles and made skin seem firmer
    • Studies also found it helped dark spots and reduced redness and yellowing
    • One study found it helped skin hold more water and lowered water loss through the skin
    • Used with another ingredient, it improved dark spots, fine lines, wrinkles, and firmness more than niacinamide alone

    Studied at 2–5%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

    What the studies found
    • The one study that tested it on its own found it helped the skin barrier
    • It lowered water loss through the skin
    • It increased the thickness of the outer skin layer

    Studied at 4–5%this product: 5%

  • Dullness

    Not proven yet

    Few or mixed studies. This claim isn't established.

    Niacinamide: 1 study tested it on its own. See all 4 studies

    What the studies found
    • The only study on niacinamide by itself found it helped dull skin
    • Niacinamide on its own improved dark spots in the study
    • Niacinamide on its own also improved fine lines, wrinkles, and firmness
    • Used with another ingredient, it helped more than niacinamide alone in that study

    Studied at 2%this product: 5%

  • Texture/Pores

    Not proven yet

    Few or mixed studies. This claim isn't established.

    Niacinamide: No study tested it on its own. See all 4 studies

    What the studies found
    • Its own effect has not been measured because no study tested niacinamide on its own for texture or pores
    • Some studies found smoother skin when niacinamide was used together with other ingredients
    • Some studies found improved pores and oiliness in products that included niacinamide with other ingredients
    • Some studies also found more even-looking skin texture in products that included niacinamide with other ingredients

    Studied at 5%this product: 5%

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

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