Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%
Reviewed by SerumTruth Editorial · Price and formula checked July 2026
A high-dose, honestly labelled niacinamide-and-zinc serum for the price of a couple of coffees, aimed at the appearance of an even tone and balanced shine. The 12% is more than some skin wants, but on disclosed active per dollar it is very strong value.
- Niacinamide dosed at a clinical, high-end level
- Every active discloses its concentration
- Cheap to use, about $10 a month
- Evidence17 / 30
Strength of the research behind the key actives
- Niacinamide: moderate evidence
- Zinc PCA: limited evidence
The average of the key actives’ evidence grades.
- Potency25 / 25
Dosed at studied levels, not fairy-dusted
- Niacinamide (12%): dosed at a clinical, high-end level for its category
- Zinc PCA (2%): dosed at a clinical, high-end level for its category
How strongly the actives are dosed, led by the strongest, not how many there are.
- Delivery & stability14 / 20
Delivery tech + packaging that protects fragile actives
- Delivery: standard
- Packaging: tinted glass
- No fragile actives here, so packaging barely moves the score.
Delivery tech plus packaging, and packaging only counts when actives are fragile.
- Formulation9 / 10
Disclosure, active breadth, and ingredient generation
- 2 of 2 actives disclose a concentration
- 2 key actives (breadth credit caps at 3)
- Current-generation or synergistic: Niacinamide, Zinc PCA
Disclosure, active breadth, and current-generation or synergistic actives.
- Value14 / 15
What a month of use costs vs. the category
- About $10 per month to use
- $17 for 30 ml, used about twice a day (about 0.3 ml each time), so a bottle lasts about 1.7 months
What a month of use costs: full marks at $6 a month or less, the floor at $60 a month or more.
Tap any row to see how its score was built.
Ranks #12 of 56 brightening serums we have scored.
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What’s inside
| Active | Disclosed | Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Niacinamide | 12% | Clinical |
| Zinc PCA | 2% | Clinical |
12% niacinamide with 2% zinc PCA, both disclosed, over a little hyaluronic acid, in an opaque dropper bottle. 12% is at the high end for niacinamide and can feel like too much for reactive skin or pill under other layers. Neither active is fragile, so the packaging is a non-issue.
How it’s delivered
Air- and light-sensitive actives (vitamin C, copper peptides) lose potency fast in the wrong packaging, so delivery and the bottle are scored, not just what’s on the label.
The actives, explained
What the research says
Topical 5% niacinamide was linked to more even looking skin tone, softer looking lines, and less visible blotchiness after 12 weeks.
Niacinamide: A B vitamin that improves aging facial skin appearance. Dermatologic Surgery, 2005. PubMed ↗
A study of the active, not this exact product. What matters for the score is whether this serum uses it at a comparable dose.
Higher-scoring alternatives
Same category, better SerumProof score. Worth a look before you buy.
Revision history
- July 11, 2026Price and formula rechecked
- July 10, 2026Review published
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Cosmetic information for general education, not medical advice. The SerumProof score reflects our reading of publicly available research and formulation disclosures. See how scoring works.