Head to head

SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule vs The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Same comparison whichever way you searched it: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule.

The bottom line

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% does more across the board (it leads on barrier repair, brightening / tone, oil-control & blemishes), while SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule is the simpler, more pared-back pick.

Reach for The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% if you want the actives; SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently.

SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella AmpouleSKIN1004Madagascar Centella AmpouleSerum · ~€18See every ingredient in Madagascar Centella Ampoule, decoded
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%The OrdinaryNiacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%Serum · ~€6See every ingredient in Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, decoded

Which should you pick?

Pick Madagascar Centella Ampoule if

  • plump, lasting hydration is what you want
  • you prefer a simpler, more minimal formula

Pick Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% if

  • dark spots, dullness or an uneven tone are your focus
  • you are dealing with breakouts and oiliness
  • you want the more affordable option

What each delivers

HydrationBarrierBrighteningOil-controlAnti-aging
Madagascar Centella AmpouleNiacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
  • Hydration
    106
  • Barrier repair
    79
  • Brightening / tone
    27
  • Oil-control & blemishes
    38
  • Anti-aging
    56

Side by side

Madagascar Centella AmpouleNiacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
TypeSerumSerum
Key activesGlycerin, Centella Asiatica ExtractNiacinamide 10%, Zinc PCA, Pentylene Glycol
TextureA light, fast-absorbing texture that layers cleanly under the rest of your routine, with no greasy film.A light, fast-absorbing texture that layers cleanly under the rest of your routine, with no greasy film.
FragranceNone detectedNone detected
Fungal-acne safeLikelyLikely
PregnancyNo flagged activesNo flagged actives
Ingredients7 listed11 listed
Price~€18~€6

What's in one but not the other

The two labels share 0 of the 18 ingredients between them. The actives are where they part company.

What each one adds acts on The stratum corneum, Not established for SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule and The living epidermis, Not established, The stratum corneum for The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. That is the layer each is understood to act on, not how deep it travels.

Only in Madagascar Centella Ampoule

Both share

No active in common.

Only in Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

The molecule doing the work

Madagascar Centella AmpouleGlycerin
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%Niacinamide

Better for…

  • Dark spots & uneven toneNiacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
  • Breakouts & congestionNiacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
  • Dryness & dehydrationMadagascar Centella Ampoule

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is the cheaper of the two (~€6 vs ~€18).

Ready to pick one?

Affiliate links, so a purchase sends us a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Glow Simplified earns from qualifying purchases. We make and sell nothing here, so the verdict above never bends toward a sale.

Common questions

Is SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule or The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% better for dark spots & uneven tone?

For dark spots & uneven tone, The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is the stronger pick by our read of the two formulas. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% does more across the board (it leads on barrier repair, brightening / tone, oil-control & blemishes), while SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule is the simpler, more pared-back pick. Reach for The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% if you want the actives; SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently.

Which is cheaper, SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule or The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%?

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is the cheaper of the two (~€6 vs ~€18).

Can I use SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule and The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% together?

They are both serums, so you would normally pick one rather than layer both in the same step. You can keep both and alternate them (morning and night, or on different days) if you like variety, but you do not need two.

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