Serums. Serums. They seem to be my new “thing.”
Glossier Super Pure vs The Ordinary Niacinamide + Zinc Serum
Never have I ever tested out as many serums as I have in the past 6 months, and I’m not complaining. Two serums that are very similar in terms of main ingredients, but very different in terms of price point are: Glossier’s Super Pure [Available here] and The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum [Available here] .
Both serums contain niacinamide, aka Vitamin B3, which helps reduce the look of blemishes and congestion. And zinc PCA, a synthetic skin conditioning agent that has anti aging benefits, moisturizes, and regulates sebum production. Plus, it’s supposed to help treat acne.
I’ve never been blessed by the gods and given the gift of flawless skin. I also [thankfully] haven’t suffered with severe acne. But, the occasional mountain does like to move onto my face (especially when Aunt Flow comes to visit) so both of these main ingredients are something my skin needs. And they’re something my skin loves oh so dearly.
For testing purposes, I applied The Ordinary serum on one side of my face, and Glossier’s on the other to see if there really was a difference. At first, I was a little biased toward The Ordinary’s serum because of the price point. And, the fact that the texture is more what I consider “serumy.” Like that thicker, slippy texture– you know what I’m talking about? So I honestly wasn’t expecting to like the Glossier one as much since it’s thinner.
So how do they compare?
Both of these left my skin dewy and hydrated, but Super Pure was a bit more hydrating. And, it made my skin a little more soft, smooth, and supple. I know this because every night for a week I would ask my sister (who had no idea I was doing this) which side of my face looked better. She would always pick the right side of my face where I applied Super Pure because it looked more hydrated and dewy. The Ordinary’s serum took longer to absorb into the skin, and it made my skin feel a little tacky for a few minutes until it dried.
Another thing to note about The Ordinary’s serum is that you can’t layer it. One time I applied too much, and it dried white and crusty on my skin. I freaked out and thought it had messed up my skin. But, luckily it didn’t, and the crustiness washed away. Just don’t get too serum happy and apply more than you need.
I like that you get more product (1 oz) with The Ordinary serum, and it’s a fraction of the cost. Plus, they tell you the percentage of each ingredient you’re getting in the bottle. And that’s always nice to know. Glossier gives you half the product, it’s more expensive, and they don’t disclose ingredient percentages.
Another thing to note is they don’t have the exact same ingredients. Other than water, Niacinamide, and Zinc PCA, their ingredients are different. Super Pure includes honeysuckle flower extract, which is supposed to be soothing, and it has some antioxidant benefits. The Ordiinary’s Niacinamide and Zinc Serum contains tamarindus indicus seed extract, which is a skin conditioning humectant so it draws moisture from the air into your skin.
Let me just break it to you…
Neither serum zapped pimples away overnight like I was hoping they would– naive me. In fact, they both worked the same in terms of blemish fighting. Even though they didn’t get rid of pimples instantaneously, they did help speed up the process. Especially when trying to get rid of the scars that blemishes can leave behind.
So which one should you buy?
Honestly– you can’t go wrong with either. It comes down to how much you’re willing to pay, if you prefer one brand over the other, how you feel about consistency, and ingredient transparency/ disclosure. Glossier Super Pure is a bit more hydrating, and it makes your skin dewier. So that’s another factor to consider. Personally, I’ll probably stock up on both because #skincarejunkie. But, if price is the biggest concern, then go with The Ordinary because it is really nice and a lovely alternative.
P.S. you can shop through my page to get 20% off your first Glossier order!
Have you tried either? Which do you prefer? Let me know in the comments below!
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Shop Glossier here; Shop The Ordinary here.
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