Compare Products: Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2% vs B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum

Naturium

Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%

Budget12%
$17 / 30ml — $0.57/ml
Sunday Riley

B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum

Premium10%
$65 / 30ml — $2.17/ml

Ingredient Analysis

Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2% is a focused niacinamide and zinc serum designed for pore-minimizing and oil control. Sunday Riley B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum layers niacinamide with a dense blend of plant antioxidants and Centella asiatica actives, targeting anti-aging and skin calming. Choice depends on whether your primary goal is oil control or antioxidant and repair support.

Depends on skin concern: oil control and pores (favor Product A) vs. antioxidant protection and skin repair (favor Product B)
How they differ
Antioxidant depthSunday Riley

Sunday Riley B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum stacks resveratrol, stabilized curcumin, EGCG glucoside, gallic acid, and multiple botanical extracts. Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2% offers only tocopheryl acetate in this role.

Oil control and pore supportNaturium

Zinc PCA in Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2% directly targets sebum regulation alongside niacinamide. Sunday Riley B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum has no equivalent oil-control ingredient.

Irritation riskNaturium

Sunday Riley B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum contains fragrance and chlorphenesin, which are common sensitizers. Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%'s preservative system is simpler and fragrance-free.

Skin repair and calmingSunday Riley

Asiaticoside and madecassoside are well-documented actives for wound healing, collagen support, and reducing redness. Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2% lacks dedicated repair actives.

Formula simplicity and predictabilityNaturium

Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2% has 16 ingredients with clear, established functions. Sunday Riley B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum's 30-plus ingredients make it harder to pinpoint which active is working or causing a reaction.

What the label does not tell us
  • •Niacinamide concentration is not disclosed in either formula; position near the top suggests meaningful levels in both, but exact percentages are unknown.
  • •Sunday Riley B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum's botanical extracts appear late in the list, which typically means low concentrations. Their clinical effect at those levels is uncertain.
  • •Resveratrol is notoriously unstable in water-based formulas. Its efficacy depends on stabilization methods not disclosed in the INCI list.
  • •Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane (stabilized curcumin) has promising in-vitro data but limited large-scale human trial evidence at typical cosmetic concentrations.
  • •Chlorphenesin in product Sunday Riley B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum is an effective preservative but can be a sensitizer for some users, especially in combination with phenoxyethanol.
  • •Fragrance in product Sunday Riley B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum is listed without disclosure of individual fragrance allergens, which may matter for sensitive or reactive skin types.
  • •Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%'s identified name is an inference based on formula match; this has not been confirmed by the user.

Analysis generated from both INCI lists using Claude. Ingredient order indicates relative concentration; exact percentages are usually undisclosed.

Who It's Designed For

Naturium
  • Oily and combination skin seeking sebum control
  • Uneven skin tone and dark spots
  • Fine lines and early signs of aging
  • Enlarged pores and textured skin
  • Those who want higher niacinamide concentration than standard 10%
Sunday Riley
  • Those seeking an antioxidant-rich niacinamide treatment
  • Users who want botanical anti-inflammatory ingredients alongside niacinamide
  • People addressing post-acne dark spots and uneven tone
  • Those who prefer prestige skincare with complex formulations
  • Users comfortable with light synthetic fragrance

Key Ingredients

Naturium

Niacinamide (12%), Zinc PCA (2%)

Sunday Riley

Niacinamide (10%), Brightenyl (Diglucosyl Gallic Acid), Trans-Resveratrol, EGCG (Green Tea), Centella Asiatica

Product Composition

11% similarity (5 ingredients in common)

Shared Ingredients
waterniacinamideglycerinphenoxyethanolxanthan gum
Only in Naturium (11)▾
propanediolzinc pcapolyacrylate crosspolymer-11sodium hyaluronatedimethiconecaprylyl glycolpotassium sorbateglyceryl polyacrylatetocopheryl acetatehexylene glycolcitric acid
Only in Sunday Riley (29)▾
phenyl trimethiconedimethyl isosorbideoctyldodecanolresveratroldiglucosyl gallic acidasiaticosidemadecassosideepigallocatechin gallatyl glucosideboswellia serrata resin extractcurcuma longa (turmeric) root extractocimum basilicum (basil) flower/leaf extractocimum sanctum leaf extractaloe barbadensis flower extractsolanum melongena (eggplant) fruit extractcoccinia indica fruit extractbetainecorallina officinalis extractmelia azadirachta flower extractmelia azadirachta leaf extractpeg-8tetrahydrodiferuloylmethanepunica granatum fruit extractargania spinosa kernel oilcalendula officinalis flower extractpentylene glycolethoxydiglycoltamarindus indica seed gumchlorphenesinparfum/fragrance

User Feedback Patterns

Naturium
Higher quality than The Ordinary

Users who have tried both brands frequently note Naturium feels 'better quality' with faster absorption and less pilling, though acknowledging The Ordinary costs less.

Effective but requires patience

Most users report visible improvement in skin texture and oil control within 2-4 weeks, with more significant changes at the 6-8 week mark.

Minimal scent issue

Some users note a subtle odd scent, though it dissipates quickly after application. Generally not a dealbreaker.

Layers well

Consistent praise for how this serum absorbs and layers under other products without pilling or feeling heavy.

Sunday Riley
Texture and absorption

Users frequently praise the lightweight, watery texture that absorbs quickly without stickiness. Layers well under other products and makeup.

Brightening over time

Consistent reports of improved radiance and brighter complexion with regular use, though dark spot fading varies by individual.

Oil control

Oily skin users report reduced shine and less sebum production throughout the day.

Packaging concerns

Some users note the dropper packaging can cause product to dry and crust around the lid. Others have reported the product arriving discolored.

Price sensitivity

Mixed opinions on value. Some feel the botanical complex justifies the premium; others find it overpriced compared to budget niacinamide options.

Which Should You Buy?

Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2% offers great value at a lower price point. Sunday Riley B3 Nice 10% Niacinamide Serum may be worth the premium if you want Niacinamide (10%).

View Full Product Details

Comparing something else?

Paste any two ingredient lists, or photograph the labels, and get the same side-by-side breakdown for products we do not carry.

Open the comparison tool

Related Comparisons