Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion
A lightweight emulsion designed to help even the look of skin tone and reduce the appearance of dark spots on the face and body.
A useful lower-strength niacinamide option for people who want tone support across face and body without the stronger feel of a 10% niacinamide serum.
Niacinamide at 5% across an entire body-sized emulsion at The Ordinary's price point makes this one of the most cost-effective brightening products for body use. Most body-specific brightening lotions are expensive and vaguely formulated.
After cleansing and before moisturizer — both face and body. Can double as a light moisturizer for oily skin or as a serum step under a richer body lotion for dry skin.
People with uneven tone or dark marks on their body (post-acne back, chest, or shoulder marks especially). Also great for those who found 10% niacinamide serums slightly irritating or flushing.
If you expect dramatic fast results — niacinamide is a slow-build ingredient. Inconsistent use or no SPF on treated areas will prevent results from accumulating.
Very gentle — niacinamide at 5% is one of the safest tone-support actives. If body skin is irritated, check other products in the routine first. The emulsion itself is unlikely to be the culprit.
- A body SPF in the morning for any areas being treated for tone (sun exposure directly undoes niacinamide's brightening effects)
- Alpha-arbutin for a dual-mechanism brightening approach
- A richer body moisturizer on top for drier skin
Best For
- Uneven tone
- Dark spots (face and body)
- Dryness with discoloration concerns
- People who found 10% niacinamide too much
How to Use
Apply to clean skin on the face and/or body before moisturizer or as a light emulsion step.
Key Ingredients
Niacinamide strengthens the skin barrier, regulates sebum production, fades hyperpigmentation, and minimizes the appearance of enlarged pores.
Provides ceramide-analogous barrier support from sphingolipid fermentation byproducts, helping to reinforce the skin's lipid matrix. Particularly useful in emulsion formats targeting tone and barrier simultaneously.
Draws moisture to the skin, helps maintain hydration, and reinforces the skin barrier.
Protects the skin from oxidative stress (free radical damage), stabilizes other active ingredients in formulas, and provides mild moisturizing and barrier-supportive properties.
Provides light emollient conditioning and texture improvement in emulsions and serums, contributing a smooth skin feel without occlusion.
Ingredients to Note
May be a concern for some skin types. Tap to learn more.
May be a concern for some skin types. Tap to learn more.
Full Ingredient List
Aqua (Water), Ethyl Macadamiate, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Isoceteth-20, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
About This Product
The Ordinary Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion delivers niacinamide at 5% — a more moderate concentration than the brand's 10% serum — in a light emulsion texture suitable for both face and body application. Sphingomonas ferment extract provides a ceramide-like barrier benefit alongside the niacinamide tone-evening action, while ethyl macadamiate provides a lightweight fatty acid conditioning effect.