The Ordinary
Clarifying Toner with Niacinamide
Daily clarifying toner with 10% niacinamide and zinc PCA to minimise pores and control oil.
Ingredient Snapshot
4 beneficial ingredients detected with no known safety concerns.
No flagged ingredients detected — all analysed ingredients are considered safe.
Ingredients (4)
Niacinamide(Vitamin B3)
Benefits
- ✓Visibly reduces enlarged pores over time
- ✓Improves uneven skin tone and fades dark spots
- ✓Strengthens the skin barrier by supporting ceramide synthesis
- ✓Reduces excess sebum production — helpful for oily and acne-prone skin
- ✓Well-tolerated by most skin types including sensitive skin
Potential concerns
- !At very high concentrations (>5%), may cause temporary flushing or redness in sensitive individuals
- !Rarely, may cause mild irritation or breakouts during the first few weeks of use
Sources
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) — FDA Cosmetic Ingredient Review: Niacinamide is considered safe for use in cosmetics. It is a well-established skin-conditioning agent with evidence supporting its role in improving skin texture, tone, and barrier function.
CTPA Ingredient Library — Niacinamide: CTPA lists niacinamide as a safe and effective skin-conditioning agent widely used across cosmetic formulations, with a strong safety profile across concentrations typically used in cosmetics (2–10%).
Zinc PCA
Benefits
- ✓Regulates sebum production — beneficial for oily and combination skin
- ✓Has antimicrobial properties that may reduce acne-causing bacteria
- ✓Soothes inflammation and redness
- ✓Supports healthy skin cell renewal
Potential concerns
- !Very high concentrations of zinc compounds may irritate sensitive skin
Sources
Korean MFDS — Zinc Compounds in Cosmetics: Korean MFDS recognises zinc-based compounds as safe and effective for use in cosmetics for sebum regulation and skin-soothing purposes. Zinc PCA is approved for leave-on skin care formulations.
Phenoxyethanol
Benefits
- ✓Broad-spectrum preservative that protects the product from bacterial and fungal contamination
- ✓Considered one of the safer alternatives to parabens
- ✓Effective at low concentrations (≤1%)
Potential concerns
- !At concentrations above 1%, may cause skin irritation or allergic reactions
- !Some individuals with sensitive skin may react to preservatives in general
Sources
FDA — Phenoxyethanol in Cosmetics: FDA has reviewed phenoxyethanol as a cosmetic preservative and considers it safe at concentrations up to 1.0% in cosmetic products. FDA advises caution in products used around the mouth of infants.
CTPA Ingredient Library — Phenoxyethanol: CTPA confirms phenoxyethanol is a permitted cosmetic preservative under EU Cosmetics Regulation at a maximum concentration of 1.0%, and is considered safe for use in both rinse-off and leave-on products.
Chlorphenesin
Benefits
- ✓Broad-spectrum preservative effective against bacteria and fungi
- ✓Often used in combination with other preservatives to broaden antimicrobial coverage
Potential concerns
- !May cause skin irritation or allergic contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals
- !EU Cosmetics Regulation limits its use to 0.3% maximum concentration
Sources
CTPA Ingredient Library — Chlorphenesin: Chlorphenesin is a permitted cosmetic preservative under EU Cosmetics Regulation (max 0.3% in rinse-off, max 0.2% in leave-on products). CTPA considers it safe when used within these limits.
Ingredients listed in order of concentration (highest first).
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