Balancing & Clarifying Serum
A clarifying serum designed to reduce the look of pores, excess oil, and uneven skin texture while helping blemish-prone skin look clearer.
A strong option for oily or congestion-prone skin that wants a more multi-targeted clarifying step than basic niacinamide alone.
For oily and blemish-prone skin, building a clarifying routine usually means buying multiple The Ordinary products — niacinamide, a BHA, and zinc separately. This serum consolidates the approach into a single step, lowering the routine complexity without sacrificing the core active support.
After cleansing and before moisturizer. Can be used morning or evening — if it contains salicylic acid, pair with daily SPF in the morning. Works best as an every-evening or daily consistency step rather than an occasional one.
Oily and combination skin types who want one serum that addresses their main concerns without having to understand how to layer three separate actives correctly. Also perfect for routine simplifiers who have been using a complex stack and want to consolidate.
If stacked with too many other clarifying actives at once — combining this with a separate niacinamide serum, a BHA toner, a salicylic acid masque, and glycolic acid in one routine is likely to over-exfoliate and stress the barrier. Use it as your core clarifying step rather than adding it on top of a full active stack.
Pause — if the skin is reactive or barrier-stressed, clarifying actives will worsen inflammation. Switch to a bland hydrating serum, repair the barrier first, and reintroduce this when skin is stable.
- Daily SPF 30+ in the morning — essential when using any BHA-containing product
- A ceramide or barrier-support moisturizer to follow the clarifying serum
- The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque once a week as a deeper clarifying reset
Best For
- Oily skin
- Combination skin
- Visible pores
- Excess oil
- Congestion
- Uneven texture
How to Use
Apply after cleansing and before moisturizer in the morning and/or evening. Introduce gradually if your skin is sensitive to BHA exfoliants.
Key Ingredients
Niacinamide strengthens the skin barrier, regulates sebum production, fades hyperpigmentation, and minimizes the appearance of enlarged pores.
Exfoliates inside pores, dissolves the debris and sebum that cause congestion, reduces blackheads and whiteheads, and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Zinc regulates sebaceous gland activity to reduce excess oil production, has mild anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that support blemish-prone skin, and in oxide form (zinc oxide) provides broad-spectrum mineral UV protection. In serums, it is typically used alongside niacinamide for combined oil-balancing and pore-support action.
Ingredients to Note
May be a concern for some skin types. Tap to learn more.
Full Ingredient List
About This Product
The Ordinary Balancing & Clarifying Serum is formulated for oily, combination, and blemish-prone skin that wants a multi-targeted approach to congestion, oil control, and pore appearance beyond what a single-active niacinamide or salicylic acid product delivers. The formula combines oil-balancing, texture-smoothing, and clarifying active support in a single serum, positioning it as a consolidation product for congestion-focused routines. It is the kind of formula The Ordinary uses to bridge their targeted single-ingredient products — giving people a thoughtful multi-active blend when they want comprehensive oily/blemish-skin support without building a five-product stack themselves.