[Review] Disrupt 10% Niacinamide 1% Zinc serum

#Review type Rave! 5/5. Currently on my second bottle.

#Skin type Oily, sensitive, redness-prone, prone to malassezia overgrowth ("fungal acne"). Mild but ever-present clogged pores, PIH, and a couple pimples, thanks to menstrual cycles and slow-healing skin. Reads like a lot, but I'm actually quite happy with it 😂❤️

🐳 Age: 30

🐳 Current climate: Hot and humid

#Usage timeline Finished up a bottle - lasted me around one and a half months, used almost every day at night. Sometimes morning AND night, because that's what the brand had in their little Routine recommendation slide. Link to my approximate routine at the time. I used it pretty generously, half a coin-sized amount.

Currently on my second bottle and using it a bit less heavily, both in frequency and amount used. I use it more often the week before my period, or if I have redness/breakouts I wanna calm down.

🐳 Price: ₹275 for 30ml on Amazon. MRP marked as 475.

#Ingredients Aqua, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Zinc PCA, C15-19 Alkane, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate, Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Sodium Hydroxide

(Very similar ingredients to their 2% salicylic acid serum, which I reviewed here)

#User experience

The packaging and product texture are near identical to their salicylic acid serum (images here) so I didn't bother to take new pictures 🙃

Can literally copy-paste the same sensory experience, as well:

"A translucent, slightly milky, runny serum that sinks in fast, leaving no residue or tackiness. The brand advises to leave 1-2 minutes before layering other products. I've never had any pilling issues or anything."

"Leaves the skin feeling very slightly smoother than before application, but otherwise unchanged. I like that a lot about this serum ☺"

"Alkanes are apparently plant-derived alternatives to silicones, and I think along with the polymers in there, they contribute to the sliiiightly velvety finish after application. But it's very subtle, and there no film or layer formed over the skin at all."

I've only ever used the Minimalist 5% niacinamide serum (old formulation) apart from this one. That one didn't do much beyond give an immediate plumping effect (it had 1%HA) and help slightly with barrier health. And it was a bit sticky. The Disrupt one was a delight to use in humid weather. Absolutely hassle-free and undetectable, everything I personally hope for from a niacinamide serum 😂

The very first time I used it, I felt very slight stinging on an active pimple. I shaved around my brows during the same week, and applying the serum stung momentarily then, too. No stinging or anything since then.

#Brand claims & my thoughts

• "Reduces pigmentation, scars and other blemishes in 4 weeks with daily use" - I'd say this is on point. 4 weeks is long enough to see a difference, especially if used morning AND night, as they suggest. I definitely found my redness reduced, PIH fading faster, and breakouts less frequent. PMS skin was reduced to literally just one or two pimples 😆🙌🏼

• "Regulates sebum production, gives "clear matt" look throughout the day, reduces redness and inflammation" - my skin is OILY. Sure, using this serum made me marginally less greasy if I used it in the AM, but come evening time, I was as shiny as usual 😂 Slight oil control, yes. "Clear matt" look, nah.

• "Prevents acne and repairs skin barrier" - for sure. The frequency and severity of my breakouts are much reduced, and my skin is less easily irritated 😌👍🏼

• "For all skin types" - quite possibly. What I like most about these serums is that they have the one active, a minimal ingredients list, etc. but the texture and resulting finish is really nice. Cheap ass packaging, elegant product experience 😂 Right up my alley.

I'd read so many people raving about the Ordinary 10% niacinamide being their HG active. Clearing their acne, watering their crops, caring for their livestock - but the texture seemed like a dealbreaker. And what people were saying about 2-5% being the clinically studied amount, and 10% being unnecessarily high made sense to me 🤷🏽‍♀️ Turns out there's a lot to be said for anecdotal evidence ☺️ (FYI: some people do find 10% irritating, so as always with skincare, YMMV)

#Suggested for Anyone with acne and/or sensitive skin, looking for a relatively affordable daily use serum to improve their overall skin health. Niacinamide is compatible with just about every other active, and I personally think barrier support and anti-inflammatory products are just as important as chemical exfoliation and stuff. A great first ever serum for people with acne and/or PIH! The lovely texture is the cherry on top 🍒