Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum

What the experts use it for.

The concerns the experts tie this product to, in their own words. Paid and founder takes don't count.

Dark spots and post-acne marks3 experts

“One little serum is not really going to cut it when it comes to pigmentation for skin of color but it's a good start.”

Irritated or reactive skin3 experts

“I have found that this particular serum seems to support some of my skin needs around that and I haven't gotten the irritation.”

Dr Dray, watch at 12:18

Excess oil and shine1 expert

“so if you have oily combo skin and want a light everyday serum this one is better.”

CYoung, watch at 4:13

Melasma1 expert

“So even if you're struggling with melasma or pigmentation or any of these acne mark related situations, 100% use this.”

Nipun Kapur, watch at 11:08

Redness1 expert

“Tranexamic acid applied topically can be helpful for post-acne redness and for the moisture barrier.”

Dr Dray, watch at 1:35

Skin barrier support1 expert

“Tranexamic acid applied topically can be helpful for post-acne redness and for the moisture barrier.”

Dr Dray, watch at 1:35

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

CYoung

96k subs

✓Yay

"This is super gentle and daily friendly, the moisture feels comfy. There's slight residue, so oily combo skin might think it's a bit heavy, but overall it's very easy for most skin types. My quick verdict is comfy plus easy."

All 4 takes from CYoung

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"This is super gentle and daily friendly, the moisture feels comfy. There's slight residue, so oily combo skin might think it's a bit heavy, but overall it's very easy for most skin types. My quick verdict is comfy plus easy."

Sephora #1 vs Olive Young #1 | Which One’s Worth Your Money?

"I was looking for a Korean serum with niacinamide and this is it. [...] In terms of hydration it's a little lighter and easier to like for more people, [...] so if you have oily combo skin and want a light everyday serum this one is better. I'll go with Anua."

Viral Korean Serums Tier Lists | Ranked and Reviewed

"They named this a dark spot correcting serum, but I didn't really see a difference in my dark spots, and honestly this isn't even that popular here in Korea compared to other Anua products. I don't get why it's viral, but I do like it, it finishes a little tacky and you can just use it as a hydrating serum. I'd put this at a B."

Global No.1 vs Korea No.1 Skincare: Which is Better and Why?

"Anua's serum has ten percent niacinamide and four percent tranexamic acid, so on paper the ingredients should give a brightening effect, but mixing them all together doesn't guarantee the effectiveness, and the majority of Korean reviews say it's not working. Still, it wasn't a bad product because of how moisturizing it is, it has ceramide and panthenol in it, so I'd recommend it more for dry, mature skin. For oily skin it can feel a little too heavy."

Dr. Jenny Liu

324k subs

✓Yay

"And you don't have to worry about causing white spots or blotches [...] around dark spots, or you can just apply to areas where you have dark spots to spot treat. Either way, I think it's acceptable. And with just how gentle this formulation is, you can definitely use it either way without having to worry about irritation or undesired lightening of your skin. This product is not going to do that."

April Basi

72k subs

✓Yay

"This is a niacinamide 10% dark spot correcting serum by Anua, and I really like this one. I normally don't tolerate niacinamide over 5%, but this one just does it for me. It's literally super soothing, the ingredients formulated in here are so great for the skin, it's super gentle on the skin, and it is super functional."

Dr. Mamina

283k subs

✓Yay

"I've seen the Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum go viral multiple times and I think that it could be helpful in this case. Niacinamide can help with oil production as well as brightening the skin from post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from the acne marks. The tranexamic acid helps with hyperpigmentation. So this would be something good for people who deal with hyperpigmentation from acne."

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

✓Yay

"I really liked this. Now, 10% niacinamide is on the higher end, above and beyond what is necessary. 5% max is really what has been shown to do anything, which includes improving hyperpigmentation, redness, the moisture barrier, anti-aging purposes, skin yellowing. 10% maybe more likely to cause irritation. And then some of you out there are already like no more niacinamide, so for those of you who cannot do niacinamide, this is off the table. This also has tranexamic acid."

All 3 takes from Dr Dray

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"I really liked this. Now, 10% niacinamide is on the higher end, above and beyond what is necessary. 5% max is really what has been shown to do anything, which includes improving hyperpigmentation, redness, the moisture barrier, anti-aging purposes, skin yellowing. 10% maybe more likely to cause irritation. And then some of you out there are already like no more niacinamide, so for those of you who cannot do niacinamide, this is off the table. This also has tranexamic acid."

Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum Review

"I have found that this particular serum seems to support some of my skin needs around that and I haven't gotten the irritation. [...] I really enjoyed it. I think it is a good serum provided you are not someone who is irritated by niacinamide especially at higher percentages. I think it is a well formulated serum. It's hard to predict with something like this to what extent you're going to see results because it is a cosmetic, hasn't been put through a rigorous clinical trial as its own product."

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"It's just more likely to be irritating compared to, you know, 5%, 4%, and below. Tranexamic acid applied topically can be helpful for post-acne redness and for the moisture barrier. It's a pretty sizable bottle. It has madecassic acid and asiatic acid, which are compounds from centella and are anti-inflammatory, plus sodium hyaluronate. Oh, and it also has arbutin, which is good for dark spots. This actually looks kind of promising. It's a thinner serum, very watery, with no fragrance."

Dr. Vanita Rattan

1.23M subs

✓Yay

"One little serum is not really going to cut it when it comes to pigmentation for skin of color but it's a good start. So for me this is Dr V approved."

Nipun Kapur

413k subs

✓Yay

"This will take time to work but this works beautifully. With transacid individually, whether you're using it from other brands, [...] pure transacid, dryness and irritation with this product I've heard of no such things. I think it is such a beautiful product. So even if you're struggling with melasma or pigmentation or any of these acne mark related situations, 100% use this. And then you can use your retinol, you can use whatever else. This is a serum that is worth integrating."

All 4 takes from Nipun Kapur

Effective Hyperpigmentation Treatment for Acne Prone Skin | Clear Your Skin Fast | Nipun Kapur

"I recommend the Transamic Acid Serum by Anua this has Azulene 10, Niacinamide and 4% Transamic Acid"

Translated from the guru's original language.

Best Products from Anua for All Skin Types | Best Korean Skincare for Indian Skin | Nipun Kapur

"This will take time to work but this works beautifully. With transacid individually, whether you're using it from other brands, [...] pure transacid, dryness and irritation with this product I've heard of no such things. I think it is such a beautiful product. So even if you're struggling with melasma or pigmentation or any of these acne mark related situations, 100% use this. And then you can use your retinol, you can use whatever else. This is a serum that is worth integrating."

30 Day Pigmentation Challenge: How to Fade Dark Spots & Pigmentation at Home | Nipun Kapur

"Everybody else you can use the Anua 4% tranexamic acid which comes with niacinamide"

Translated from the guru's original language.

Korean Skincare That Should Be Viral I Best Korean Skincare of 2024 | Nipun Kapur

"This is so gentle so non irritating and so non drying"

Translated from the guru's original language.

AliceintheRabbitHole

59k subs

✓Nay

"I don't do well with these high levels of niacinamide. I was actually seeing my skin looking more irritated, I was getting more breakouts, so I just kind of gave up on this one. [...] This just [...] is not for me."

All 3 takes from AliceintheRabbitHole

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"This is the Anua Niacinamide 10% and Tranexamic Acid 4%. I did try this and it didn't work out for me, I think because I don't do too well with these really high levels of niacinamide. But this is a very popular product, so [...] whoever I pass it on to is going to be very happy with it, and most people do well with niacinamide, you just have to find the right level for you."

Is Anua Skincare Worth the Hype? 1-Month Review/Ranking

"I don't do well with these high levels of niacinamide. I was actually seeing my skin looking more irritated, I was getting more breakouts, so I just kind of gave up on this one. [...] This just [...] is not for me."

I Can't Finish These...My Mistakes & Product FAILS

"This is the Anua Niacinamide 10% and Tranexamic Acid 4% Serum. [...] I had to stop using this because it's just not working for me, my skin got more congested and a little more irritated and sensitive while using it. I'm not surprised, because niacinamide at higher levels typically doesn't work for my skin, even though I love niacinamide at low levels and use it all the time."

Doctorly

3.59M subs

✓Yay

"The ingredient profile is unique and complementary because when you think about dark spots, not only do you create pigment through tyrosinase, but then you also transfer the pigment through melanosomes and then it also is taken up in the keratinocytes or skin cells. So the ingredient profile here, especially with niacinamide and the tranexamic acid, it does add multiple mechanisms by which this works. Now, [...] a lot of ingredients that treat dark spots can be irritating."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Vitamin C

Topical vitamin C is an antioxidant with reasonable evidence for dullness and uneven tone. It breaks down in light and air, so how a product is formulated and packaged matters as much as the percentage on the front.

Source: DermNet

Niacinamide

Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

Source: DermNet

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum?

A serum combining 10% niacinamide and 4% tranexamic acid, designed to help fade the look of dark spots and even out skin tone.

Is Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum worth it?

Mostly yes. 8 of the 9 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 77%.

What is Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum's Guru Score?

Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum holds a Guru Score of 77%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 9 expert reviewers we have collected.

What is Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum good for, according to the experts?

In their reviews, experts say Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum is good for dark spots and post-acne marks (3 experts), irritated or reactive skin (3 experts), excess oil and shine (1 expert), melasma (1 expert), redness (1 expert) and skin barrier support (1 expert).

Is Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum good for dark spots and post-acne marks?

3 experts who reviewed Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum say it is. Dr. Vanita Rattan put it this way: “One little serum is not really going to cut it when it comes to pigmentation for skin of color but it's a good start.”