Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
A tone-focused serum pairing a high level of niacinamide with tranexamic acid, both stated on the front of the bottle. Tranexamic acid arrived in skincare from medicine, where the oral and injected forms have a real evidence base for stubborn pigmentation; the topical version is a much newer and thinner literature. Niacinamide is the steadier partner. The texture is light and non-greasy, which makes it easy to slot into an existing routine.
What it is built around
Who it suits
Normal, combination and oily skin working on the appearance of post-blemish marks and diffuse unevenness. It suits people who found vitamin C too unstable or too irritating. Very sensitive skin should be careful — ten per cent niacinamide is enough to make some faces warm and pink. Anyone with diagnosed melasma should treat this as a supporting player and see a clinician about the rest.
How to use it
Once daily to start, after toner and before moisturiser, morning or evening. A few drops over the whole face. Sunscreen every day is what makes or breaks any pigmentation routine, and it matters more than which serum you chose. Give it a couple of months of consistent use before deciding whether it earns its place.
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🙋 People also ask
What is the difference between essence and serum?
In Korean skincare, essence is typically a thinner, hydration-focused layer that preps skin, while serum is more concentrated with targeted actives like vitamin C or niacinamide. Essence usually comes first; serum follows. The line between them blurs, and not every routine needs both.
What does niacinamide do?
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 widely used in Korean skincare to help brighten the look of dullness, refine the appearance of pores and support the skin barrier. It's gentle, well tolerated by most skin types and pairs easily with many other ingredients.
Can you use vitamin C and niacinamide together?
Yes, current understanding is that vitamin C and niacinamide can be used together safely, and many Korean formulas combine them. The old warning that they cancel out is largely outdated. If your skin is sensitive, you can still apply them at different times of day to be cautious.
What is the difference between essence, serum and ampoule?
Essence is the lightest and most hydration-focused, serum is more concentrated and targeted, and ampoule is the most concentrated of the three. The boundaries are marketing convention, not regulated definitions.
✍️ Written & reviewed by the KoreaPlus Editorial team — dermatologist-informed, cosmetic-science researched & source-cited. Last reviewed: 2026-08-23.
General educational information using cosmetic structure-function wording — not medical advice. Always patch-test new actives. © KoreaPlus.