Watch: Dermatologist Explains
At a glance
Texture — Lightweight gel-serum
Key Active — Niacinamide 10% + tranexamic acid 4%
Best For — Hyperpigmentation and uneven tone
Price Tier — $$
What stands out
The two actives are genuinely complementary, and that is the point.
Tranexamic acid interrupts the signal between skin cells and pigment cells — the pathway that drives melasma. Niacinamide blocks the transfer of finished pigment into skin cells. They work at different points in the same process, so stacking them makes real sense.
4% tranexamic acid sits inside the range used in the topical studies.
Alpha-arbutin adds a third mechanism, and the texture is light and comfortable.
Watch out for
10% niacinamide is more than the evidence calls for. The landmark pigmentation study used 5%. Nobody has shown that 10% works better — but higher doses cause more flushing and irritation. If this stings, the niacinamide is the likely reason.
Sunscreen is the treatment; this is the adjunct. Pigmentation is driven by light, and no serum outruns daily sun exposure. Without sunscreen you will not see much.
Anua's product naming is confusing. They also sell a "Peach 70% Niacinamide" serum, where the 70% refers to peach extract, not any active. Make sure you have the right bottle.
Expect months, not weeks. Pigmentation is slow to shift and quick to return.
Key ingredients
✨ Niacinamide (10%) — brightens and reduces dark spots
✨ Tranexamic Acid (4%) — fades discoloration
🌿 Panthenol — hydration
Full ingredient list
Formulation Notes
Both actives are water-soluble and stable at skin-neutral pH, so this is an easy formula to build and a hard one to get wrong — which is part of why so many brands now sell a version of it.
The genuine formulation decision was pairing them at all. Attacking pigment at two different points in the pathway is more effective than pushing one lever harder, and it is a better strategy than the 10% niacinamide number suggests on its own.