Anua - Niacinamide Serum for Brightening and Dark Spots

Step 1 — Cleanse and Tone
Apply to clean skin after toning, before oils and moisturisers.

Step 2 — Apply a Few Drops
Dispense a few drops onto the fingertips or directly onto the face — a little goes a long way with the watery formula.

Step 3 — Smooth and Pat
Apply evenly to the full face or concentrate on areas of hyperpigmentation. Gently pat to encourage absorption.

Step 4 — Follow with Moisturiser and SPF
In the morning, always follow with SPF 30 or greater — Niacinamide and TXA protect against melanin triggering, but UV protection is essential to prevent new dark spots forming. In the evening, follow with moisturiser as the final step.

Step 5 — Use AM and PM
For best results, use morning and night daily. Begin with once daily if introducing to a new routine, building to twice daily as the skin adjusts.

PRO TIP: For a comprehensive brightening routine on Skinza, pair this serum with the COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner before it — the gentle daily exfoliation accelerates the shedding of existing pigmented surface cells, making the brightening actives in this serum visible faster and compounding results across both products simultaneously.

Three Brightening Mechanisms — Not One
The reason most brightening serums underdeliver is that they rely on a single active — Niacinamide, or Vitamin C, or AHA — targeting one step in the melanin pathway. This serum targets three: Niacinamide blocking transfer, TXA blocking the triggering signal, Arbutin blocking the enzyme. The result is a comprehensive anti-pigmentation approach that addresses existing dark spots, prevents new ones, and works across all types of hyperpigmentation simultaneously.

10% Niacinamide — At the Concentration That Actually Works
The published evidence for Niacinamide's brightening efficacy is concentration-dependent — low concentrations (2–5%) provide mild benefit; 10% is where the research shows consistent, measurable results on dark spots, pore minimisation, and barrier strengthening. At 10%, ANUA has formulated at the upper end of the effective range — ensuring the brightening results that Niacinamide is capable of are actually delivered.

Fragrance-Free and Alcohol-Free — Safe for Sensitive and Reactive Skin
The complete absence of fragrance, denatured alcohol, parabens, silicones, sulphates, artificial colourants, and mineral oil makes this one of the cleanest high-active brightening serums available. For UK skin dealing with central heating dryness, environmental pollution, and the reactive sensitivity that accompanies barrier-compromised skin, a fragrance-free, barrier-supportive formula at this active concentration is the safe and effective choice.

Lightweight Watery Texture — Layers Under Everything
The non-greasy, watery texture absorbs in seconds and layers effortlessly under moisturiser, SPF, and makeup — making it genuinely usable morning and night without disrupting any routine. Unlike heavier brightening serums that sit on the skin or pill under subsequent products, this absorbs completely and invisibly.

Botanical Oil Blend — Brightening Without Dryness
High-concentration actives at 10% Niacinamide and 4% TXA can sometimes cause dryness in sensitive or reactive skin. The botanical oil blend — Macadamia, Olive, Jojoba, Grape Seed — provides lipid nourishment that prevents this, making the serum comfortable for all skin types including dry and sensitive without reducing the potency of the actives.

Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive. Fragrance-free and alcohol-free.

Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Arbutin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alpha-Arbutin, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Prunus Persica (Peach) Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Yeast Ferment Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Betaine Salicylate, Sucrose Palmitate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Gellan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Cellulose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Panthenol, Cyanocobalamin, Polyglutamic Acid, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ceramide NP, Dextrin, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Asiatic Acid, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Hyaluronate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum

Q: What's the difference between TXA and Niacinamide for dark spots?
A: They work differently — TXA blocks melanin triggering; Niacinamide blocks melanin transfer to the skin surface.

Q: Is 10% Niacinamide too strong for sensitive skin?
A: It can cause initial flushing in some — start once daily and build up; the Centella and Panthenol help minimise sensitivity.

Q: Can I use this with Vitamin C?
A: Yes — the serum contains a stable Vitamin C derivative (3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid) that complements the brightening complex.

Q: Can I use this with retinol?
A: Yes — apply this serum first, allow to absorb, then follow with retinol; Niacinamide helps buffer retinol sensitivity.

Q: Is this safe for darker skin tones?
A: Yes — TXA and Niacinamide are both considered safe for melanin-rich skin with no risk of post-inflammatory depigmentation.

Q: Can I use this if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
A: Consult your GP or midwife before use — some actives in this formula may require professional guidance during pregnancy.

Q: How long until dark spots visibly fade?
A: Most users see visible improvement in 4–6 weeks with consistent twice-daily use.

Q: Does this replace my Vitamin C serum?
A: It can — the formula includes a Vitamin C derivative alongside TXA and Niacinamide for comprehensive brightening without needing a separate C serum.

Q: Is this fragrance-free?
A: Yes — completely fragrance-free, alcohol-free, and free from 7 additional irritants.

Q: Where in my routine does this go?
A: After toner, before moisturiser and SPF — AM and PM.