Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum for combination skin
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- This serum offers moderate suitability for your combination skin, with niacinamide and tranexamic acid effectively addressing dark spots and providing some oil control. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate offer general hydration, supporting your combination skin without specifically targeting oily shine.
- The inclusion of Centella Asiatica Extract and Panthenol ensures a soothing experience, minimizing irritation potential for your combination skin.
- The product is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and featuring beneficial soothing components.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 3.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this serum for its ability to fade stubborn hyperpigmentation and post-acne marks while delivering a radiant glow. A notable minority experiences a sticky residue or skin irritation due to the high concentration of active ingredients.
Highlights
Fades dark spots Mostly Mentioned
- “effective on acne scars”
- “sun spots”
- “melasma”
Brightens complexion Often Mentioned
- “evens skin tone”
- “reduces dullness”
- “radiant glow”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “watery consistency”
- “absorbs quickly”
- “layers well”
Sticky residue Often Mentioned
- “Tacky finish”
- “feels heavy”
- “hair sticks to face”
Hydrating finish Sometimes Noted
- “plumps skin”
- “non-drying”
- “leaves dewy look”
Causes breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “whiteheads”
- “closed comedones”
- “purging phase”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “redness”
- “burning sensation”
- “compromised barrier”
Slow results Rarely Noted
- “takes months to work”
- “subtle changes only”
Sources: lovi.care, oliveyoung.com, stylevana.com, anua.us, iherb.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Anua Dark Spot Correcting Serum work for combination skin?
This serum works moderately well for your combination skin, using niacinamide and tranexamic acid to help fade dark spots and control oil while keeping skin calm. It also includes glycerin and sodium hyaluronate to provide general hydration, though a treatment for combination skin needs ingredients like zinc PCA or propolis to better manage oily shine while balancing dry areas.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Niacinamide and tranexamic acid help fade dark spots while offering some oil control, and glycerin along with sodium hyaluronate provides balanced hydration. Centella asiatica extract and panthenol further soothe the skin to keep irritation low. To best support combination skin, this type of product needs ingredients like propolis or zinc PCA that regulate oiliness and maintain hydration without causing excess shine.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.
What does Tranexamic Acid do for combination skin?
Tranexamic acid helps fade dark spots and uneven areas across different parts of combination skin while improving overall brightness. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated and may help target unwanted pigment without causing widespread irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This treatment serum goes in the evening routine after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. Combination skin needs products with targeted active ingredients to fade dark spots and lightweight hydrators that balance oily shine without feeling heavy.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying this treatment first and following with your retinol once your skin is used to both. Combining active ingredients may sometimes cause irritation, so introducing them slowly helps your skin adjust safely.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this serum in the evening. Combination skin needs targeted oil control and lightweight hydration that balances dry and oily areas without clogging pores.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum may occasionally cause breakouts for combination skin, as some reviewers have experienced, though irritation is unlikely. Combination skin usually needs lightweight hydration, targeted oil control, and non-pore-clogging soothing ingredients to keep the face clear and balanced.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005A non-hydroquinone topical formulation (SKNB19) improved hyperpigmentation by 28.5% in patient self-assessment and 27% in independent reviewer assessment compared with 4% hydroquinone in 18 adult subjects, while showing significantly less irritation and better tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Encapsulation of alpha arbutin in an optimized ethosomal gel significantly improved skin melanin reduction, moisture content, and elasticity in human volunteers compared to conventional formulations.
Heliyon, 2023Combining a home-based radiofrequency device and arbutin cream reduced mMASI scores by 25.6% and melanin index by 22.8% at 8 weeks compared to baseline in 38 participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008
Why other serums fit combination skin better
Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
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 Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Oil Fruit Olive Oil Fruit, Jojoba Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil Grape Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Prunus Persica Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Yeast Extract Ferment, Centella Asiatica Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Candida Bombicola Glucose Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, 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
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
-

Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-

Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-

Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

