Over the last several weeks I marveled at how glowy, bright, smooth and clear my complexion looked; it seemed I’d finally mastered a simple and effective routine my skin loved. Then I ran out of moisturizer, and the decisions that followed managed to undo all my hard work. Instead of reordering the moisturizer that had kept my skin plump and hydrated for months, I decided to try a new formula. And add in a new serum. Big mistake.
It’s a tale as old as time. Woman tries too many new formulations at once, skin freaks out in the form of angry bumps, congested pores and discoloration. I can already tell a few of these temporary imperfections are going to leave a longer mark. Luckily, an under-$20 serum infused with inflammation-soothing niacinamide and dark spot-lightening tranexamic acid just caught my eye.
ANUA Does it Again
ANUA, the Korean brand known for its pore-shrinking cleansers and this viral, redness-reducing toner has done it again. Their four-month old Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum ($19) already has hundreds of five-star reviews on Amazon, and over 20,000 shoppers purchased it the past month alone.
What makes it such a hit? The lightweight, gentle, fragrance-free formula is brimming with straightforward ingredients. Aforementioned niacinamide and tranexamic acid (TXA) plus arbutin—an antioxidant known for fading discoloration caused by inflammation and environmental stressors—combine to form a powerful trio that brightens, evens out tone, clears pores, and fades stubborn dark spots, hyperpigmentation, post-acne scars, sun spots and other forms of discoloration, while also preventing new ones from forming. Add in “10 layer” hyaluronic acid and ceramides, and you not only have a clearer complexion, but a hydrated, soothed and stronger one too.
Reviewers Are Already Raving
“Idk what magic is in this but I’ve been using this serum for maybe a week and half and my melasma has already faded significantly,” said one shopper. “I can’t tell you how many compliments I’ve received on my skin since I started using this product,” raved a second. “I had sun and age spots on my face and over half of them are gone while others are considerably lighter,” said a third. A shopper in her 30s with skin “prone to looking dull” became “totally addicted” to its “beautiful glow, like you’ve just had a facial.” Another reviewer emphasized: “20/10 would recommend.”
