Side-by-side comparison

Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum vs Topicals Faded Brightening & Clearing Serum

Both are serums. They share a 64% active-ingredient overlap, so the real decision is about price, texture and the supporting ingredients. Here's the side-by-side.

64%Active overlap
Anua
Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
SerumBudgetMorning or evening
Dark SpotsPost-Acne MarksDullness

A pigment-focused serum pairing 10% niacinamide with 4% tranexamic acid for dark spots and uneven tone. A well-targeted brightening duo at a budget price; results on stubborn pigment build gradually with daily SPF.

Full analysis →Find dupes →
Topicals
Faded Brightening & Clearing Serum
SerumPremiumEvening only
Dark SpotsPost-Acne MarksDullness

A multi-acid pigment serum with azelaic acid, kojic acid, niacinamide and tranexamic acid for dark marks and uneven tone. A genuinely loaded brightening serum aimed at PIH on deeper skin tones; introduce slowly given the acid stack.

Full analysis →Find dupes →
The verdict

Which should you choose?

On price, the Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum sits in the Budget tier versus Premium for the Topicals — so it's the more budget-led pick if the overlap is what you're after. On how you'd use them, the Anua is flagged Morning or evening while the Topicals is flagged Evening only.

The overlap

What they share

At 64% active overlap, these are the ingredients doing comparable work in both formulas:

Tranexamic Acid
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

Anua — top of the list

  • Aqua~50–80%
  • Niacinamide~5–25%
  • Glycerin~3–10%
  • Tranexamic Acid~2–6%
  • Butylene Glycol~1.5–4%

Topicals — top of the list

  • Aqua~50–80%
  • Glycerin~5–25%
  • Azelaic Acid~3–10%
  • Niacinamide~2–6%
  • Kojic Acid~1.5–4%

● marks ingredients that appear near the top of both lists. Percentages are positional estimates from INCI order, not disclosed doses.

At a glance

The specs

AnuaTopicals
CategorySerumSerum
Price tierBudgetPremium
Best forDark Spots, Post-Acne Marks, DullnessDark Spots, Post-Acne Marks, Dullness
Usage notesMorning or eveningEvening only
Active overlap64% — Tranexamic Acid
Questions

Common questions

Is the Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum or the Topicals Faded Brightening & Clearing Serum better?
Neither is universally better — they share 64% active-ingredient overlap, so for the actives that drive results they're close. The Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum is the more budget-friendly option, while the other may differ on texture, finish and supporting ingredients. Pick based on your skin's priorities rather than a single 'winner'.
What's the difference between the Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum and the Topicals Faded Brightening & Clearing Serum?
Both are serums that share Tranexamic Acid. Where they differ: they sit in different price tiers (Budget vs Premium); the Anua is Morning or evening; the Topicals is Evening only.
Are the Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum and Topicals Faded Brightening & Clearing Serum dupes for each other?
They share 64% active-ingredient overlap based on published INCI lists, so one can stand in for the other on the actives that matter — chiefly Tranexamic Acid. A dupe matches the hero actives, not the full sensory experience, so expect differences in texture, fragrance and exact concentrations.
Can I use the Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum and Topicals Faded Brightening & Clearing Serum together?
They both fill the serum slot in a routine, so you'd normally pick one rather than layer both. If you want to use both, treat one as your daytime option and the other for evening, and patch-test when introducing anything new.
Keep comparing

Related comparisons

Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum vs Byoma Brightening Serum
85% overlapAnua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum vs Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum
85% overlapAnua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum vs Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Hyaluronic Serum
85% overlapAnua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum vs The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum
85% overlapAnua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum vs Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops
85% overlapAnua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum vs Torriden DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum
77% overlap

Want a deeper, personalised read? Drop both products into the live comparison tool for an ingredient-by-ingredient breakdown tuned to your skin profile.

Compare these yourself →