For a dark-spot routine, 10% is not automatically the better choice simply because the percentage is higher. The more useful comparison is the full formula and format: whether you want a serum or toner pad, which companion ingredients are disclosed, and whether you are focusing on broad uneven-looking tone or a targeted area such as the under-eye and cheekbone zone.
The two options here take different routes. Anua Niacinamide 10 TXA 4 Serum for Brightening and Dark Spots is a 10% niacinamide ampoule/serum with TXA 4, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid. Anua Niacinamide 5 TXA Brightening Pad is a toner-pad format with 50,000 ppm, or 5%, niacinamide, plus TXA, Pink Vitamin B12, and PHA. Neither product page provides a head-to-head result showing that one concentration fades dark spots more effectively than the other, so format and formula are the sounder basis for a decision.
Recommendation: choose concentration after format and formula
| Buyer criterion | 5% toner-pad option | 10% serum option |
|---|---|---|
| Disclosed niacinamide concentration | 5% (50,000 ppm) | 10% |
| Product format | Toner pad | Ampoule/serum |
| Disclosed companion ingredients | TXA, Pink Vitamin B12, PHA | TXA 4, ceramides, hyaluronic acid |
| Area-specific format detail | Half-moon pad designed for the under-eye and cheekbone area | No area-specific applicator detail disclosed |
| Listed price | $23 USD | $24 USD |
The one-dollar difference does not settle the choice. The practical distinction is whether a shaped toner pad and its companion ingredients fit your routine better, or whether you prefer a serum formulated with ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
When a 5% niacinamide toner pad fits better
The Anua Niacinamide 5 TXA Brightening Pad is the clearer fit for someone who specifically wants a pad format. Its formula combines 5% niacinamide with TXA, Pink Vitamin B12, and PHA, and Anua describes it as a gentle formula intended to brighten dull-looking skin, improve the appearance of uneven tone, and support a smoother, hydrated look.
Format is the main reason to consider it. The pads have a half-moon shape designed to adhere along the under-eye and cheekbone area, where the product page notes skin can be delicate and dry. That makes the pad a more relevant option when those are the areas you want to cover with a shaped applicator rather than a leave-on serum format.
A 5% label should not be read as a promise of a weaker or slower outcome. The available product information does not provide a direct 5%-versus-10% dark-spot comparison or a stated timeline for visible change. What it does disclose is a 5% toner-pad formula with several companion ingredients, including PHA. If PHA is already part of your routine or you are trying to keep track of multiple active products, review the full ingredient list and your existing routine before buying.
The listed price is $23 USD.
When a 10% niacinamide serum fits better
The Anua Niacinamide 10 TXA 4 Serum for Brightening and Dark Spots is an ampoule/serum with 10% niacinamide and TXA 4. Anua identifies it for dark spots, uneven skin tone, radiant-looking skin, and age spots.
Beyond the percentage, its disclosed supporting ingredients are ceramides and hyaluronic acid. The brand states that these are included to help skin feel comfortable and moisturized while the formula targets the appearance of breakout-prone marks and uneven-looking tone. This is the more relevant fit if you want a serum format and place value on those particular hydration- and comfort-oriented formula details.
The 10% serum is not presented with a claim that it outperforms the 5% pad on hyperpigmentation. It also carries a useful buying caution: states that the product is safely tested, while individual skin differences may cause sensitivity. A higher percentage alone cannot tell you how your own skin will respond, so the full formula and your current routine still matter.
The listed price is $24 USD.
What the percentages can and cannot tell you
A niacinamide percentage tells you the disclosed amount of that ingredient, but it does not tell you everything a dark-spot routine needs to answer. In this comparison, the percentage also comes with a different delivery format and different supporting ingredients:
- 5% is available here in a toner pad with TXA, Pink Vitamin B12, and PHA, plus a half-moon shape for the under-eye and cheekbone area.
- 10% is available here in a serum with TXA 4, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid, with product messaging around breakout-prone marks and uneven-looking tone.
That is why it is more accurate to choose between these products as complete formulas rather than treating 5% and 10% as interchangeable strength levels. The supplied product information does not state which types of pigmentation respond best, whether either product removes dark spots, or how long results may take. It also does not provide a direct comparison of irritation risk between the two formulas.
Routine checks before you buy
Before deciding, check four points that can prevent a percentage-only purchase:
- Pick the format you will use consistently. Choose the toner-pad format if the shaped pad and its intended under-eye/cheekbone placement matter to you. Choose the serum format if an ampoule/serum suits your routine better.
- Look at the companion ingredients. The pad includes PHA, while the serum includes ceramides and hyaluronic acid. These are materially different formula cues, even though both products include niacinamide and TXA.
- Audit the rest of your routine. If you already use products containing exfoliating acids or other treatment ingredients, check the full ingredient lists and consider how you will introduce a new product without changing several variables at once.
- Set realistic evidence expectations. Neither listing supplies a 5%-versus-10% clinical comparison, a guaranteed dark-spot outcome, or a timeline. Avoid using concentration as a shortcut for expected results.
Decision rule: 5% pad or 10% serum?
Choose the Niacinamide 5 TXA Brightening Pad if you want a 5% niacinamide toner pad, especially one shaped for placement along the under-eye and cheekbone area, and its disclosed combination of TXA, Pink Vitamin B12, and PHA fits what you are looking for.
Choose the Niacinamide 10 TXA 4 Serum for Brightening and Dark Spots if you prefer a 10% niacinamide serum and want ceramides and hyaluronic acid among the disclosed supporting ingredients while targeting the appearance of breakout-prone marks and uneven-looking tone.
For either route, verify the complete ingredient list, consider the other treatment products already in your routine, and do not assume that 10% has proven superiority over 5% based on concentration alone.