Updated on June 07, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 7 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain BHA and hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum 50 ingredients
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution 25 ingredients
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum 50 ingredients
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution 25 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 6 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about Glycerin1,2-Hexanediol is a multi-tasker ingredient. It acts as a preservative to increase shelf-life and can aid other preservatives in preventing microbe growth. 1,2-Hexanediol also helps the skin retain moisture as a humectant.
In products that are water-based, this ingredient can help stabilize perfumes and fragrances. It can also help make the texture of products softer and more smooth.
Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.
The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.
This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.
Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.
Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.
Learn more about Pentylene GlycolPanthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It can be found naturally in our skin and hair.
This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5 or dexpanthenol in dermatology.
Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):
Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.
Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.
Learn more about PanthenolSodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer is a type of hyaluronic acid. In fact, it is modified version of hyaluronic acid.
The structure of Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer allows it to stay in the skin's top layer for a longer period of time. This allows for even more hydration and humectant action than hyaluronic acid.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
When to use
Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum 50 ingredients
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution 25 ingredients
![](https://skinsort.com/assets/routine_creator/when_to_use_card-684ec64d.webp)
![](https://skinsort.com/assets/routine_creator/when_to_use_card-684ec64d.webp)
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Dark Spot Correcting Serum 50 ingredients
Zoe
I’ve been using this for a week now on sensitive and reactive skin. So far I’ve had no bad response, no irritation or breaking out. I now use it...
I’ve been using this for a week now on sensitive and reactive skin. So far I’ve had no bad response, no irritation or breaking out. I now use it only at night because it is slightly sticks and takes a while to absorb. I believe some results are there - dark marks slowly fading.
(I am trying this to compare with Skin1004 tone brightening capsule ampoule - which I really like and used to use morning and night).
I will update again after a couple of weeks
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution 25 ingredients
BrodyTosi
Speaking anecdotally, please be very well informed and careful if you choose to use this product. While this product contains both AHA and BHA...
Speaking anecdotally, please be very well informed and careful if you choose to use this product. While this product contains both AHA and BHA chemical exfoliants I will be emphasizing its AHA content as a potential safety/irritant concern to the skin. Alpha hydroxy acids in this concentration can very easily over-exfoliate by stripping corneocytes from, or desquamating, the outermost stratum corneum of the epidermis. While this product formulation is vague about specific AHA composition of “30%”, The Ordinary’s website states that glycolic acid is the primary alpha hydroxy acid in their formula. Current clinical research (and the FDA) has established a general consensus that the concentration of AHAs for safe routine use in over the counter products is approximately in the figure range of 2-10%. For reference, dermatologists with over 8 years of medical and residency training perform chemical peels with glycolic acid ranging in concentration anywhere from 20-70% depending on intended penetration of the stratum corneum. With that said, there are some individuals with skin who can tolerate this level of exfoliation, but my personal philosophy is that less is more with chemical exfoliants. If you are thinking about using this product please do your due diligence and look into open-access research on chemical exfoliants, consider all exfoliant options side-by-side/if a chemical exfoliant is right for you, and understand your skin’s sensitivity level before jumping to one product.
cgi
one of my fav chemical exfoliators. i recommend this for people with oily/acne-prone skin, those with dry or sensitive types should probably...
one of my fav chemical exfoliators. i recommend this for people with oily/acne-prone skin, those with dry or sensitive types should probably avoid.
NOTES: please be careful with this. i’ve seen so many people use this product incorrectly and would end up getting a bad reaction (like literally burning their face). then leave bad review without having used it properly. this is a CHEMICAL exfoliating peel, it will sting but it should NEVER burn. if it does, your skin either cannot handle it or it was applied wrong.
here’s how to make sure it’s being used correctly:
- don’t use it with any clashing ingredients in your other products. (ex: vitamin C)
- don’t use it if you have open wounds (picked pimples)
- make sure your skin is completely dry before application, only use 2-3 drops or enough to cover your face.
- it should be a thin red layer, not thick, or you’ll burn your skin.
- AVOID APPLYING ON EYE AREA
- do NOT leave it on for more than 10 minutes, even if you don’t feel anything. you will completely strip and damage your skin.
- make sure to use sunscreen every morning while using this.
i use this once a week at night time after i cleanse my face. i first started to notice a difference after a couple weeks of use, my breakouts were disappearing and it reduced the bumps on my skin. it does an excellent job of improving skin texture and removing blackheads/blemishes. my skin always feels so smooth after use. it helped a lot of my dark spots and acne scars fade. i also love how cheap this is, a holy grail under $10.
the only things i don’t like about this is the sensation and smell. it doesn’t hurt (no skincare product should anyway) but it does sting, which is to be expected of. it has a weird smell to it, i’m not sure how to describe it but it’s not bad. i personally don’t mind fragrance as it doesn’t bother my sense of smell or irritate my skin. this product could be irritating to others though. it all entirely depends on your skin.