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No.5 Glutathione TXA Advanced Dark Spot Ampoule Concentrate

HyperpigmentationSerum

No.5 Glutathione TXA Advanced Dark Spot Ampoule Concentrate — Reddit Reviews

by numbuzin

84nextscore18 verdicts

Updated October 6, 2026

TXA and glutathione dark-spot ampoule; Redditors call it a brightening workhorse.

What the community says

Backed by 74 studies

A brightening ampoule built around tranexamic acid, glutathione, niacinamide, and vitamin C. Redditors reach for it on PIH and leftover dark spots, and some say it layers gently enough for stable skin. Results are mixed if marks keep getting created.

From Reddit

Backed by 18 threads from r/AsianBeauty, r/koreanskincare and 4 more.

Read the threads ↓

What people love

Watch out for

  • Won’t outrun active acne
  • Not everyone sees fading spots improve
  • Niacinamide can be a snag for some

Product details

Where to buy

What the science says vs. what Reddit says

  • Hyperpigmentation

    Strong evidence

    Tranexamic Acid: 12 studies tested it on its own. See all 21 studies

    On Reddit: Tranexamic Acid targets lingering acne discoloration for fading skin spots with added glutathione and vitamin C. 13 mentions

    Both ingredients for hyperpigmentation

    Tranexamic Acid Strong evidence

    • Most studies found tranexamic acid helped fade dark patches
    • It often faded melasma better than a placebo
    • Used on its own, it often worked about as well as hydroquinone
    • Used with laser or microneedling, it often helped more than those treatments alone
    • Some studies found no clear extra benefit in certain forms or comparisons

    Niacinamide Some evidence

    5 studies tested it on its own. See all 24 studies

    • All of these studies found niacinamide helped fade dark spots or patches
    • Niacinamide 5% faded dark spots more than a placebo in studies of sun-damaged skin and dark patches
    • Used with salicylic acid peels, niacinamide improved dark patches more than peels alone
    • A niacinamide mix faded dark spots better than niacinamide alone in one study
    • One study found the fading effect reversed after niacinamide was stopped
  • Acne

    Some evidence

    Niacinamide: 6 studies tested it on its own. See all 17 studies

    What the studies found
    • Most studies found niacinamide helped acne
    • It often cleared acne about as well as clindamycin
    • Some studies found fewer red, sore spots with 4% niacinamide
    • Some evidence was uncertain, and some studies found no clear difference
  • Skin Barrier

    Not proven yet

    Few or mixed studies. This claim isn't established.

    Niacinamide: 1 study tested it on its own. See all 17 studies

    What the studies found
    • All studies found it helped the skin barrier
    • It lowered water loss through the skin
    • It made the outer layer of skin thicker

Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not necessarily this exact product.

Real Reddit threads — 25 mentions across 18 threads

numbuzin No.5 Glutathione TXA Advanced Dark Spot Ampoule Concentrate on Reddit, in one place — 18 threads from r/AsianBeauty, r/koreanskincare and 4 more, summarized.

“- Numbuzin no. 5”

Positive

“Numbuzin no. 5 and Skin1004 brightening ampoule: These are both gentle alternatives to a vitamin C Serum.”

Positive

“I don't tolerate vitamin C well, but I love these.”

Positive

“I have faint acne hyperpigmentation left which is fading by numbuzin no 5 serum and toner pad.”

Positive

“numbuzin no 5 serum and toner pad”

Positive

“I just want to know in how many days did you notices the difference in brightening with medicube?”

Positive

“Serum: I rotate the following as needed - Numbuzin no. 5”

Positive

“Current maintenance routine”

Positive

“Serum: I rotate the following as needed”

Positive

“Numbuzin dark spot serum and sheet mask did nothing for me”

Cautionary

“did nothing for me”

Cautionary

“Numbuzin dark spot serum”

Cautionary

“I use the Numbuzin glutathione toner pads along with their serum, and it ended up being more effective in brightening my skin than without it!”

Positive

“I prefer toner pads to toner, mostly because they're easy for me to use.”

Positive

“I use the Numbuzin glutathione toner pads along with their serum”

Positive

“i have dark spots from acne that i had ,ngl i seen some result with numbuzin no5 but still i can see some shadowy left”

Positive

“ngl i seen some result with numbuzin no5”

Positive

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