The short answer
Dark Spot Solution Vita C TRX Serum is the REGLOW serum: a 30 ml dropper serum for all skin types, for visible dark spots and uneven-looking tone. Its key points are tranexamic acid at 3% (30,000 ppm), not pure vitamin C, 72% sea buckthorn fruit water, niacinamide and MELAWAY™. Use 2–3 drops after toner, morning or night, and finish with sunscreen in the morning.
What it is and who it suits
This is the Solution Series serum with the REGLOW badge. It was designed around one question: how do you work on the look of dark spots and dull tone without relying on the vitamin C form that browns in the bottle and stings at high strength? The answer in the formula is tranexamic acid. Say it aloud and it sounds like tyrannosaurus, which is how it became "TRX" and why some customers call it the dino serum. The name came from the ingredient.
It is made for:
- visible dark spots, including marks that stay behind after a blemish has gone;
- dull, uneven-looking tone;
- skin that tends to show pigmentation concerns.
It is for all skin types, and we suggest it from your 20s onward. It is a lightweight serum that is clear in the bottle and does not feel tacky once absorbed. Its four keywords say what it is for: REGLOW, blemish care for the marks a blemish leaves behind, tone refine and brightening.
Why tranexamic acid instead of pure vitamin C
Pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is potent but unstable. It breaks down in water and oxidises in light and air, and the brown colour of an old vitamin C serum is that oxidation. The more you add, the more it tends to sting, so a strong dose and a comfortable dose pull in opposite directions.
This serum takes another route. Tranexamic acid is a different molecule, a small compound derived from an amino acid, and it is not a vitamin. The formula uses it as the headline active and adds vitamin C only as a stable derivative, at 100 ppm, for tone support. Tranexamic acid is there to help visibly brighten the look of dark spots and uneven tone, as a stable alternative to pure vitamin C. There is no pure L-ascorbic acid in it. If you have seen "72%" on the label and wondered about vitamin C, read why that figure is fruit water, not vitamin C.
What is in it, ingredient by ingredient
| Ingredient | Amount | What it is | Why it is in the formula |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea buckthorn fruit water | 72% (720,000 ppm) | Water obtained from sea buckthorn fruit | Takes the place of purified water as the base, for dull, tired-looking skin. Ordinary water is still on the ingredient list, so this is a base choice, not a water-free formula. |
| Tranexamic acid | 3% (30,000 ppm) | An amino-acid-derived compound, not a vitamin | The main brightening active, in place of pure vitamin C. |
| Niacinamide | 2% (20,000 ppm) | A form of vitamin B3 | Listed by Korea's MFDS as a brightening ingredient; for uneven-looking tone and marks after blemishes. |
| MELAWAY™ (patented ingredient) | 1% (10,000 ppm, as a complex raw material) | A complex of white water lily flower, lemon myrtle leaf and apple extracts, a source of vitamins B and C. Supplier patent No. 10-2539209. | Adds a plant-derived vitamin B and C complex for a clearer, more radiant-looking tone. |
| (-)-Alpha-bisabolol | 0.5% (5,000 ppm) | A compound found in chamomile | Also an MFDS-listed brightening ingredient, working alongside niacinamide. |
| Adenosine | 400 ppm | A compound found naturally in the body | The MFDS-listed ingredient for wrinkle improvement, behind the formula's second functional category. |
| 3-O-Ethyl ascorbic acid | 100 ppm | Vitamin C with an ethyl group attached | A stable vitamin C derivative, there for tone support. |
| Glutathione and sea buckthorn fruit extract | Listed, amount not disclosed | A small molecule built from three amino acids, and a fruit extract | Tone support. |
The five dark-spot actives (tranexamic acid, MELAWAY™, niacinamide, bisabolol and ethyl ascorbic acid) add up to 65,100 ppm. The amounts are printed so you can check them, and our three questions for any percentage work on any label. The formula is registered with the Korean MFDS as a functional cosmetic for brightening and wrinkle improvement (notified July 2025). It has no added fragrance on the ingredient list, no animal-derived ingredients, and it is vegan certified.
How to use it, step by step
- Cleanse, then tone. Apply the serum to clean skin, after toner.
- Draw up the serum. Squeeze the rubber bulb of the dropper and release it. Shaking is not needed.
- Dispense 2–3 drops. Place them on your fingertips or dot them over cheeks, forehead and chin.
- Press in. Spread over the whole face and pat gently until absorbed.
- Add a second thin layer on the specific spot you are working on, if you like.
- Finish. Follow with a cream. In the morning, finish with sunscreen.
Use it daily, morning and night. While you are working on tone, sun protection matters as much as the serum.
Good to know: a little white powder can form around the neck of the bottle. That is tranexamic acid at 3% meeting air. Wipe it off; the serum is fine. Store it in a cool place away from direct sunlight and use it within 12 months of opening (unopened, 36 months from the manufacturing date).
Patch test and cautions
The formula completed a skin low-irritation test, but no product suits every skin. Test on your jawline for two nights before your first full-face use, especially if any of these apply:
- your skin is sensitive;
- you use retinol or another strong active;
- you have recently had a professional skin procedure.
Stop using it and consult a specialist if redness, swelling or itching appears, including after sun exposure. Do not apply it to broken skin, and keep it out of reach of children. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor first: this is a cosmetic, not a medicine, and we cannot give medical advice. We advise against layering it with other brands' high-strength AHA or BHA products in the same routine. If you use retinol, split them: this serum in the morning, retinol at night.
Where it fits in a routine
The order is cleanser, toner, Vita C TRX serum, cream, sunscreen. The step after it is a cream; Teca Lifting Moisture Cream is the one we suggest. If you use all three Solution serums, the order is Succinic first, then Vita C TRX, then Bakuchiol PDRN, 2–3 drops of each. Very sensitive or thin skin should use one serum per routine, for example Succinic in the morning and Vita C TRX at night. For a full sequence, see the routine guides.
How it differs from the other Solution serums
| Serum | Built for | Base | Headline active |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vita C TRX (REGLOW) | Visible dark spots, uneven-looking tone | 72% sea buckthorn fruit water | Tranexamic acid 3% (30,000 ppm) |
| Bakuchiol PDRN (REWIND) | Skin that looks less firm, with fine lines | 60% aloe vera leaf water | Bakuchiol 1% and a 2% vegan PDRN complex |
| Succinic (REFINE) | Oil, shine and congested-looking texture | 60% bamboo water | Succinic acid 2% (20,000 ppm) |
Not sure which one to start with? Our REGLOW, REWIND, REFINE walkthrough compares them side by side.
It is part of what we mean by mindful skincare: a carefully chosen set of actives in a well-balanced formula, at least six months of development, made in Korea since 2021.
Quick answers
Does it sting?
It is built on tranexamic acid rather than pure vitamin C, and it completed a skin low-irritation test. Everyone's skin differs, so patch-test on the jawline for two nights first if yours is sensitive.
Can I use it morning and night?
Yes. Use it in both routines if your skin is comfortable, and wear sunscreen in the morning.
How long should I use it before judging it?
Texture and absorption feel familiar within the first week. Tone changes more slowly, so use it daily for about four weeks and compare photos taken in the same light. Individual results vary.
Is the powder around the opening a problem?
No. It is harmless tranexamic acid. Wipe it away and keep using the serum.
Is it for every skin type?
Yes, it is made for all skin types. It is lightweight, but if your skin is sensitive or you use retinol, patch-test first.
Where to go next
- Dark Spot Solution Vita C TRX Serum: the product page, with the full ingredient list.
- The Solution Series collection: all three serums in one place.
- The skin quiz: a short route to the serum that suits your main concern.
