Anua vs Elemis
Anua and Elemis are two distinct skincare lines known for thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, toners, serums, and cleansers that cater to different complexions. Anua, founded in 2019, builds its products around hyaluronic acid, heartleaf, and niacinamide to suit oily acne-prone skin and combination skin best. Conversely, the British brand harnesses nourishing ingredients like glycerin and shea to serve mature skin and dry sensitive skin. Ultimately, they differ through their foundational active ingredients, as the Korean brand utilizes hyaluronic acid and niacinamide for moisture retention and brightness, while the latter employs glycerin and shea butter for hydration and barrier support.
Anua is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2019 and owned by The Founders Inc..
prnewswire.comkedglobal.comtracxn.comv.daum.net
Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.
elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org
This page compares some of the most popular Anua and Elemis products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Anua vs Elemis products
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Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
AED 70.99
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Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner
AED 59.00
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Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
AED 74.95
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PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum
AED 94.00
- Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
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Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
AED 43.11
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PEACH 70% NIACINAMIDE SERUM
AED 55.80
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Heartleaf 77% Clear Pad
AED 35.10
People Say
Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “melts into skin — Anua Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream”
- “Feels like water, not heavy oil — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
- “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “whipped silk feel — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “complexion feels so plump — Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum”
- “leaves skin plump — Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner”
- “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
- “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
Brightening and Glow Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
- “Significant reduction in hyperpigmentation from acne scarring. — Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum”
- “glass-like glow — Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner”
- “Gives a nice healthy glow — Anua PEACH 70% NIACINAMIDE SERUM”
- “healthy glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “calmed my red spots — Anua Heartleaf 77% Clear Pad”
- “leaves my face soft, smooth, and fresh without dryness — Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder”
- “didn't sensitize my skin — Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner”
- “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
Skin Smoothing and Exfoliation Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
- “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
- “non-stripping formula — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
- “gentle PHA exfoliation — Anua Heartleaf 77% Clear Pad”
Makeup Compatibility and Removal Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “Melted my waterproof mascara — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
- “makeup applies so smoothly — Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum”
- “melts waterproof mascara — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
- “Sits nicely under make up... perfect base. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
High Price Point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
- “price feels way too high — Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum”
- “small size, the price is expensive — Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder”
- “bottle too small — Anua NANO RETINOL™ 0.3% + NIACIN RENEWING SERUM”
- “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
Breakouts and Acne Often MentionedRarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
- “terrible spots — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
- “clogged my pores — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
- “Wrecked my skin barrier — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
Skin Irritation and Sensitivity Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “stinging sensation — Anua Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam”
- “Made my vision blurry for an hour — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
- “blurry vision — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
- “Developed milia and closed comedones. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
Anua vs Elemis routines for dry skin
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Cleanser
Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 173.82
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Moisturizer
Pro-Collagen Night Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 771.00
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SPF
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
Morning
AED 345.41
-
Pre-Cleanser
Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
AED 315.65
-
Cleansing Toner
Balancing Lavender Toner
Evening
AED 210.00
-
Serum or Treatment
Pro-Collagen Glow Boost Exfoliator
Evening · Once a week
AED 340.00
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Enzyme Powder
VT Cica Mild Powder Wash
Once a week
AED 47.62
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Nourishing Mask
Mediheal Watermide Essential Mask
Once a week
AED 65.00
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Cleanser
Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 57.19
-
Hydrating Toner
Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
Morning
AED 43.11
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Moisturizer
Heartleaf 70% Intense Calming Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 60.85
-
SPF
Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream
Morning
AED 41.90
-
Pre-Cleanser
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
AED 70.99
-
Cleansing Toner
BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner
Evening
AED 58.00
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
Evening · Once a week
AED 74.95
-
Enzyme Powder
Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder
Once a week
AED 45.50
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Nourishing Mask
Heartleaf 77% Soothing Sheet Mask
Once a week
AED 97.63
Buy Elemis routine · AED 2,268.50 · 82% fit
Buy Anua routine · AED 550.12 · 78% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
Anua vs Elemis routines for oily skin
- Cleanser Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam Morning · Evening · Once a week
-
Hydrating Toner
Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder
Morning · Once a week
AED 45.50
-
Moisturizer
Heartleaf 70% Intense Calming Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 60.85
-
SPF
Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream
Morning
AED 41.90
-
Pre-Cleanser
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
AED 70.99
-
Cleansing Toner
BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner
Evening
AED 58.00
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
Evening · Once a week
AED 74.95
-
Cleansing Mask
Heartleaf Pore Clay Pack
Once a week
AED 37.75
-
Cleanser
Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 173.82
-
Hydrating Toner
Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner
Morning · Once a week
AED 49.99
-
Moisturizer
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 345.41
-
Pre-Cleanser
Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
AED 315.65
-
Cleansing Toner
Balancing Lavender Toner
Evening
AED 210.00
-
Serum or Treatment
Papaya Enzyme Peel
Evening · Once a week
AED 230.98
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Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
AED 101.09
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Cleansing Mask
Revision Skincare Black Mask
Once a week
AED 204.00
Buy Anua routine · AED 389.94 · 81% fit
Buy Elemis routine · AED 1,630.94 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit
Anua vs Elemis routines for combination skin
- Cleanser Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam Morning · Evening · Once a week
-
Hydrating Toner
Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
Morning · Once a week
AED 43.11
-
Moisturizer
Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 45.50
-
SPF
Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream
Morning
AED 41.90
-
Pre-Cleanser
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
AED 70.99
-
Cleansing Toner
BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner
Evening
AED 58.00
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
Evening · Once a week
AED 74.95
-
Cleansing Mask
Heartleaf Pore Clay Pack
Once a week
AED 37.75
-
Cleanser
Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 173.82
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
AED 145.00
-
Moisturizer
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
AED 345.41
-
Pre-Cleanser
Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
AED 315.65
-
Cleansing Toner
Balancing Lavender Toner
Evening
AED 210.00
-
Serum or Treatment
Papaya Enzyme Peel
Evening · Once a week
AED 230.98
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
AED 101.09
-
Cleansing Mask
KORA Organics Turmeric Brightening & Exfoliating Mask
Once a week
AED 122.93
Buy Anua routine · AED 372.20 · 82% fit
Buy Elemis routine · AED 1,644.88 · 79% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
Questions and answers
Anua or Elemis: which is better?
Both brands are great choices, but Anua stands out for being gentler on sensitive skin while Elemis is often preferred for smoother skin texture.
What is the difference between Anua and Elemis?
Anua focuses on gentle, fragrance-free formulas targeting oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin types with ingredients like heartleaf and niacinamide, while Elemis emphasizes luxurious, highly fragranced anti-aging routines geared toward mature and dry skin. Reviewers note that Anua performs better for brightening and non-irritating care, whereas Elemis excels in skin smoothing.
Anua or Elemis for dry skin?
Both Anua and Elemis offer a High routine fit level for dry skin. The products on this page for Anua feature fragrance-free formulas with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and heartleaf, while Elemis options provide luxurious hydration and moisture.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
Anua or Elemis: which cleanser is better?
Both brands offer solid cleansers on this page, but Anua stands out for being more gentle and non-irritating, while Elemis has cleansers that excel at skin smoothing and exfoliation.
Which is more affordable, Anua or Elemis?
Anua is more affordable, as Elemis frequently receives reviewer feedback about its high price point.
Which brand has a stronger fragrance across its products, Anua or Elemis?
Elemis has a stronger fragrance across its products, as most items on its page list added fragrance in their ingredients. In contrast, every product on the Anua page lists no fragrance.
Anua or Elemis: which brand is better for brightening and glow?
Anua is better for brightening and glow, as the products on this page outperform Elemis in this area. Anua features brightening serums with key ingredients like niacinamide, which helps reduce pigmentation.
Which brand is better for skin smoothing and exfoliation, Anua or Elemis?
Elemis is better for skin smoothing and exfoliation. The products on this page for Elemis help deliver smoother skin texture.
Anua or Elemis for oily skin?
Both Anua and Elemis have routines with a High fit level for oily skin. Anua is well-liked for its gentle, fragrance-free formulas, while Elemis offers luxurious hydrating options, though some of its products on this page contain fragrance.
Anua or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?
Both brands offer moisturizers suited for various skin needs, with Anua focusing on soothing and barrier support and Elemis specializing in hydrating and luxurious formulas. For dry skin, the products on this page provide equal High routine fit levels for both brands. Elemis also features products like the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream which is rated Superior for mature skin.
Anua or Elemis for sensitive skin?
Both Anua and Elemis have an equal High routine fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. However, Anua may be a better choice for sensitive skin because every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas most Elemis products contain fragrance.
Anua or Elemis for acne-prone skin?
Both Anua and Elemis offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Anua may be better suited if you prefer fragrance-free formulas, as every product on its page lists no fragrance, whereas Elemis includes fragrance in several items.
Research behind their key ingredients
The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer
Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) on Skin Health: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Evidence
Bacterial cellulose membranes as drug delivery systems: an in vivo skin compatibility study
Molecular basis of retinol anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo
Apigenin inhibits UVA-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and prevents signs of skin aging in vivo
Effects of glyceryl glucoside on AQP3 expression, barrier function and hydration of human skin
Microneedling by dermapen and glycolic acid peel for the treatment of acne scars: Comparative study
Topical beta-carotene protects against infra-red-light-induced free radicals
A comparative study of gluconolactone versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne
A Rose Extract Protects the Skin against Stress Mediators: A Potential Role of Olfactory Receptors
Comparative measurement of hydration effects of herbal moisturizers
Topical Almond Oil for Prevention of Pressure Injuries: A Single-Blinded Comparison Study
Skin recovery by Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract: Redox control of Nrf2 signaling
Moisturizing Effects of Diglycerol Combined with Glycerol on Human Stratum Corneum
Formulation and evaluation of exotic fat based cosmeceuticals for skin repair
Nanocomplex of quaternized cyclodextrin grafted chitosan and hyaluronic acid for a skin delivery
Histometric assessment of the age-related skin response to 2-hydroxy-5-octanoyl benzoic acid
Emulgels powered by coco-glucoside: A stable and effective synbiotics delivery system for skin care
Effects of fermented tea seed oil on the skin lipid barrier and microbiome of sensitive skin
Behind this comparison
Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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