🇦🇪United Arab Emirates

Anua vs Simple

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Anua and Simple are accessible skincare brands offering moisturizers, toners, serums, and cleansers that suit oily and acne-prone skin best. The Korean brand, founded in 2019, utilizes hyaluronic acid, heartleaf, and niacinamide to target aging, hyperpigmentation, and blemishes, while the British brand, established in 1960, incorporates niacinamide and glycerin to hydrate and soothe. While Anua relies on botanical extracts and active complexes to address specific concerns like dark spots and maturity, Simple focuses on minimalist, gentle formulations for daily care.

Anua is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2019 and owned by The Founders Inc..

prnewswire.comkedglobal.comtracxn.comv.daum.net

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

This page compares some of the most popular Anua and Simple products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Anua vs Simple products

People Say

AnuaSimple
  • Soothes Redness and Sensitive Skin Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Calms my redness instantly — Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner”
  • 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”
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
  • Lightweight and Fast-Absorbing Texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “melts into skin — Anua Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream”
    • “Feels like water, not heavy oil — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Cleansing and Exfoliation Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Dissolved my sebaceous filaments immediately — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
    • “leaves my face soft, smooth, and fresh without dryness — Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder”
    • “Takes off any makeup residue and makes my face feel refreshed. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Best morning cleanser — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
  • Miscellaneous Product Traits Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “zero white cast — Anua Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream”
    • “no scent — Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner”
    • “Smells like fresh peaches — Anua PEACH 70% NIACINAMIDE SERUM”
    • “love that it's alcohol-free — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
  • Brightening and Dark Spot Fading Often MentionedNot noted
    • “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”
  • Breakouts and Acne Complaints Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “caused major breakouts — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Gave me tiny red spots — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “Wrecked my skin barrier — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”

Anua vs Simple routines for dry skin

Buy Simple routine · AED 455.14 · 83% fitBuy Anua routine · AED 550.12 · 78% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Anua vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy Simple routine · AED 790.31 · 88% fitBuy Anua routine · AED 389.94 · 81% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Anua vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy Simple routine · AED 644.67 · 85% fitBuy Anua routine · AED 372.20 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Anua or Simple: which is better?

Anua is generally better for brightening and dark spot fading, whereas Simple does better at soothing redness and sensitive skin. Reviewers note that Simple has fewer complaints about breakouts compared to Anua.

What is the difference between Anua and Simple?

Anua does better for brightening and dark spot fading, while Simple does better for soothing redness and sensitive skin among the products on this page. Reviewers note that Simple tends to struggle with heavy makeup, whereas Anua is frequently mentioned for its brightening serums and lightweight toners.

Anua or Simple for dry skin?

Both Anua and Simple are great for dry skin, as the products on this page offer equal fit levels and hydration. Anua features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to help nourish dry skin, which topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Anua or Simple: which cleanser is better?

Anua is better for cleansers on this page, as its cleansing products range from High to Average fit levels across most skin types while Simple's cleansers score lower at Low to Average fit levels. Both brands include fragrance-free options in their cleansers.

Which is more affordable, Anua or Simple?

Simple products are generally more value-friendly and budget-conscious for shoppers compared to Anua. Reviewers frequently mention that Simple offers lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers.

What are the key ingredients found across Anua and Simple products?

Anua products feature key ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, heartleaf, niacinamide, glycerin, ceramide, panthenol, and centella asiatica. Meanwhile, Simple products contain niacinamide and glycerin across their formulations.

Which brand performs better for brightening and dark spot fading?

Anua performs better for brightening and dark spot fading, as reviewers frequently mention its brightening serums and the brand excels in dark spot fading compared to Simple. Niacinamide, featured in Anua's products, may help reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

When was each brand founded and who owns them?

Anua was founded in 2019 in South Korea and is owned by The Founders Inc. Simple was founded in 1960 in the United Kingdom and has been owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

Anua or Simple for oily skin?

Both Anua and Simple are a great match for oily skin, as Lovi rates the routine fit for both brands as High. Anua offers targeted options with key ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid, whereas Simple focuses on gentle, value-friendly cleansing and lightweight hydration.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Anua or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Both Anua and Simple offer moisturizers with a high Lovi fit for dry skin, but Anua tends to be favored for soothing and barrier support while Simple is praised for being value-friendly. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid found in Anua's hydrating products help support skin moisture.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Anua or Simple for sensitive skin?

Both Anua and Simple are a High fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Simple does better at soothing redness and sensitive skin, while Anua provides a wider variety of key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, heartleaf, and panthenol to help support the skin barrier.

Anua or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both Anua and Simple are a High fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Anua features key ingredients like niacinamide and heartleaf, while Simple relies on niacinamide and glycerin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Research behind their key ingredients

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play