Anua vs Medik8
Anua and Medik8 are distinct skincare lines, with the South Korean label founded in 2019 specializing in heartleaf, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, while the British label founded in 2009 centers its formulas on hyaluronic acid. The former brand suits oily acne-prone skin and dry skin best, whereas the latter brand fits dry skin and dry sensitive skin best. Both brands differ in their specific ingredient benefits, as the first brand's niacinamide decreases hyperpigmentation and increases skin lightness, and both brands utilize hyaluronic acid to lengthen wrinkle reduction or toxin wrinkle effect duration.
Anua is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2019 and owned by The Founders Inc..
prnewswire.comkedglobal.comtracxn.comv.daum.net
Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.
loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com
This page compares some of the most popular Anua and Medik8 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Anua vs Medik8 products
-
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
A$26.00
-
Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner
A$33.00
-
Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
A$36.95
-
PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum
A$36.00
-
Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
A$22.00
-
Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
A$35.00
-
PEACH 70% NIACINAMIDE SERUM
A$33.00
-
Heartleaf 77% Clear Pad
A$33.40
People Say
Texture and Lightweight Feel Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “melts into skin — Anua Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream”
- “Feels like water, not heavy oil — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
- “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
- “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
Gentle and Non-Irritating Formulation Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
- “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
- “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
- “calmed my red spots — Anua Heartleaf 77% Clear Pad”
Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
- “complexion feels so plump — Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum”
- “leaves skin plump — Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner”
- “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
- “Instantly quenched the skin — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
Brightening and Glow Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “Significant reduction in hyperpigmentation from acne scarring. — Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum”
- “glass-like glow — Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner”
- “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
- “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
Price and Value Rarely NotedOften 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”
- “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
Anua vs Medik8 routines for dry skin
-
Cleanser
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$26.59
-
Hydrating Toner
Pyunkang Yul Calming Deep Moisture Toner
Morning
A$23.99
-
Moisturizer
d'Alba First Spray Serum
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$26.09
-
SPF
Bioderma Photoderm Mineral Fluide SPF50+
Morning
A$24.49
-
Pre-Cleanser
MISSHA Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
Evening · Once a week
A$27.35
-
Serum or Treatment
Bakuchiol Peptides
Evening · Once a week
A$91.10
-
Enzyme Powder
FANCL Facial Washing Powder
Once a week
A$35.50
-
Nourishing Mask
MEDIHEAL Vita Essential Mask
Once a week
A$28.48
-
Cleanser
Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$19.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
Morning
A$35.00
-
Moisturizer
Heartleaf 70% Intense Calming Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$42.00
-
SPF
Bioderma Photoderm Mineral Fluide SPF50+
Morning
A$24.49
-
Pre-Cleanser
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
A$26.00
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
Evening · Once a week
A$36.95
-
Enzyme Powder
Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder
Once a week
A$27.00
-
Nourishing Mask
MEDIHEAL Vita Essential Mask
Once a week
A$28.48
Buy Medik8 routine · A$283.59 · 97% fit
Buy Anua routine · A$238.92 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit
Anua vs Medik8 routines for oily skin
-
Cleanser
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$13.99
-
Hydrating Toner
Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner
Morning · Once a week
A$34.66
-
Moisturizer
COSRX Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$22.99
-
SPF
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 60
Morning
A$27.99
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
A$80.43
-
Cleansing Toner
Caudalie Vinopure Purifying Toner
Evening
A$75.95
- Serum or Treatment CRYSTAL RETINAL 3 Evening · Once a week
-
Enzyme Powder
FANCL Facial Washing Powder
Once a week
A$35.50
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
A$118.35
-
Cleanser
Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$22.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder
Morning · Once a week
A$27.00
-
Moisturizer
Heartleaf 70% Intense Calming Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$42.00
-
SPF
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 60
Morning
A$27.99
-
Pre-Cleanser
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
A$26.00
-
Cleansing Toner
BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner
Evening
A$30.00
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
Evening · Once a week
A$36.95
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
A$118.35
Buy Medik8 routine · A$409.86 · 94% fit
Buy Anua routine · A$330.29 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
Anua vs Medik8 routines for combination skin
-
Cleanser
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$73.61
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
A$42.00
-
Moisturizer
COSRX Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$22.99
-
Pre-Cleanser
Pyunkang Yul Deep Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
A$30.99
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening
A$29.90
-
Serum or Treatment
Bakuchiol Peptides
Evening · Once a week
A$91.10
-
Enzyme Powder
FANCL Facial Washing Powder
Once a week
A$35.50
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
A$118.35
-
Cleanser
Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$22.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
Morning · Once a week
A$35.00
-
Moisturizer
Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder
Morning · Evening · Once a week
A$27.00
-
Pre-Cleanser
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
A$26.00
-
Cleansing Toner
BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner
Evening
A$30.00
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
Evening · Once a week
A$36.95
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
A$118.35
Buy Medik8 routine · A$444.44 · 93% fit
Buy Anua routine · A$295.30 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit
Questions and answers
Anua or Medik8: which is better?
Both brands are great choices, with Anua offering better value and Medik8 achieving superior routine fits across all skin types on this page. Medik8 is particularly known for deep hydration and gentle, non-irritating formulations, while Anua focuses on brightening and soothing ingredients like niacinamide and heartleaf.
What is the difference between Anua and Medik8?
Anua focuses on budget-friendly skincare featuring soothing plant extracts like heartleaf with high routine fit across various skin types, while Medik8 offers a more luxurious experience with a superior routine fit for dry and sensitive skin. Both brands deliver great hydration, but Anua is noted for being more affordable.
Anua or Medik8 for dry skin?
Both Anua and Medik8 are great for dry skin, with Anua having High fit and Medik8 having Superior routine fit on this page. Medik8 is often noted for deep hydration and plumping, while Anua products on this page list no fragrance.
Anua or Medik8: which cleanser is better?
Both brands offer effective cleansers, but Anua is a better fit for oily acne-prone and combination skin with options like its Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam, while Medik8 provides superior clarifying results for acne-prone skin and dark spots through its Surface Radiance Cleanse.
Which is more affordable, Anua or Medik8?
Anua is more affordable than Medik8, since high prices are often noted as a drawback for Medik8 products on this page while Anua wins on price and value.
Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Anua or Medik8?
Anua has more fragrance-free products, as every single product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In comparison, Medik8 includes fragrance in 1 of the 12 products listed on the page.
How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between Anua and Medik8?
Anua was founded in 2019 in South Korea, whereas Medik8 was founded in 2003 in the United Kingdom.
Which brand offers better results for brightening and glow according to reviewers?
Reviewers note that both Anua and Medik8 do equally well for brightening and glow.
Anua or Medik8 for oily skin?
Medik8 offers a Superior routine fit for oily skin on this page, while Anua provides a High fit. Both brands help deliver hydration and moisture, though Anua is noted for having a better price and value.
Anua or Medik8 for sensitive skin?
Both Anua and Medik8 achieve a High routine fit for sensitive skin on this page, but Medik8 rates better for gentle and non-irritating formulations. Both brands feature products that help maintain moisture and support the skin barrier without causing irritation.
Anua or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?
Both Anua and Medik8 offer effective options for acne-prone skin, with the products on this page fitting acne-prone skin at a High level for Anua and a Superior level for Medik8. Anua relies heavily on key ingredients like niacinamide, which may help regulate oil and pigmentation, whereas Medik8 focuses on advanced formulations that are gentle and non-irritating.
Research behind their key ingredients
Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) on Skin Health: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Evidence
Molecular basis of retinol anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo
Topical anti-inflammatory effects of isorhamnetin glycosides isolated from Opuntia ficus-indica
Apigenin inhibits UVA-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and prevents signs of skin aging in vivo
Vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate promotes epidermal thickening and collagen production in human skin
Effects of glyceryl glucoside on AQP3 expression, barrier function and hydration of human skin
A comparative study of gluconolactone versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne
Evaluation of moisturizing and irritation potential of sacha inchi oil
Moisturizing Effects of Diglycerol Combined with Glycerol on Human Stratum Corneum
The anti wrinkle efficacy of synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) in Chinese Subjects
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
Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
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.
-

Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

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
-

Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-

Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

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.
























































