Anua vs COSRX
Anua and COSRX are Korean skincare brands offering moisturizers, toners, serums, cleansers, and masks built around key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and niacinamide. Anua fits dry skin and oily acne-prone skin best, while the other suits oily skin and acne-prone skin best to balance excess oil and soothe irritation. Hyaluronic acid lengthens the duration of wrinkle reduction and reduces cell damage, glycerin significantly increases skin hydration and barrier function, and niacinamide decreases hyperpigmentation, increases skin lightness, and reduces skin aging. The brands differ in their founding years, ownership, and specific targeted product formulations for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin.
Anua is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2019 and owned by The Founders Inc..
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COSRX is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2013 and owned by Amorepacific Group since 2024.
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This page compares some of the most popular Anua and COSRX products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Anua vs COSRX products
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Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
CA$24.99
- Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
-
The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum
CA$31.50
- BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
-
The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum
CA$33.50
-
Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream
CA$26.18
-
AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
CA$20.40
-
The Retinol 0.1 Cream
CA$28.91
-
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
CA$30.99
-
Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner
CA$28.99
-
Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
CA$28.00
-
PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum
CA$34.99
-
Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
CA$22.40
-
Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
CA$31.99
-
PEACH 70% NIACINAMIDE SERUM
CA$33.50
-
Heartleaf 77% Clear Pad
CA$32.98
People Say
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”
- “skin drinks it up — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
- “woke up with soft, supple skin — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
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”
- “absorbs instantly like water — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
- “sinks in immediately — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
Skin Texture Improvement Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “Skin feels super smooth — Anua PEACH 70% NIACINAMIDE SERUM”
- “skin feels so smooth — Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner”
- “skin feels softer immediately — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
- “Skin feels like glass — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
Pore Cleansing and Acne Control Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “helped to improve my acne after only 2 weeks — COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser”
- “cleared up my spots — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
- “Melted blackheads right off — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
- “Dissolved my sebaceous filaments immediately — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “No stinging or irritation — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
- “doesn't strip my skin — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
- “no stinging — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
- “didn't sensitize my skin — Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner”
Brightening and Glow Often MentionedRarely 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”
- “gives me that glass skin look — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
Breakouts and Acne Clogging Often MentionedRarely Noted
- “gave me fungal acne — COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence”
- “gave me tiny bumps — COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser”
- “gave me closed comedones — COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum”
- “Wrecked my skin barrier — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
Sticky, Tacky or Greasy Finish Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “Left such a gross tacky finish that refused to dry. — Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum”
- “leaves a tacky finish — Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner”
- “texture is gooey and stringy — COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream”
- “Leaves a sticky film — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
Slow or No Visible Results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “Did absolutely nothing — Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner”
- “not instant fix — Anua NANO RETINOL™ 0.3% + NIACIN RENEWING SERUM”
- “no change in circles — COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream”
- “Takes a month to work — COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid”
Anua vs COSRX routines for dry skin
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Cleanser
Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
CA$36.96
-
Hydrating Toner
Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner
Morning
CA$31.98
-
Moisturizer
Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
Morning · Evening · Once a week
CA$24.99
-
SPF
d'Alba Piedmont Waterfull Mild Sunscreen
Morning
CA$38.00
-
Pre-Cleanser
The Niacinamide 15 Serum
Evening · Once a week
CA$26.97
-
Serum or Treatment
Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence
Evening · Once a week
CA$24.49
-
Nourishing Mask
Full Fit Propolis Honey Overnight Mask
Once a week
CA$34.99
-
Cleanser
Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
CA$22.90
-
Hydrating Toner
Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
Morning
CA$31.99
-
Moisturizer
Heartleaf 70% Intense Calming Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
CA$42.88
-
SPF
d'Alba Piedmont Waterfull Mild Sunscreen
Morning
CA$38.00
-
Pre-Cleanser
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
CA$30.99
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
Evening · Once a week
CA$28.00
-
Nourishing Mask
Heartleaf 77% Soothing Sheet Mask
Once a week
CA$10.00
Buy COSRX routine · CA$218.38 · 91% fit
Buy Anua routine · CA$204.76 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit
Anua vs COSRX routines for oily skin
-
Cleanser
Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
CA$18.51
-
Hydrating Toner
Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner
Morning · Once a week
CA$31.98
-
Moisturizer
Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)
Morning · Evening · Once a week
CA$29.98
-
SPF
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 60
Morning
CA$35.95
-
Pre-Cleanser
The Niacinamide 15 Serum
Evening · Once a week
CA$26.97
-
Cleansing Toner
AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
Evening
CA$20.40
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
CA$29.50
-
Cleansing Mask
Tatcha The Clarifying Clay Mask
Once a week
CA$95.00
-
Cleanser
Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
Morning · Evening · Once a week
CA$22.40
-
Hydrating Toner
Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder
Morning · Once a week
CA$33.50
-
Moisturizer
Heartleaf 70% Intense Calming Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
CA$42.88
-
SPF
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 60
Morning
CA$35.95
-
Pre-Cleanser
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
CA$30.99
-
Cleansing Toner
BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner
Evening
CA$31.40
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
Evening · Once a week
CA$28.00
-
Cleansing Mask
Tatcha The Clarifying Clay Mask
Once a week
CA$95.00
Buy COSRX routine · CA$288.29 · 92% fit
Buy Anua routine · CA$320.12 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
Anua vs COSRX routines for combination skin
-
Cleanser
Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
CA$36.96
-
Hydrating Toner
Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner
Morning · Once a week
CA$31.98
-
Moisturizer
Oil-Free Ultra-Moisturizing Lotion (with Birch Sap)
Morning · Evening · Once a week
CA$29.98
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
CA$20.96
-
Pre-Cleanser
The Niacinamide 15 Serum
Evening · Once a week
CA$26.97
-
Cleansing Toner
AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
Evening
CA$20.40
-
Serum or Treatment
Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence
Evening · Once a week
CA$24.49
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
CA$29.50
-
Cleansing Mask
Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay
Once a week
CA$50.00
-
Cleanser
Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
Morning · Evening · Once a week
CA$22.40
-
Hydrating Toner
Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
Morning · Once a week
CA$31.99
-
Moisturizer
Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder
Morning · Evening · Once a week
CA$33.50
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
CA$20.96
-
Pre-Cleanser
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
CA$30.99
-
Cleansing Toner
BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner
Evening
CA$31.40
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
Evening · Once a week
CA$28.00
-
Cleansing Mask
Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay
Once a week
CA$50.00
Buy COSRX routine · CA$271.24 · 91% fit
Buy Anua routine · CA$249.24 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
Questions and answers
Anua or COSRX: which is better?
Both Anua and COSRX are strong options, but COSRX is better for pore cleansing and acne control as well as gentle and non-irritating formulas, while Anua does better for brightening and glow. For routine fit across most skin types like dry, oily, and sensitive skin, COSRX has a Superior fit level compared to Anua's High fit level.
What is the difference between Anua and COSRX?
Anua and COSRX both offer solid options for various skin concerns, but COSRX generally excels in pore cleansing, acne control, and gentle formulas. Meanwhile, Anua tends to perform better for brightening and glow among the products on this page.
Anua or COSRX for dry skin?
For dry skin, COSRX offers a Superior routine fit while Anua provides a High routine fit. Both brands feature deep hydration and moisturization, with COSRX utilizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid that may help support skin quality and moisture retention.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
Anua or COSRX: which cleanser is better?
Both Anua and COSRX offer effective cleansers, with COSRX standing out for pore cleansing and acne control as well as offering a more gentle and non-irritating formula across the products on this page. Reviewers note that COSRX provides effective acne control and clearing, making it a strong choice for those targeting breakouts.
Which is more affordable, Anua or COSRX?
This Lovi comparison page does not provide pricing or affordability information for either Anua or COSRX. Therefore, it is not possible to determine which brand is more affordable from the available data.
Between Anua and COSRX, which brand performs better for brightening and glow according to review themes?
According to review themes, Anua performs better for brightening and glow among the products on this page.
How do the founding years and corporate ownership of Anua and COSRX compare?
Anua was founded in 2019 in South Korea and is owned by The Founders Inc., whereas COSRX was founded in 2013 in South Korea and has been owned by Amorepacific Group since 2024.
Which brand has more fragrance-free products when comparing Anua and COSRX?
Anua has more fragrance-free products on this page, as every single Anua product lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In comparison, COSRX has 37 out of 38 products listed as fragrance-free on this page.
Anua or COSRX for oily skin?
For oily skin, both Anua and COSRX offer great choices, with COSRX achieving a Superior Lovi fit level compared to Anua's High fit level. Reviewers note that COSRX does better for pore cleansing and acne control, while both brands match well for lightweight absorption.
Anua or COSRX: which moisturizer is better?
COSRX offers superior moisturization for several skin types on this page, including dry and sensitive skin, compared to Anua. Both brands help provide hydration and moisture.
Anua or COSRX for sensitive skin?
Both Anua and COSRX are well-suited for sensitive skin, as the products on this page for both brands feature fragrance-free options. Lovi rates the routine fit for sensitive skin as High for Anua and Superior for COSRX.
Anua or COSRX: which sunscreen is better?
COSRX is better for sunscreens on this page, as COSRX offers superior or high fit levels for all skin types, including sensitive skin and acne-prone skin, with its Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen, Aloe Soothing Sun Cream, and Vitamin E Vitalizing Sunscreen SPF 50+.
Anua or COSRX for acne-prone skin?
For acne-prone skin, both brands offer products on this page with a High fit level or better, while COSRX does better for pore cleansing and acne control. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and pigmentation control.
Research behind their key ingredients
Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) on Skin Health: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Evidence
Bifidobacterium longum lysate, a new ingredient for reactive skin
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
Reduction in the appearance of facial hyperpigmentation by topical N-acetyl glucosamine
A comparative study of gluconolactone versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne
Phyllanthus emblica L. (amla) branch: A safe and effective ingredient against skin aging
The influence of alkane chain length on the skin irritation potential of 1,2-alkanediols
In vivo and in vitro evaluation of octyl methoxycinnamate liposomes
Nanostructured Lipid Carrier for Topical Application of N-Acetyl Glucosamine
Moisturizing Effects of Diglycerol Combined with Glycerol on Human Stratum Corneum
The anti wrinkle efficacy of synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) in Chinese Subjects
Safety of a preservative system containing 1,2-hexanediol and caprylyl glycol
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
Functional properties and skin care effects of sodium trehalose sulfate
Skin moisturization by hydrogenated polyisobutene--quantitative and visual evaluation
Effects of an ultraviolet B radiation absorber on photocarcinogenesis in hairless albino mice
Retrospective Review of Dermal Safety Studies of Organic Sunscreens
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
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