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Anua vs Kiehl's

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

Anua and Kiehl's are two distinct skincare lines known for addressing varied complexions through thoughtful, ingredient-driven formulations. The younger Korean brand centers its moisturizers, toners, serums, and cleansers on soothing heartleaf, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide to suit dry and oily acne-prone skin. Meanwhile, the historic American counterpart relies on nourishing glycerin and squalane within its own moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products to support skin with dark spots and combination skin. While both offer targeted solutions for acne, dark spots, and aging, the former leverages niacinamide and hyaluronic acid for brightening and hydration, whereas the latter utilizes squalane and glycerin to reinforce the epidermal barrier and counteract oxidative stress.

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

prnewswire.comkedglobal.comtracxn.comv.daum.net

Kiehl's is an American skincare brand founded in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000.

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Anua vs Kiehl's products

People Say

AnuaKiehl's
  • 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”
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
  • 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”
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
  • Brightening and Dark Spots Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Significant reduction in hyperpigmentation from acne scarring. — Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum”
    • “Gives a nice healthy glow — Anua PEACH 70% NIACINAMIDE SERUM”
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
  • Sensitive Skin Care Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Calms my redness instantly — Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner”
    • “calmed my red spots — Anua Heartleaf 77% Clear Pad”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Skin Smoothing and Texture Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Skin feels super smooth — Anua PEACH 70% NIACINAMIDE SERUM”
    • “skin feels so smooth — Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Glow and Radiance Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “glass-like glow — Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner”
    • “glassy skin look — Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum”
    • “beautiful glow — Anua Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream”
    • “Skin looks noticeably more plump — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
  • Price and Value 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”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Breakouts and Acne Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “cystic acne for some — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “developed tiny white bumps — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “Wrecked my skin barrier — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
  • Sticky 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”
    • “oil slick in summer — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “too radiant for oily skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”

Anua vs Kiehl's routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Anua vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Anua vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Anua or Kiehl's: which is better?

Anua and Kiehl's are both effective, but Anua is better suited for acne-prone skin with a High routine fit compared to Kiehl's Average fit. Anua also does better for glow and radiance and price and value.

What is the difference between Anua and Kiehl's?

Anua and Kiehl's are both well-rounded skincare lines, but Anua tends to offer better pricing and value while Kiehl's carries a higher price point. Both brands perform equally well across most routine fits and review themes, though Anua achieves a higher glow and radiance.

Anua or Kiehl's for dry skin?

Both Anua and Kiehl's offer a High routine fit for dry skin. Anua is priced lower and excels in glow and radiance, while Kiehl's delivers deep hydration with a higher price point.

Anua or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?

Both Anua and Kiehl's offer effective cleansers, with Anua standing out for acne-prone skin while Kiehl's features top-rated options like its Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash.

Which is more affordable, Anua or Kiehl's?

Anua is more affordable, as reviewers often note high price points for Kiehl's while Anua wins on price and value.

Anua or Kiehl's for treating dark spots?

Both brands offer products on this page that fit skin with dark spots well, but Anua outperforms Kiehl's on glow and radiance. The niacinamide found in Anua's products helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Anua or Kiehl's for oily skin?

Both Anua and Kiehl's are a High fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that Anua helps provide a glass skin glow, while Kiehl's products on this page often feature lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers.

Anua or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?

Both Anua and Kiehl's offer effective moisturizers depending on your specific skin needs, with Anua standing out for acne-prone skin while both brands provide high routine fit for dry, oily, combination, and sensitive skin types.

Anua or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

Both Anua and Kiehl's are a High fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Anua is a High fit for all skin types, while Kiehl's has specific fragrance-free options like the Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner, which is a Superior fit for sensitive skin.

Anua or Kiehl's: which sunscreen is better?

Anua offers the Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream, while Kiehl's features the Better Screen UV Serum among the products on this page. Lovi rates the routine fit for both brands as High.

Anua or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?

Anua is the better choice for acne-prone skin, as the products on this page offer a High routine fit compared to Kiehl's Average fit. Reviewers note that Kiehl's frequently causes breakouts and skin irritation, while Anua focuses on calming and soothing ingredients like heartleaf and niacinamide.

Anua or Kiehl's for mature skin?

Both Anua and Kiehl's are a High fit for mature skin. Reviewers note that Anua is better for glow and radiance, while Kiehl's offers lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and gentle serums.

Anua or Kiehl's for dry sensitive skin?

Both Anua and Kiehl's fit dry sensitive skin at a High level with the products on this page. Reviewers note that Anua helps with soothing and barrier support in moisturizers, while Kiehl's is often mentioned for deep hydration.

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?

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