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Anua vs SK-II

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

Anua and SK-II are distinct skincare lines, with the former representing a Korean brand founded in 2019 and owned by The Founders Inc., and the latter a Japanese brand founded in 1980 and owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991. The Korean label features moisturizers, toners, serums, cleansers, and more, built around hyaluronic acid, heartleaf, and niacinamide, while the Japanese counterpart is cherished for luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, clarifying toners, and restorative masks anchored by pitera. Both suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best, though they differ through their specific ingredient benefits and standalone formulations that address imbalances, hyperpigmentation, and skin lightness.

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

prnewswire.comkedglobal.comtracxn.comv.daum.net

SK-II is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

en.wikipedia.orgdiscoversk-ii.wixsite.comglossy.co

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

Popular Anua vs SK-II products

People Say

AnuaSK-II
  • 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”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother — SK-II Skinpower Advanced 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”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Absorbs into the skin quickly. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
  • Glass Skin Glow and Radiance Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “gives a glass skin look — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “leaves me with a red carpet glow — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “My skin is glowing now. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
    • “glass-like glow — Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner”
  • Improves Skin Texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin feels super smooth — Anua PEACH 70% NIACINAMIDE SERUM”
    • “skin feels so smooth — Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner”
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Brightening and Dark Spots Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Significant reduction in hyperpigmentation from acne scarring. — Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum”
    • “Gives a nice healthy glow — Anua PEACH 70% NIACINAMIDE SERUM”
    • “Skin looks brighter — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “Reduced sun spots — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
  • Soothes Redness and Barrier Support Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Calms my redness instantly — Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner”
    • “calmed my red spots — Anua Heartleaf 77% Clear Pad”
    • “didn't sensitize my skin — Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner”
    • “Great for sensitive — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
  • High Price and Value Concerns 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”
    • “way too expensive — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Visible Results and Slow Efficacy Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner”
    • “not instant fix — Anua NANO RETINOL™ 0.3% + NIACIN RENEWING SERUM”
    • “Did nothing for my skin. — Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum”
    • “did absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Breakouts and Acne Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “caused tiny red bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Small bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “did break out some while adjusting — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “Wrecked my skin barrier — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”

Anua vs SK-II routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Anua vs SK-II routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Anua vs SK-II routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Anua or SK-II: which is better?

Both Anua and SK-II are strong options, with Anua better soothing redness and supporting the skin barrier while SK-II delivers better glass skin glow and radiance. For routine fit levels on the products on this page, both brands perform similarly well across most skin types, though SK-II is rated superior for dry, oily, acne-prone, and dry sensitive skin.

What is the difference between Anua and SK-II?

Anua features affordable heartleaf-based products with high Lovi fit levels for soothing redness, whereas SK-II uses its signature Pitera ingredient and achieves superior Lovi fit levels for dry and oily skin types.

Anua or SK-II for dry skin?

For dry skin, both Anua and SK-II are good options, as Anua has a High routine fit and SK-II has a Superior routine fit. Anua offers targeted hydration with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which helps improve skin quality.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Anua or SK-II?

Anua has a higher price and value concern among reviewers compared to SK-II on the products on this page.

Anua or SK-II for oily skin?

For oily skin, SK-II is a Superior fit compared to Anua which has a High fit level. SK-II does better for glass skin glow and radiance on oily skin, while both brands are equal in hydration, texture, and brightening.

Anua or SK-II for sensitive skin?

Both Anua and SK-II achieve a High Lovi fit level for sensitive skin based on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Anua particularly helps soothe redness and supports skin barriers.

Anua or SK-II for skin with dark spots?

Both Anua and SK-II are a High Lovi fit for skin with dark spots across the products on this page. Reviewers note that both brands do equally well with brightening and dark spots, while niacinamide in Anua's serums helps reduce pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Anua or SK-II for mature skin?

Anua and SK-II are both a High Lovi fit for mature skin. Reviewers note that Anua is great for soothing redness and barrier support, while SK-II does better with glass skin glow and radiance.

Anua or SK-II for dry sensitive skin?

Anua and SK-II both feature a High routine fit for dry sensitive skin on the products on this page. SK-II has a Superior routine fit for this skin type, while Anua products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients.

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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