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Anua vs The Ordinary

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

Anua and The Ordinary are accessible skincare brands that offer diverse cleansers, toners, serums, and moisturizers for distinct skin needs. The Korean brand features soothing formulas built around heartleaf, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid that suit dry and oily acne-prone skin best. Conversely, the Canadian brand relies on glycerin, squalane, and hyaluronic acid to nurture dry and sensitive skin. While both incorporate hydrating ingredients, they differ in their primary botanical extracts and target complexions.

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

prnewswire.comkedglobal.comtracxn.comv.daum.net

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

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

Popular Anua vs The Ordinary products

People Say

AnuaThe Ordinary
  • Texture and Pores Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Dissolved my sebaceous filaments immediately — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
    • “Skin feels super smooth — Anua PEACH 70% NIACINAMIDE SERUM”
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
  • 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”
    • “Drink of water for my skin — Anua PEACH 70% NIACINAMIDE SERUM”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Affordable Price and Value Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “extremely affordable — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
  • 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”
    • “faded dark spots — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “scars lightened up quite a bit — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
  • Lightweight and Fast Absorbing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “melts into skin — Anua Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream”
    • “Feels like water, not heavy oil — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
    • “Absorbs quickly without stickiness — Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Sticky or Tacky Finish Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “tacky finish — Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Breakouts and Acne Concerns Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “broke me out in cysts — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “broke me out in cysts — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
    • “gave me cystic acne — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “Wrecked my skin barrier — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”

Anua vs The Ordinary routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Anua vs The Ordinary routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Anua vs The Ordinary routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Anua or The Ordinary: which is better?

The Ordinary offers a Superior routine fit across all skin types on this page, while Anua provides a High fit. Reviewers note that The Ordinary is better for price, value, and managing breakouts, whereas Anua is better for hydration and lightweight feel.

What is the difference between Anua and The Ordinary?

Anua provides lightweight and fast-absorbing toners with strong hydration benefits, whereas The Ordinary offers affordable value and effective acne-clearing serums. Lovi rates the routine fit for The Ordinary as Superior across all skin types, while Anua receives a High fit.

Anua or The Ordinary for dry skin?

Both brands offer products on this page that help with dry skin, but The Ordinary has a superior routine fit compared to Anua's high fit. Hyaluronic acid is a key ingredient across the products of both brands and helps improve skin hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Anua or The Ordinary: which cleanser is better?

Both brands offer effective cleansers, but they cater to different preferences and needs on the products on this page. The Ordinary provides options like the Squalane Cleanser and Glucoside Foaming Cleanser, while Anua features heartleaf-infused choices like the Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil and Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam.

Which is more affordable, Anua or The Ordinary?

The Ordinary is more affordable on this page, as reviewers often mention its affordable price and great value serums.

Anua or The Ordinary: which brand is better for reducing dark spots and brightening?

When it comes to reducing dark spots and brightening, both Anua and The Ordinary perform equally well on the products on this page. Ingredients like niacinamide help reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Anua or The Ordinary: which brand offers a lighter and faster-absorbing feel?

Anua offers a lighter and faster-absorbing feel, as lightweight and fast-absorbing toners are often mentioned by reviewers for the products on this page.

Anua or The Ordinary: which brand has fewer issues with a sticky or tacky finish?

Anua has more issues with a sticky or tacky finish, whereas The Ordinary performs better in this review theme.

Anua or The Ordinary for oily skin?

Both Anua and The Ordinary are great for oily skin, with Lovi giving Anua a High fit and The Ordinary a Superior fit. The Ordinary excels in value and acne-clearing serums, while Anua stands out for lightweight, fast-absorbing toners and hydration.

Anua or The Ordinary: which moisturizer is better?

When choosing a moisturizer, both Anua and The Ordinary offer options with strong benefits, with Anua standing out for its soothing barrier support and The Ordinary providing high overall value across its products on this page.

Anua or The Ordinary for sensitive skin?

Both Anua and The Ordinary provide options that fit sensitive skin well, with Lovi fit levels of High and Superior respectively. The Ordinary is noted for its range-wide value and specific strengths, whereas Anua is highlighted for lightweight toners and soothing moisture.

Anua or The Ordinary for acne-prone skin?

Both Anua and The Ordinary provide options for acne-prone skin, though The Ordinary is rated Superior in routine fit compared to Anua's High fit. The Ordinary features targeted acne-clearing serums, while the products on this page for both brands are fragrance-free.

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

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