Anua vs Elemis
Anua and Elemis are distinct skincare brands offering moisturizers, toners, serums, and cleansers built around targeted ingredients. The Korean brand Anua, founded in 2019, utilizes hyaluronic acid, heartleaf, and niacinamide to suit oily acne-prone skin and dry skin best. Conversely, the British brand Elemis, founded in 1989, anchors its nourishing formulations in glycerin and shea to support mature skin and dry skin. While both collections address varied concerns through specialized items, they differ fundamentally in their foundational heritages and active ingredient profiles.
Anua is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2019 and owned by The Founders Inc..
prnewswire.comkedglobal.comtracxn.comv.daum.net
Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.
elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org
This page compares some of the most popular Anua and Elemis products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Anua vs Elemis products
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Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
€19.00
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Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner
€21.90
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Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
€22.50
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PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum
€25.00
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Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
€15.00
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Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
€21.90
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PEACH 70% NIACINAMIDE SERUM
€20.35
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Heartleaf 77% Clear Pad
€22.99
People Say
Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “melts into skin — Anua Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream”
- “Feels like water, not heavy oil — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
- “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “whipped silk feel — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
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”
- “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
- “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
Brightening and Glow Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
- “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”
- “healthy glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “calmed my red spots — Anua Heartleaf 77% Clear Pad”
- “leaves my face soft, smooth, and fresh without dryness — Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder”
- “didn't sensitize my skin — Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner”
- “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
Skin Smoothing and Exfoliation Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
- “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
- “non-stripping formula — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
- “gentle PHA exfoliation — Anua Heartleaf 77% Clear Pad”
Makeup Compatibility and Removal Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “Melted my waterproof mascara — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
- “makeup applies so smoothly — Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum”
- “melts waterproof mascara — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
- “Sits nicely under make up... perfect base. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
High Price Point 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”
- “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
Breakouts and Acne Often MentionedRarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
- “terrible spots — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
- “clogged my pores — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
- “Wrecked my skin barrier — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
Skin Irritation and Sensitivity Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “stinging sensation — Anua Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam”
- “Made my vision blurry for an hour — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
- “blurry vision — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
- “Developed milia and closed comedones. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
Anua vs Elemis routines for dry skin
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Cleanser
Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€53.00
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Hydrating Toner
COSRX Propolis Synergy Toner
Morning
€18.55
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Moisturizer
Pro-Collagen Night Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€97.95
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SPF
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
Morning
€87.95
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Pre-Cleanser
Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
€45.45
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Serum or Treatment
Pro-Collagen Glow Boost Exfoliator
Evening · Once a week
€48.95
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Nourishing Mask
Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Sheet Mask
Once a week
€19.90
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Cleanser
Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€15.00
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Hydrating Toner
Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
Morning
€21.90
-
Moisturizer
Heartleaf 70% Intense Calming Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€27.00
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SPF
Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream
Morning
€20.00
-
Pre-Cleanser
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
€19.00
-
Serum or Treatment
Green Lemon Vita C Blemish Serum
Evening · Once a week
€40.00
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Nourishing Mask
Heartleaf 77% Soothing Sheet Mask
Once a week
€19.90
Anua vs Elemis routines for oily skin
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Cleanser
Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€15.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder
Morning · Once a week
€15.89
-
Moisturizer
Heartleaf 70% Intense Calming Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€27.00
-
SPF
Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream
Morning
€20.00
-
Pre-Cleanser
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
€19.00
-
Cleansing Toner
BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner
Evening
€21.98
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
Evening · Once a week
€22.50
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
€79.97
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Cleanser
Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€53.00
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Hydrating Toner
Some By Mi Snail Truecica Miracle Repair Toner
Morning · Once a week
€19.99
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Moisturizer
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€87.95
-
Pre-Cleanser
Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
€45.45
-
Cleansing Toner
Balancing Lavender Toner
Evening
€26.68
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Serum or Treatment
Papaya Enzyme Peel
Evening · Once a week
€50.00
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Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
€49.00
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Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
€79.97
Anua vs Elemis routines for combination skin
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Cleanser
Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€15.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
Morning · Once a week
€21.90
-
Moisturizer
Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€15.89
-
SPF
Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream
Morning
€20.00
-
Pre-Cleanser
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
€19.00
-
Cleansing Toner
BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner
Evening
€21.98
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
Evening · Once a week
€22.50
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
€79.97
-
Cleanser
Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€53.00
-
Hydrating Toner
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner
Morning · Once a week
€36.00
-
Moisturizer
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€87.95
-
Pre-Cleanser
Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
€45.45
-
Cleansing Toner
Balancing Lavender Toner
Evening
€26.68
-
Serum or Treatment
Papaya Enzyme Peel
Evening · Once a week
€50.00
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
€49.00
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
€79.97
Questions and answers
Anua or Elemis: which is better?
Both Anua and Elemis achieve an equal High Lovi routine fit level across all skin types on this page. Anua does better for brightening and glow and gentle, non-irritating formulas, while Elemis excels in skin smoothing and exfoliation.
What is the difference between Anua and Elemis?
Anua and Elemis differ in origin, formulation style, and pricing, with Anua founded in South Korea in 2019 and known for fragrance-free products focusing on key ingredients like heartleaf and niacinamide, while Elemis was founded in the UK in 1989, features many scented items, and is frequently noted for a high price point.
Anua or Elemis for dry skin?
Both Anua and Elemis have a High routine fit on this page for dry skin. Anua is fragrance-free across the products on this page and helps with hydration through ingredients like hyaluronic acid, while Elemis offers hydrating moisturizers that may provide a radiant glow.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
Anua or Elemis: which cleanser is better?
Anua is often preferred for cleansers because the products on this page are generally fragrance-free and feature soothing ingredients like heartleaf. Elemis also offers cleansers, though some formulas include added fragrance, which may cause sensitivity for certain skin types.
Which is more affordable, Anua or Elemis?
Anua is more affordable than Elemis, as reviewers frequently mention high price points as a drawback for Elemis products while Anua features affordability among its review themes.
Which brand has a better brightening and glow effect, Anua or Elemis?
Anua does better for brightening and glow among the products on this page. Ingredients like niacinamide help control skin pigmentation.
Do Anua products contain fragrance, and how does that compare to Elemis?
Every product from Anua on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas Elemis includes fragrance in 18 out of its 22 products.
Which brand performs better for skin smoothing and exfoliation?
Elemis performs better for skin smoothing and exfoliation among the products on this page. Lovi rates Elemis high for several exfoliating and resurfacing products like the Papaya Enzyme Peel.
Anua or Elemis for oily skin?
Both Anua and Elemis have an equal High routine fit for oily skin. Anua is best for oily skin, oily acne-prone skin, and dry skin.
Anua or Elemis for sensitive skin?
Both Anua and Elemis achieve an equal High routine fit for sensitive skin among the products on this page. Anua helps with a gentle and non-irritating formula, while Elemis may occasionally present strong fragrance or skin irritation for some shoppers.
Anua or Elemis for acne-prone skin?
Both Anua and Elemis have an equal High routine fit level for acne-prone skin. The products on this page show that Anua is better for gentle and non-irritating formulas and brightening, while Elemis excels at skin smoothing and exfoliation.
Research behind their key ingredients
The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer
Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) on Skin Health: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Evidence
Bacterial cellulose membranes as drug delivery systems: an in vivo skin compatibility study
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
Microneedling by dermapen and glycolic acid peel for the treatment of acne scars: Comparative study
Topical beta-carotene protects against infra-red-light-induced free radicals
A comparative study of gluconolactone versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne
A Rose Extract Protects the Skin against Stress Mediators: A Potential Role of Olfactory Receptors
Comparative measurement of hydration effects of herbal moisturizers
Topical Almond Oil for Prevention of Pressure Injuries: A Single-Blinded Comparison Study
Skin recovery by Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract: Redox control of Nrf2 signaling
Moisturizing Effects of Diglycerol Combined with Glycerol on Human Stratum Corneum
Formulation and evaluation of exotic fat based cosmeceuticals for skin repair
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
Effects of fermented tea seed oil on the skin lipid barrier and microbiome of sensitive skin
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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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
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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