🇫🇷France

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 distinct skincare houses offering targeted moisturizers, toners, serums, and cleansers designed for specific complexions. The Korean brand features heartleaf, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid to best support oily acne-prone and dry skin, while the Canadian brand utilizes glycerin, squalane, and hyaluronic acid to nourish dry and dry sensitive skin. Ultimately, the former emphasizes botanical-forward formulations for blemishes and redness, whereas the latter focuses on active-driven molecules for barrier health and gentle exfoliation.

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.

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

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 · 98% fit

Anua vs The Ordinary routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% 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 fits dry skin better than Anua, with a Superior routine fit compared to Anua's High fit. Both brands offer fragrance-free products on this page.

What is the difference between Anua and The Ordinary?

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 affordable price and value and acne concerns, whereas Anua is better for hydration and moisture, and lightweight and fast absorbing products.

Anua or The Ordinary for dry skin?

Both Anua and The Ordinary fit dry skin well, with routine fit levels of High for Anua and Superior for The Ordinary among the products on this page. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Anua or The Ordinary: which cleanser is better?

Both Anua and The Ordinary offer effective cleansers, with Lovi fit levels varying depending on your specific skin type and needs.

Which is more affordable, Anua or The Ordinary?

The Ordinary is more affordable, as the products on this page are noted for offering affordable price and value.

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

Both brands are equal for reducing dark spots, with the products on this page offering great options like brightening serums. Niacinamide helps reduce pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer, making it a key ingredient found in both lines for this concern.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Do Anua and The Ordinary products contain added fragrance?

Both Anua and The Ordinary products on this page list no fragrance in their ingredients. Reviewers note that all formulations remain entirely free of added scents.

Anua or The Ordinary: which brand offers better hydration and moisture?

Anua offers better hydration and moisture among the products on this page. Reviewers report that Anua provides superior performance in this category.

Anua or The Ordinary for oily skin?

Lovi finds both Anua and The Ordinary have a Superior routine fit for oily skin, with The Ordinary offering extra advantages like acne-clearing serums and affordability while Anua features lightweight and fast-absorbing toners.

Anua or The Ordinary: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, The Ordinary achieves a Superior routine fit for dry skin, while Anua fits with a High level, though the products on this page for both brands list no fragrance in their ingredients.

Anua or The Ordinary for sensitive skin?

Both Anua and The Ordinary fit sensitive skin well, as Lovi rates Anua High and The Ordinary Superior for this skin type. Reviewers note that products on this page from both brands tend to be gentle and non-irritating.

Anua or The Ordinary for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Lovi rates both Anua and The Ordinary as having a Superior routine fit. Reviewers often mention acne-clearing serums for The Ordinary, while Anua features lightweight toners and brightening serums.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play