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Medik8 vs Anessa

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

Medik8 and Anessa are distinct skincare houses offering targeted daily care, with the British brand founded in 2009 focusing on serums, moisturizers, eye products, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, while the Japanese counterpart established in 1992 is widely loved for advanced sunscreens and sophisticated formulas. The former brand fits dry skin and dry sensitive skin best, with specific solutions like Surface Radiance Cleanse for acne-prone skin, Oxy-R Peptides for dark spots, and Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream for mature skin, where hyaluronic acid lengthens toxin wrinkle effect duration. Meanwhile, both brands differ as the latter suits all skin types best with reliable daily protection, featuring standouts like Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk for acne-prone skin and Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Gel for dark spots. These thoughtful formulations work to shield and care for the complexion.

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

Anessa is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1992 and owned by Shiseido Company, Limited.

anessaco.comen.wikipedia.orgcorp.shiseido.comhappi.com

This page compares some of the most popular Medik8 and Anessa products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Medik8 vs Anessa products

Questions and answers

Medik8 or Anessa: which is better?

Medik8 stands out for its wide selection of targeted serums and moisturizers, which Lovi rates as having High or Superior fit levels for dry and sensitive skin types. Anessa focuses instead on sunscreens, where the products on this page achieve High fit levels for oily and combination skin. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration across the Medik8 range.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between Medik8 and Anessa?

Medik8 is a UK-based brand founded in 2009 that offers a wide range of serums, toners, and moisturizers featuring key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, whereas Anessa is a Japanese brand founded in 1992, owned by Shiseido, and focused specifically on sunscreens on this page. Lovi rates the products on this page for various skin types, noting that Medik8 best fits dry, dry sensitive, and sensitive skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or Anessa?

Anessa is not specifically highlighted for affordability, but Medik8 reviewers often mention a high price point as a drawback for the products on this page. Therefore, neither brand is explicitly positioned as the budget-friendly option.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Medik8 or Anessa?

Both Medik8 and Anessa offer products on this page with high or superior Lovi fit levels for acne-prone skin, meaning both are unlikely to cause breakouts when matched correctly. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid found in the products on this page help support overall skin hydration.

Drug Delivery, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which brand has been around longer, Medik8 or Anessa?

Anessa has been around longer than Medik8, having been founded in Japan in 1992 compared to Medik8 which was founded in the United Kingdom in 2009.

Do both Medik8 and Anessa offer products completely free of fragrance?

Yes, both brands offer products without fragrance, as all of Anessa's sunscreens list no fragrance and 11 out of 12 Medik8 products on this page are also fragrance-free.

Which Medik8 products have a superior Lovi fit level for dry skin?

Among the products on this page, Hydr8 B5 Intense, Press & Glow, and Bakuchiol Peptides achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for dry skin.

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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