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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 · 95% fit

Anua vs The Ordinary routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Anua or The Ordinary: which is better?

The Ordinary offers a superior routine fit for dry, oily, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, mature, and dark-spot-prone skin compared to Anua. Both brands list no fragrance across the products on this page.

What is the difference between Anua and The Ordinary?

The Ordinary provides better overall routine fit levels across all skin types on this page, while Anua focuses more on hydration, moisture, and lightweight toners. Reviewers note that The Ordinary offers great value for affordable serums, whereas Anua is praised for its brightening serums and soothing moisturizers.

Anua or The Ordinary for dry skin?

For dry skin, Lovi rates The Ordinary as Superior and Anua as High. Both brands feature products suited for dry skin, such as The Ordinary's Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA and Anua's Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner, which help provide moisture.

Anua or The Ordinary: which cleanser is better?

Both brands offer solid cleanser options, with The Ordinary delivering a Superior routine fit for most skin types while Anua holds a High fit. Reviewers note that The Ordinary provides affordable value, whereas Anua products on this page avoid fragrance entirely.

Which is more affordable, Anua or The Ordinary?

The Ordinary is more affordable, as its products on this page are noted by reviewers for affordable price and value.

Anua or The Ordinary for dark spots?

Both brands help with dark spots, with The Ordinary achieving a Superior routine fit and Anua reaching a High fit. Niacinamide in both brands may reduce pigmentation, as niacinamide helps suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Anua or The Ordinary for sticky or tacky finishes?

The Ordinary is less likely to cause a sticky or tacky finish than Anua, as review themes on the products on this page note sticky or tacky finishes as a downside for Anua.

Anua or The Ordinary for oily skin?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for oily skin, whereas Lovi rates Anua as a High fit. Reviewers note that The Ordinary offers better acne-clearing serums and a more affordable price and value.

Anua or The Ordinary for sensitive skin?

Both Anua and The Ordinary are great for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates both brands as High for this skin type. The Ordinary also offers a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page.

Anua or The Ordinary for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Lovi gives Anua a High fit level and The Ordinary a Superior fit level among the products on this page. Reviewers note that The Ordinary does better with breakouts and acne concerns.

Anua or The Ordinary for mature skin?

The Ordinary offers a Superior routine fit for mature skin, whereas Anua provides a High fit. Both brands feature products that help target aging concerns, with ingredients like niacinamide and retinol that are backed by studies.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Antioxidants, 2021

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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