🇳🇱Netherlands

Anua vs Elemis

Anua and Elemis are two distinct skincare lines offering targeted moisturizers, toners, serums, and cleansers. The Korean brand founded in 2019 utilizes hyaluronic acid, heartleaf, and niacinamide to suit oily acne-prone skin and oily skin best, while the British line founded in 1989 harnesses glycerin and shea to serve mature skin and dry sensitive skin. Both appeal to discerning buyers through thoughtful formulations, though they diverge in heritage, key active ingredients, and ideal skin types.

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.

People Say

AnuaElemis
  • 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

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Anua vs Elemis routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Anua vs Elemis routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 94% fit

Questions and answers

Anua or Elemis: which is better?

Anua and Elemis perform equally overall, as both achieve a High routine fit across every skin type on this page. Anua excels in brightening and gentle, fragrance-free formulations, whereas Elemis stands out for skin smoothing, exfoliation, and luxurious moisturizing textures.

What is the difference between Anua and Elemis?

Anua focuses on fragrance-free formulations with key ingredients like heartleaf and niacinamide, while Elemis incorporates luxurious textures and botanical extracts alongside a high price point. Reviewers note that Anua is better for brightening and gentle care, whereas Elemis stands out for skin smoothing and exfoliation.

Anua or Elemis for dry skin?

Both Anua and Elemis are a High fit for dry skin on the products on this page. Anua helps provide hydration through ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, while Elemis offers nourishing moisturizers with a high price point.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Anua or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

When comparing cleansers on this page, both Anua and Elemis offer options that fit various skin types well, but Anua stands out for being fragrance-free across its entire range while Elemis cleansers often contain added fragrance and a higher price point.

Which is more affordable, Anua or Elemis?

Elemis has a high price point that is mostly mentioned by reviewers, making Anua the more affordable option on these pages.

Which brand has more products without fragrance, Anua or Elemis?

Anua has more products without fragrance because every single product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas only 4 of the 22 products on the Elemis page do.

Which brand is better for brightening and glow, Anua or Elemis?

Anua does better for brightening and glow among the products on this page. Niacinamide helps control pigmentation, and reviewers frequently mention its brightening serums.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Which brand is better for skin smoothing and exfoliation, Anua or Elemis?

Elemis is better for skin smoothing and exfoliation as it outperforms Anua in that category based on the products on this page.

Anua or Elemis for oily skin?

Both Anua and Elemis have an equal High routine fit for oily skin. Anua may be better for a fragrance-free routine, as every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, while most Elemis products contain fragrance.

Anua or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

Anua and Elemis both offer moisturizers with a High routine fit for dry skin, but Anua is better for gentle, fragrance-free care while Elemis is noted for luxurious textures and hydration. Anua features key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, whereas Elemis products often include shea butter and added fragrances.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Anua or Elemis for sensitive skin?

Both Anua and Elemis have an equal High routine fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Anua may be preferred by shoppers seeking fragrance-free options, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Anua or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

Both brands offer an equal routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. However, Anua features no fragrance across its products, whereas Elemis includes fragrance in several formulations and is sometimes noted for skin irritation.

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.

How does it fit your skin?

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