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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 two distinct skincare lines known for formulating essential moisturizers, toners, serums, and cleansers. The Korean brand features heartleaf, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid to best suit oily and acne-prone skin, whereas the Canadian brand relies on glycerin, squalane, and hyaluronic acid to nurture dry and sensitive skin. While both incorporate advanced ingredients to target concerns like hyperpigmentation and fine lines, they differ in their foundational approaches to individual skin types.

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 · 98% 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 · 94% fit

Questions and answers

Anua or The Ordinary: which is better?

Both brands offer great options, but The Ordinary is better for budget-conscious shoppers looking for affordable serums, while Anua provides superior hydration and lightweight, fast-absorbing toners. For specific skin goals on the products on this page, The Ordinary achieves a superior routine fit for dry, oily, sensitive, skin with dark spots, and dry sensitive skin.

What is the difference between Anua and The Ordinary?

Anua and The Ordinary are popular skincare brands owned by different parent companies, with Anua founded in South Korea in 2019 and The Ordinary founded in Canada in 2016. Reviewers note that Anua is better for hydration, moisture, and lightweight, fast-absorbing products, while The Ordinary offers better value and results for acne concerns. Both brands feature no fragrance across the products on this page.

Anua or The Ordinary for dry skin?

Both Anua and The Ordinary are good for dry skin, with routines featuring a high fit level for Anua and a superior fit level for The Ordinary among the products on this page. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid help improve skin quality and hydration for dry skin types.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Anua or The Ordinary: which cleanser is better?

Both brands offer solid cleanser options, but the products on this page show that The Ordinary stands out with superior fits for dry sensitive skin while Anua is known for its lightweight and fast-absorbing formulas. Lovi rates The Ordinary with a Superior fit for dry sensitive skin and Anua with a High fit for the same skin type.

Which is more affordable, Anua or The Ordinary?

The Ordinary is more affordable, as the products on this page offer affordable price and value.

Anua or The Ordinary for dark spots?

The Ordinary is a better choice for dark spots because the products on this page achieve a superior fit level for that skin concern compared to Anua's high fit level. Both brands include effective ingredients like niacinamide, which may help reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Which brand has a better routine fit for mature skin?

Anua has a High routine fit for mature skin, and The Ordinary also has a High routine fit for mature skin, making them equal for this skin type.

Anua or The Ordinary for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi finds The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit compared to Anua's High fit. Both brands feature fragrance-free formulations, while reviewers note that The Ordinary offers effective acne-clearing serums at affordable prices.

Anua or The Ordinary: which moisturizer is better?

The Ordinary offers superior routine fit for dry skin, dry sensitive skin, and general hydration compared to Anua. Anua moisturizers focus on soothing and barrier support with ingredients like heartleaf, while The Ordinary features options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA that provide high hydration and skin compatibility.

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 often mention that products from both brands are gentle and non-irritating.

Anua or The Ordinary for acne-prone skin?

Both Anua and The Ordinary fit acne-prone skin well, as the products on this page show high routine fit levels for both brands. Anua features soothing ingredients like heartleaf, while The Ordinary offers treatments with niacinamide that help regulate oil production.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Anua or The Ordinary for dry sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is better suited for dry sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Anua's High fit on this page.

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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