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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 botanical and clinical skincare lines tailored to distinct complexions, with the former originating in Korea in 2019 and the latter in Canada in 2016. Anua centers its moisturizers, toners, serums, and cleansers on heartleaf, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide to best suit oily, acne-prone, and combination skin. Conversely, the Canadian brand formulates its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners around squalane, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid for sensitive and dry sensitive skin. Both lines differ fundamentally in their core philosophies, as the Korean label emphasizes soothing botanical extracts for blemish control while the other prioritizes targeted molecular actives.

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

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 814.57 · 90% fitBuy Anua routine · SAR 599.64 · 78% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Anua vs The Ordinary routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 867.55 · 92% fitBuy Anua routine · SAR 508.48 · 81% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Anua vs The Ordinary routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · SAR 981.41 · 92% fitBuy Anua routine · SAR 494.34 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Anua or The Ordinary: which is better?

The Ordinary offers superior routine fit for dry, oily, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, mature, and dark-spot skin types on this page. The Ordinary is noted for affordable value and acne-clearing serums, while Anua excels in hydration and lightweight toners.

What is the difference between Anua and The Ordinary?

The Ordinary offers better overall routine fits across almost all skin types on this page, while Anua excels specifically in hydration, moisture, and lightweight formulations. Both brands list no fragrance in any of the products on this page.

Anua or The Ordinary for dry skin?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for dry skin on the products on this page, whereas Anua is a High fit. The Ordinary features targeted ingredients like hyaluronic acid that help retain moisture.

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

Anua or The Ordinary: which cleanser is better?

Both brands offer effective cleansers, but shoppers looking for barrier support and soothing heartleaf extracts may prefer Anua, while those seeking straightforward, budget-friendly options can find great value in The Ordinary cleansers.

Which is more affordable, Anua or The Ordinary?

The Ordinary is more affordable, offering affordable and great value serums among the products on this page.

How do Anua and The Ordinary compare regarding texture and pores?

Both brands perform equally well regarding texture and pores based on the products on this page.

Which brand performs better for hydration and moisture?

Anua performs better for hydration and moisture based on the products on this page.

How do Anua and The Ordinary differ in sticky or tacky finishes?

Anua has a sticky or tacky finish sometimes noted by reviewers, whereas The Ordinary products on this page also occasionally have sticky or tacky finishes.

Anua or The Ordinary for oily skin?

For oily skin, both Anua and The Ordinary fit well, as Lovi rates Anua High and The Ordinary Superior for this skin type. Niacinamide helps control oil production and improves skin tone.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Anua or The Ordinary: which moisturizer is better?

Both brands offer moisturizers for different skin needs, with The Ordinary achieving a Superior routine fit for dry and dry sensitive skin and Anua providing products featuring key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. The Ordinary's Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA and Natural Moisturizing Factors + Beta Glucan deliver Superior hydration for dry skin.

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

Anua or The Ordinary for sensitive skin?

Both brands offer solid options for sensitive skin, but Lovi rates The Ordinary as Superior and Anua as High for this skin type. Reviewers note that The Ordinary provides gentle serums, while Anua features fragrance-free formulas with heartleaf and panthenol.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

Anua or The Ordinary for acne-prone skin?

Both brands offer products for acne-prone skin, but The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit while Anua has a High fit. Reviewers note that The Ordinary does better with acne and breakout concerns 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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