Anua vs Kiehl's
Anua and Kiehl's are two distinct skincare lines known for distinct botanical and scientific heritages. The Korean brand features moisturizers, toners, serums, and cleansers built around hyaluronic acid, heartleaf, and niacinamide, while the American label offers nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, soothing toners, and gentle eye products formulated with glycerin and squalane. The former suits oily acne-prone skin and skin with dark spots best, whereas its counterpart addresses dry skin and mature skin. They differ primarily because the first brand utilizes hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to reduce wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, while the second brand relies on glycerin and squalane to increase hydration, restore epidermal barrier function, and counteract oxidative stress.
Anua is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2019 and owned by The Founders Inc..
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Kiehl's is an American skincare brand founded in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000.
This page compares some of the most popular Anua and Kiehl's products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Anua vs Kiehl's products
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Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
S$21.83
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Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner
S$26.97
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Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
S$19.06
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PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum
S$30.50
- Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
-
Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
S$22.92
- PEACH 70% NIACINAMIDE SERUM
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Heartleaf 77% Clear Pad
S$14.13
People Say
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”
- “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
- “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
Texture and Lightweight Feel Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “melts into skin — Anua Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream”
- “Feels like water, not heavy oil — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
- “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
- “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
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”
- “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
- “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
Sensitive Skin Care Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “Calms my redness instantly — Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner”
- “calmed my red spots — Anua Heartleaf 77% Clear Pad”
- “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
- “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
Skin Smoothing and Texture Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “Skin feels super smooth — Anua PEACH 70% NIACINAMIDE SERUM”
- “skin feels so smooth — Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner”
- “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
- “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
Glow and Radiance Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “glass-like glow — Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner”
- “glassy skin look — Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum”
- “beautiful glow — Anua Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream”
- “Skin looks noticeably more plump — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
Price and Value 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”
- “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
Breakouts and Acne Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
- “cystic acne for some — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
- “developed tiny white bumps — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
- “Wrecked my skin barrier — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
Sticky or Greasy Finish Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “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”
- “oil slick in summer — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
- “too radiant for oily skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
Anua vs Kiehl's routines for dry skin
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Cleanser
Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$57.34
-
Hydrating Toner
Ultra Facial Toner
Morning
S$53.30
-
Moisturizer
Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$22.43
-
SPF
thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+
Morning
S$21.09
-
Pre-Cleanser
MISSHA Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
Evening · Once a week
S$39.68
-
Serum or Treatment
Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$63.44
-
Nourishing Mask
MEDIHEAL Collagen Essential Mask
Once a week
S$62.94
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Cleanser
Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$17.98
-
Hydrating Toner
Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
Morning
S$22.92
-
Moisturizer
Heartleaf 70% Intense Calming Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$19.26
-
SPF
Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream
Morning
S$16.57
-
Pre-Cleanser
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
S$21.83
-
Serum or Treatment
Green Lemon Vita C Blemish Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$28.55
-
Nourishing Mask
Heartleaf 77% Soothing Sheet Mask
Once a week
S$3.35
Buy Kiehl's routine · S$209.58 · 92% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit
Anua vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin
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Cleanser
Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$57.34
-
Hydrating Toner
Ultra Facial Toner
Morning · Once a week
S$53.30
-
Moisturizer
Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$114.04
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
S$28.72
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
S$70.21
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening · Once a week
S$36.48
-
Serum or Treatment
Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$63.44
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
- Cleanser Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam Morning · Evening · Once a week
-
Hydrating Toner
Peach 77 Niacin Essence Toner
Morning · Once a week
S$20.55
-
Moisturizer
Heartleaf 70% Intense Calming Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$19.26
-
SPF
Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream
Morning
S$16.57
-
Pre-Cleanser
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
S$21.83
-
Cleansing Toner
BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner
Evening · Once a week
S$26.97
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$19.06
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
Buy Kiehl's routine · S$287.99 · 90% fit
Buy Anua routine · S$89.14 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit
Anua vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin
-
Cleanser
Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$57.34
-
Hydrating Toner
Ultra Facial Toner
Morning · Once a week
S$53.30
-
Moisturizer
Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$114.04
-
SPF
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
Morning
S$28.72
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
S$70.21
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening · Once a week
S$36.48
-
Serum or Treatment
Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$63.44
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
- Cleanser Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam Morning · Evening · Once a week
-
Hydrating Toner
Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner
Morning · Once a week
S$22.92
-
Moisturizer
Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder
Morning · Evening · Once a week
S$21.23
-
SPF
Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream
Morning
S$16.57
-
Pre-Cleanser
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
S$21.83
-
Cleansing Toner
BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner
Evening · Once a week
S$26.97
-
Serum or Treatment
Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
Evening · Once a week
S$19.06
-
Cleansing Mask
HERBIVORE Botanicals Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask
Once a week
S$89.14
Buy Kiehl's routine · S$287.99 · 90% fit
Buy Anua routine · S$89.14 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit
Questions and answers
Anua or Kiehl's: which is better?
Both brands offer solid options depending on your routine, but Anua stands out for glass skin glow toners and fragrance-free formulas across all its products. Kiehl's routines achieve a Superior routine fit for dry, mature, and oily skin, though some reviewers note higher price points and occasional breakouts.
What is the difference between Anua and Kiehl's?
Both Anua and Kiehl's offer comprehensive skincare ranges, with Anua being founded in South Korea in 2019 and Kiehl's established in the United States in 1851. Anua's products on this page feature key ingredients like heartleaf and niacinamide with every product listing no fragrance, whereas Kiehl's utilizes ingredients like squalane and vitamin C with a couple of products containing fragrance.
Anua or Kiehl's for dry skin?
For dry skin, Anua has a High routine fit while Kiehl's has a Superior routine fit. Anua offers fragrance-free options with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, whereas Kiehl's features rich emollients like squalane and shea butter that help support hydration and barrier repair.
Anua or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?
Both Anua and Kiehl's offer highly rated cleansers, with Kiehl's providing options that reach a Superior fit level for oily and oily acne-prone skin. Anua features cleansers completely free of fragrance across its products on this page, while Kiehl's formulates mostly fragrance-free items with occasional exceptions.
Which is more affordable, Anua or Kiehl's?
Anua is more affordable, as Kiehl's reviewers often note a high price point as a drawback.
Anua or Kiehl's for dark spots?
Both Anua and Kiehl's are a High fit for skin with dark spots. Anua features brightening serums and key ingredients like niacinamide that help reduce cutaneous pigmentation.
Which brand provides better glow and radiance, Anua or Kiehl's?
Anua provides better glow and radiance, as the products on this page outperform Kiehl's in that review theme. Niacinamide in Anua serums helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation.
Anua or Kiehl's for oily skin?
Anua or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?
Both Anua and Kiehl's offer moisturizers that fit dry skin at a High level on the products on this page. Anua is noted for soothing and barrier support in its moisturizers, while Kiehl's provides deep hydration.
Anua or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?
Both Anua and Kiehl's are a High fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Anua focuses on gentle, non-irritating toners with fragrance-free formulas, while Kiehl's provides gentle serums and deep hydration.
Anua or Kiehl's: which sunscreen is better?
Both Anua and Kiehl's offer sunscreens on their pages with High fit levels for combination and sensitive skin. Anua features the Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream, while Kiehl's provides the Better Screen UV Serum.
Anua or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?
Both brands offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Anua features key ingredients like niacinamide, which may help reduce cutaneous pigmentation, while Kiehl's provides options such as the Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner.
Anua or Kiehl's for mature skin?
For mature skin, Lovi rates Anua as a High fit and Kiehl's as a Superior fit. Kiehl's has products like the Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum, which helps target signs of aging.
Research behind their key ingredients
The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer
Topical menthol--a human model for cold pain by activation and sensitization of C nociceptors
Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) on Skin Health: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Evidence
The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review
Molecular basis of retinol anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo
Psychophysical study of the effects of topical application of menthol in healthy volunteers
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Apigenin inhibits UVA-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and prevents signs of skin aging in vivo
Panax ginseng induces human Type I collagen synthesis through activation of Smad signaling
Vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate promotes epidermal thickening and collagen production in human skin
Effects of glyceryl glucoside on AQP3 expression, barrier function and hydration of human skin
Calendula extract: effects on mechanical parameters of human skin
A comparative study of gluconolactone versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne
Natural Arctium lappa fruit extract improves the clinical signs of aging skin
Preparation and evaluation of anti-wrinkle cream containing saffron extract and avocado oil
In vitro and in vivo anti-allergic effects of Arctium lappa L
The evaluation of aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion for photodamage
Skin barrier changes induced by aluminum oxide and sodium chloride microdermabrasion
Moisturizing Effects of Diglycerol Combined with Glycerol on Human Stratum Corneum
Nanocomplex of quaternized cyclodextrin grafted chitosan and hyaluronic acid for a skin delivery
Histometric assessment of the age-related skin response to 2-hydroxy-5-octanoyl benzoic acid
Emulgels powered by coco-glucoside: A stable and effective synbiotics delivery system for skin care
Clinical and histologic changes determine optimal treatment regimens for microdermabrasion
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Clinical Assessment of a Novel Jasmonate Cosmeceutical, LR2412-Cx, for the Treatment of Skin Aging
Retrospective Review of Dermal Safety Studies of Organic Sunscreens
Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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