🇸🇬Singapore

The Ordinary vs Anessa

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

The Ordinary and Anessa are distinct skincare houses offering targeted support for diverse complexions. The Canadian line focuses on serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners built around hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, while the Japanese brand is widely loved for its advanced sunscreens and sophisticated formulas. Both options suit all skin types best, though specific items serve dry, oily acne-prone, and mature skin with precision. They differ primarily in their core offerings, as the former emphasizes barrier hydration and active treatments, whereas the latter provides reliable daily protection through thoughtful formulations.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

Anessa is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1992 and owned by Shiseido Company, Limited.

anessaco.comen.wikipedia.orgcorp.shiseido.comhappi.com

This page compares some of the most popular The Ordinary and Anessa products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The Ordinary vs Anessa products

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Anessa: which is better?

The Ordinary offers a large variety of affordable serums and treatments that Lovi rates as having High or Superior fit for most skin types, including dry skin and oily acne-prone skin. Meanwhile, Anessa focuses on sunscreens, making it a good choice if sun protection is your main goal.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Anessa?

The Ordinary offers a wide range of targeted serums, toners, and moisturizers for various skin concerns, whereas Anessa focuses specifically on sunscreens. Lovi rates The Ordinary with a High to Superior fit for dry skin and oily acne-prone skin, while Anessa provides sunscreens rated with a High fit for oily skin and dark spots.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Anessa?

The products on this page from The Ordinary include affordable and great value serums, making The Ordinary more affordable compared to Anessa.

Which causes fewer breakouts, The Ordinary or Anessa?

The products on this page from The Ordinary include targeted acne-clearing serums that help manage breakouts, whereas Anessa offers sunscreens without a specific focus on acne treatment.

When was The Ordinary founded compared to Anessa?

The Ordinary was founded in 2016 in Canada, whereas Anessa was founded earlier in 1992 in Japan.

Do any products from The Ordinary or Anessa contain fragrance?

Every product on the products on this page for both The Ordinary and Anessa lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Which company owns Anessa and where was it founded?

Anessa is owned by Shiseido Company, Limited and was founded in Japan.

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?

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

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play