🇬🇧United Kingdom

Anua vs Dr. Barbara Sturm

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

Anua and Dr. Barbara Sturm are distinct skincare lines created to nurture the complexion through specialized formulations. Anua relies on hyaluronic acid, heartleaf, and niacinamide to craft its moisturizers, toners, serums, and cleansers, making it ideal for dry and oily acne-prone skin. Meanwhile, the German brand is celebrated for gentle moisturizers, clarifying exfoliants, and nourishing serums that best suit sensitive, dry, and balanced skin through deep hydration and barrier support. While both collections target similar concerns like acne, dark spots, and aging with dedicated standouts, they differ fundamentally in their ingredient philosophies and regional heritage.

Anua is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2019 and owned by The Founders Inc..

prnewswire.comkedglobal.comtracxn.comv.daum.net

Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by Puig since 2024.

uploads.puig.combeautymatter.compitchbook.com

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

Popular Anua vs Dr. Barbara Sturm products

People Say

AnuaDr. Barbara Sturm
  • 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”
    • “skin drank it up — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “sinks in immediately — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Skin Smoothing and Texture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin texture is immediately more even — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “lines less visible — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “Skin feels super smooth — Anua PEACH 70% NIACINAMIDE SERUM”
  • Gentle Soothing Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Calms my redness instantly — Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner”
    • “calmed my red spots — Anua Heartleaf 77% Clear Pad”
    • “doesn't irritate my sensitive skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “reduced redness — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Brightening and Glow 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”
    • “skin looks brighter — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “healthy glow — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Texture and Consistency Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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 quickly — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
  • Cleansing and Pores Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Dissolved my sebaceous filaments immediately — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”
    • “leaves my face soft, smooth, and fresh without dryness — Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder”
    • “deep yet gentle cleanse — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “great for combination skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
  • 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”
    • “way too expensive — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Breakouts and Acne Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “appearance of imperfections — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “Wrecked my skin barrier — Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil”

Questions and answers

Anua or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which is better?

Anua does better for texture and consistency among the products on this page, while Dr. Barbara Sturm does better for breakouts and acne. Both brands perform equally well for hydration and moisture, gentle soothing, and brightening and glow, but Anua does better for price and value.

What is the difference between Anua and Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Anua products on this page offer better value and texture consistency, while Dr. Barbara Sturm products do better with skin smoothing and texture. Niacinamide in Anua formulations helps reduce pigmentation and control skin aging.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Which is more affordable, Anua or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Anua offers better price and value compared to Dr. Barbara Sturm among the products on this page.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Anua or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Dr. Barbara Sturm does better for breakouts and acne compared to Anua, as Anua reviewers sometimes note breakouts from the products on this page.

Where and when were Anua and Dr. Barbara Sturm founded, and who owns them?

Anua was founded in 2019 in South Korea and is owned by The Founders Inc., while Dr. Barbara Sturm was founded in 2014 in Germany and is owned by Puig since 2024.

How does Anua's Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner fit dry skin compared to its fit for sensitive skin?

Anua's Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner has a Superior fit for dry skin, while it has a High fit for sensitive skin.

Which brand performs better in terms of skin smoothing and texture according to review themes?

According to the review themes on this page, Dr. Barbara Sturm performs better than Anua in terms of skin smoothing and texture.

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