Brand Comparison

Anessa vs Krave Beauty

A head-to-head comparison of two popular K-beauty brands. Which one is right for your skin?

Our Pick

Anessa

Higher editor rating (9.4 vs 8.7)

Anessa Krave Beauty

Rating9.4/108.7/10

Price RangeMid-Range ($$)Mid-Range ($$)

Founded19922017

OriginJapanSeoul, South Korea

Products67

Best Fornormal, Combo, Oily, Acne-ProneSensitive, Acne-Prone, compromised-barrier

PhilosophyShiseido's SPF lab — 30+ years of iterating on one problem: sun protection that doesn't quit.Liah Yoo's "press reset" philosophy: strip skincare back to what the barrier actually needs.

Anessa

If we could only recommend one Japanese sunscreen brand, it would be Anessa. The Perfect UV Sunscreen Skincare Milk (the gold bottle) is the single most-tested, most-reformulated SPF in Asia — water-resistant, sweat-activated, and disappears into the skin. The texture is unimpeachable, the UVA protection is serious (PA++++), and the current Nano Booster formula is the genuine high-water mark of Japanese sun protection.

Pros

✓ Industry-leading UVA protection
✓ Sweat and water-activated technology
✓ Genuinely undetectable finish

Cons

✗ Fragranced
✗ Contains alcohol
✗ US availability via import only

Krave Beauty

Liah Yoo built Krave Beauty the way you wish more brands would — with a skincare-fatigued YouTube audience in mind, a commitment to stripping back rather than piling on, and one genuine cult hit in Great Barrier Relief. Small catalog, specific mission, loyal fans. Not for people who want a 10-step system. Very much for people whose skin has been yelled at for too long.

Pros