Brand Comparison
Anua vs Skin1004
A head-to-head comparison of two popular K-beauty brands. Which one is right for your skin?
Our Pick
Anua
Higher editor rating (8.5 vs 8)
Anua
Anua exploded onto the K-beauty scene with the Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner, and the hype is largely warranted. The brand does one thing exceptionally well: gentle, soothing products for reactive skin at budget prices. The heartleaf focus gives the range a clear identity, and the formulations are genuinely clean without the usual 'clean beauty' price markup. Still a young brand, so the range is narrow, but what exists is strong.
Pros
- ✓ Heartleaf 77% Toner is a best-in-class soothing toner
- ✓ Genuinely affordable for the quality
- ✓ Clean, minimal ingredient lists
Cons
- ✗ Very young brand with a limited track record
- ✗ Heavily reliant on one hero ingredient
- ✗ Availability outside Korea can be inconsistent
Skin1004
Skin1004 built an entire brand around Madagascar centella asiatica, and the single-mindedness pays off. The Centella Ampoule is a remarkably effective soothing serum for its price — genuinely comparable to products costing three times as much. The rest of the line is solid if unspectacular. If you have reactive, redness-prone skin and a tight budget, Skin1004 should be near the top of your list.
Pros
- ✓ Madagascar Centella Ampoule is excellent value
- ✓ Strong soothing and calming performance
- ✓ Budget pricing across the entire range
Cons
- ✗ Brand identity is one-dimensional — centella and little else
