Brand Comparison

Anua vs The Face Shop

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 7.5)

Anua The Face Shop

Rating8.5/107.5/10

Price RangeBudget ($)Budget ($)

Founded20202003

OriginSeoul, South KoreaSeoul, South Korea

Products196

Best ForSensitive, Combo, Oily, Acne-ProneDry, Combo, Sensitive

PhilosophyClean, minimal formulations built around heartleaf (Houttuynia cordata) as a core soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredient.One of Korea's OG beauty brands. Nature-inspired formulations with a focus on rice, lotus, and other traditional ingredients at accessible prices.

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

The Face Shop

The Face Shop is a K-beauty institution. Their Rice Water Bright Cleansing Foam has introduced millions to Korean skincare. The brand offers incredible breadth — from cleansers to sunscreens — but quality varies. Stick to their hero products (rice water line, Dr. Belmeur for sensitive skin) and you will not be disappointed.

Pros