Anua Skincare Review: Ranking the Top 10 Best and Worst

From the OG heartleaf cleanser to the viral new PDRN moisturizer—here’s my honest tier list of Anua’s most popular products. Learn what’s worth it and what I’d skip.

Over the last decade, K-beauty has reached almost ridiculous levels of popularity (seriously, its rise needs to be studied). There are endless new brands, endless new trends, and endless new “must-have” ingredients seemingly popping up every other week. But even in a sea of skincare sensations, a few brands break through and reach mass levels of awareness and virality. Anua is one of them.

Since 2022, they’ve consistently released product after product, and somehow each one turns into a social media favorite. Clearly, there’s a powerful marketing machine behind it all. But good marketing doesn’t automatically mean a product is amazing, and it doesn’t mean it’s terrible either.

To separate what actually works from what just went viral, I’ve tried multiple Anua products — some purchased with my own money, some gifted — and this is my definitive ranking, from the ones I’d skip to the ones I genuinely love.

Ranking Anua’s Most Viral Products: From Worst to Best

Before we get into it, a quick reminder of my skin type for context: I have oily, acne-prone skin that’s also dehydrated (yes, it’s confusing). I’m prone to clogged pores, post-acne hyperpigmentation, and sensitivity when my barrier isn’t happy. Everything in this ranking is filtered through that lens, so what worked or didn’t work for my skin may not work the same way for yours.

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10. Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil

Let’s start with the biggest disappointment.

The heartleaf (Houttuynia cordata) range was really what kicked-off the whole Anua craze. These were the products that first made me vaguely aware of Anua as a brand. It was marketed as calming, soothing, and acne-friendly — all things my reactive, clog-prone skin usually loves.

BUT ALAS, it didn’t live up to any of those promises for me.

I’ll be the first to admit that my skin doesn’t always get along with oil-based cleansers, but even so, this cleansing oil felt a lot heavier than I expected. It didn’t rinse off nearly as well as I would have liked, and after a few days of using this, I noticed quite a bit of congestion around my forehead. There are just so many good oil-based cleansers that are lighter and less pore-clogging than this. I don’t see any reason why anyone would reach for this product.

Overall, this was an easy last place

My Rating: 2/10

9. Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam

Following closely behind in the race to the bottom, is the heartleaf foam cleanser (I think you can tell, I’m not a fan of this range).

This wasn’t terrible, but it definitely wouldn’t be my top choice for a cleanser. It contains salicylic acid, a BHA, which in theory sounds great for acne-prone skin, but in reality can feel pretty stripping, even in a rinse-off format.

It gave me that tight, squeaky-clean sensation, and for dehydrated skin like mine, that’s…not ideal, let’s say. I’m just not a fan of a daily use product containing exfoliating ingredients, especially a product that I may be using twice a day.

My skin doesn’t need to feel stripped after cleansing. It needs to feel balanced. And for a product range that markets itself as soothing and barrier-friendly, this one felt a little more aggressive than I expected.

My Rating: 3/10

8. Niacinamide 10 + TXA 4 Serum

On paper, this should have been a winner.

Tranexamic acid and niacinamide is a pretty solid duo for hyperpigmentation prone skin like mine. Both fairly gentle, slow but steady workers.

My main gripe with this formula, though, is the needlessly high percentage of niacinamide (which is starting to become a trend in K-beauty that I am most certainly not a fan of). Niacinamide has been shown to be effective at around 3–5%, and there isn’t strong evidence that pushing it much higher gives you dramatically better results. What higher percentages can do, however, is increase the likelihood of irritation.

And let’s be honest, niacinamide is in EVERYTHING! Serums, toners, sunscreens, moisturizers. When you add a high-percentage niacinamide serum on top of that, you’re basically asking for ingredient overload.

This formula also contains a lot of different oils. The texture itself doesn’t feel oily going on, but it does leave behind a slightly tacky film that I didn’t love.

My Rating: 3.5/10

7. Zero-Cast Moisturizing Finish Sunscreen

When I read “Zero Cast” in the name, I was intrigued, wondering if Anua had finally cracked a mineral sunscreen without white cast. But, turns out, this is your pretty standard chemical sunscreen. Sure, it lives up to the name, but most half decent chemical sunscreens do nowadays.

This also felt like it was formulated specifically for the US market, with more traditional filters than the typically ultra-light, cosmetically elegant Korean sunscreen experience we’ve all been spoiled by.

The texture and even the scent feel more like what you’d traditionally expect a sunscreen to be. It’s not heavy or greasy, but it doesn’t have that weightless, barely-there finish that so many other popular K-beauty sunscreens manage to achieve. It’s still a decent, reliable product, and if you’re in the US, it’s probably a really good option. But for those of us who have access to more modern filters, there are much better K-beauty sunscreen options out there.

My Rating: 5/10

6. Azelaic 10 Hyaluron Redness Soothing Pads

The rise of azelaic acid was maybe one of my favorite skincare trends in 2025. It helps with inflammation and post-acne marks without being overly aggressive.

The reason this product is ranked in the middle-of-the-pack isn’t because it performed poorly. It’s mainly because I’m just not a fan of toner pads in general. They’re convenient, yes, but they’re also inherently wasteful. You’re using a pre-soaked pad every single time, when you could just be applying a liquid toner or serum with clean hands.

The formula feels gentle, so I keep these pads in the fridge and reach for them if I develop red, sensitive or dry patches that require some additional attention. But, they’re definitely not a daily use product for me, and if I’m choosing between this and a regular azelaic acid toner or serum, 9 times out of 10, I pick the latter.

My Rating: 6.5/10

5. PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum

Ah yes. PDRN. The trendy ingredient of the moment.

Let’s be honest, the actual efficacy of PDRN in topical form is highly debatable (to say the least). Most of the magic in this product likely comes from the glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and hydrolyzed collagen doing their hydrating things. But regardless, it’s still a pretty good hydrating serum.

It layers well, gives immediate plumpness, and doesn’t feel sticky or suffocating. I don’t love heavy textured serums on my skin, and this one sits comfortably.

Do I think it’s revolutionary? No.
Do I think it’s a very solid hydrating serum? Yes.

And sometimes that’s enough.

My Rating: 7/10

4. Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner

Now we’re onto products I actually love.

Anua’s milky toner was the first product that got me to look at this brand differently. After the heartleaf double debacle, and the disappointment of the TXA serum, I was all ready to write them off. Until I tried this toner.

It’s pretty hard to find a milky toner that works for oily skin (looking at you, Rhode, Byoma, and Haruharu Wonder) but this one finds the perfect balance. It’s hydrating thanks to ingredients like panthenol and hyaluronic acid, soothing because of the ceramides, and it even has some brightening benefits. Oryza Sativa (rice) bran water acts as an antioxidant, and it also contains alpha arbutin, which adds a gentle tone-evening effect.

I especially love this in my morning routine. It’s moisturizing enough to take care of my dehydrated skin, but it doesn’t leave behind any heaviness or grease, which is perfect for my surface-oily skin too.

My Rating: 8.5/10

3. Azelaic Acid 10 Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum

Remember when I said I was excited to see azelaic acid get the recognition it deserved? This is one of the products I was talking about.

I have to give Anua credit here because they were really the brand that put azelaic acid on the map. Sure, a few brands had formulated with it before, but no formula broke through into mainstream consciousness like this one did. And the best part? It actually works!

This azelaic acid serum feels more effective, and more purposeful than the toner pads. The texture is incredibly watery and lightweight. It spreads easily and absorbs almost instantly. This isn’t going to give you overnight miracle results, it’s definitely a gentle worker. But I did notice gradual improvement in redness and post-acne marks with long-term consistent use (like use up at least a whole bottle kind of consistent use).

It’s the kind of non-irritating formula that could work for all skin types, but it’s an especially great choice for sensitive and redness-prone skin. This has become my go-to when my skin is flaring up or feeling reactive. It calms everything down without overwhelming my barrier, and leaves my skin feeling soothed in the process.

My Rating: 8.5/10

2. 7 Rice Ceramide Hydrating Barrier Serum

This is one of only 2 Anua products that has earned a permanent place in my skincare routine.

Barrier support is a non-negotiable for damage-prone skin like mine. The problem is that most barrier serums lean heavily into thick, occlusive, emollient-rich territory, which is usually far too heavy for my oily, clog-prone skin. This one, however, strikes that elusive balance. It feels genuinely nourishing without crossing over into greasy or suffocating.

Yes, the texture is slightly tacky (almost snail-mucin-like), because of which, I only use it at night. But that’s a small price to pay for a formula that actually strengthens my barrier without overwhelming it.

For oily, acne-prone skin, barrier care is often overlooked because we’re so focused on oil-control. But the truth is that hydration and barrier support can actually help control oil production, and reduce breakouts long term. This product helps me do just that.

Very high on my list for a reason.

My Rating: 9/10

1. PDRN Hyaluronic Acid 100 Moisturizing Cream

And finally we come to number 1. The other Anua product that has earned a permanent place in my night time routine (as you can probably tell from the fact that I have 3 tubes of this!).

This is now my holy grail nighttime moisturizer, especially on tretinoin nights when my skin is craving some additional hydration. Even though it’s similar to the serum in the same line, it ranks much higher for me because this formula makes far more sense as a moisturizer. Its main job is to hydrate and protect, and it does that exceptionally well.

It also contains a very intriguing blend of botanicals that are native to South Asia, including turmeric, holy basil, and neem. Growing up in an Indian household, these medicinal herbs were a natural part of my life, and to see them in a Korean moisturizer spoke to me in a way that few skincare formulations do.

It’s deeply hydrating and genuinely soothing, the exact combination my oily, dehydrated skin needs. It cushions my skin when it’s feeling sensitized from tretinoin, helps prevent that tight, compromised feeling, and still manages to avoid clogging my pores. For me, that balance is everything. Hydration without heaviness. Nourishment without grease. This is the one I reach for every night, and it’s the reason it sits firmly at the top of this list.

My Rating: 10/10

Final Thoughts on Anua Skincare

Anua started out as a brand that I was highly skeptical about. Their first few launches in the heartleaf range were some of my most disliked of the year. But slowly, yet surely, they’ve started to impress me with their more skin barrier focused, research-based products.

Do I believe everything they make now is brilliant? Umm, not quite. But their brand philosophy seems to be evolving, and I like where they seem to be headed. I’ll be keeping an eye out for their next few launches, and as always, I’ll keep you informed with my honest opinions as I do.

Have you tried any of Anua’s viral products? Let me know which ones you loved (or hated) in the comments below.

About The Skinimalist

Hi, I’m Mal, a 30-something recovering skincare addict, and this is my blog. A space where I attempt to de-influence you from chasing trends and buying more skincare products you may not need.

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