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Courtesy of Anvita Reddy / Anua Skincare Beauty Skincare I Committed to This Viral Korean Skincare Brand for a Month—Here's What Happened I Committed to This Viral Korean Skincare Brand for a Month—Here's What Happened One writer puts Anua’s viral glass-skin claims to the test
Supermodel Kendall Jenner and I may not have much in common, but one thing I know we’ve both experienced? The challenge and frustration of dealing with severe acne. Along with professional in-office treatments, Jenner and I have also managed our acne-prone skin with over-the-counter products such as Accutane and Proactiv. But ultimately, our skincare journeys have led us to develop a love of Korean skincare , specifically the buzzy brand Anua (I’ve already gone through at least three bottles of its azelaic acid serum ).
When the star became Anua’s first global ambassador, I was curious to try some of her other brand favorites, especially as we’ve shared skincare goals for quite some time. “I first discovered the double cleanser, and it has changed my skin. I also love their Azelaic green serum and PDRN, which gives me a dewy glow,” Jenner said recently in a statement .
To find out whether the supermodel-approved K-beauty brand lives up to the hype, I tested several of its best-sellers on my acne- and rosacea-prone skin for over a month. Read on for my first impressions of the brand, along with the key products I think are worth adding to your beauty rotation.
Jenner’s first introduction to the brand was through its double-cleanse routine consisting of the Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil and the Heartleaf Pore Deep Cleansing Foam . I tried this oil cleanser a few years ago, and during this testing period, I fell in love with it again. It’s one of the few cleansing oils on the market that doesn’t blur my vision.
Made specifically for those with oily skin, this cleanser delivers that squeaky-clean feel without stripping the skin of moisture. If you missed a spot during the oil cleanse, the Pore Deep Cleansing Foam will take care of it.
“I have been reaching for this one if my skin feels irritated or prone to blemishes, and it really works,” Jenner said in her Instagram Story posted on September 5. I have to agree. My rosacea presents as breakouts, so this serum is my absolute holy grail for calming my skin and reducing inflamed pustules (within about three days). It’s one of those products that exemplifies the idea that consistency wins the race, and within a few weeks of daily use, I noticed a difference in my skin’s texture and help with fading my post-acne dark spots.
While Jenner has opened up about her post-acne scarring, I deal with post-acne hyperpigmentation, so this niacinamide and tranexamic acid-based serum was on my list. After using it for about a month, I was shocked by how even-toned my skin became. This serum (along with the azelaic acid serum) brightened my skin, improved the appearance of my stubborn hyperpigmentation, and faded dark spots within a few weeks.
You’ve probably seen this serum spray all over TikTok. Jenner likes using it to give her skin an instant boost of hydration and a little extra glow. While the facial spray is nourishing, its formula is more of a nice-to-have for me, though I can imagine it being handy for those with drier skin.
Korean sunscreens are in a league of their own, and Anua’s…