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Anua Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam for oily skin

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for oily skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Highly suitable for your oily skin, this cleanser effectively manages excess oil and minimizes pore appearance with salicylic acid and houttuynia cordata extract, which also offer anti-inflammatory benefits.
  • The formulation provides excellent cleansing and pore refinement, further supported by allantoin and panthenol to soothe your skin.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.

How to apply

  • Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
  • Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
  • Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
  • You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
  • Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.

People Say

★4.2Overall rating based on 5.0k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is frequently praised by users with oily, resilient skin for its ability to deep clean pores and remove sebaceous filaments, but it is often criticized by those with dry or sensitive skin for being overly stripping and causing barrier damage. While many report a smooth finish, a significant number of users experienced breakouts or irritation.

Highlights

  • Deep pore cleansing Often Mentioned
    • “effectively removes sebum”
    • “clears sebaceous filaments”
    • “unclogs pores”
    • “"squeaky clean" feeling”
  • Rich lather Often Mentioned
    • “dense creamy foam”
    • “foams up easily”
    • “a little goes a long way”
    • “luxurious texture”
  • Drying and stripping Often Mentioned
    • “leaves skin tight”
    • “feels "squeaky" dry”
    • “damages moisture barrier”
    • “causes flaking”
  • Oil control Sometimes Noted
    • “reduces excess oil”
    • “matte finish”
    • “great for summer/humid weather”
    • “helps greasy T-zones”
  • Skin smoothing Sometimes Noted
    • “exfoliates dead skin”
    • “leaves face soft”
    • “reduces skin texture”
    • “removes "gunk"”
  • Breakouts and acne Sometimes Noted
    • “caused closed comedones”
    • “"ruined skin"”
    • “painful cystic acne”
    • “bad reaction/purging”
  • Irritation Sometimes Noted
    • “stinging sensation”
    • “redness after use”
    • “burning on sensitive areas”
    • “too harsh”
  • Strong scent Rarely Noted
    • “overpowering herbal smell”
    • “smells like eucalyptus/medicinal”
    • “fragrance is too strong”

Sources: lovi.care, reddit.com, oliveyoung.com, yesstyle.com, stylevana.com, skinsort.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes anua Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam a great fit for oily skin?

This cleanser is a great fit for oily skin because it effectively manages excess oil and minimizes pores using salicylic acid and houttuynia cordata extract. These ingredients also offer anti-inflammatory benefits, while allantoin and panthenol help soothe your skin.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?

Salicylic acid and houttuynia cordata extract make this cleanser a great fit by managing excess oil and calming your skin. Allantoin and panthenol also help soothe the skin and keep irritation unlikely.

BioMed Research International, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

What does Houttuynia Cordata Extract do for oily skin?

Houttuynia cordata extract helps calm oily skin by fighting inflammation and reducing the bacteria that often lead to breakouts. It also protects your skin from daily stress and damage, making it a great addition to your routine to keep things clear and balanced.

Antioxidants, 2022Heliyon, 2024

What does Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?

Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the main cleansing step to manage excess oil. Using a gentle cleanser as part of your daily routine helps improve skin condition while keeping irritation low.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying it first in your evening routine to wash your face before putting on your retinol treatment. This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation because it leaves out harsh ingredients and includes soothing components.

How often should I use this cleanser?

This cleanser is a great fit for your oily skin and is designed for daily use in both your morning and evening routines. It helps manage excess oil and refines pores with salicylic acid and houttuynia cordata extract while soothing your skin with allantoin and panthenol.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin because it effectively manages excess oil and helps minimize pore appearance with salicylic acid and houttuynia cordata extract. However, some reviewers do experience moderate breakouts, so monitor how your skin responds when you first start using it.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the very thin skin directly around your eyes. The body has thicker skin that handles deep cleansing well, whereas the eye area is much thinner and more easily irritated by active ingredients like salicylic acid.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020
  • Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
  • Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
  • A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.

    Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020
  • Quercetin phospholipids 1% cream significantly reduced UV-, histamine-, and chemical-induced skin erythema (-10.05%) and mean wheal diameter in 30 healthy human volunteers, showing comparable efficacy to 1% dexchlorpheniramine cream.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2016
  • Quercetin-loaded niosomes formulated with Span60-RH40 at a 9:11 mass ratio improved quercetin solubility, photostability, sustained release, and transdermal penetration, yielding a skin retention 2.95 times higher than quercetin solution.

    Molecules, 2019
  • Optimized rutin-loaded glycerosomes formulated into a nanosunscreen gel demonstrated sustained drug release, greater skin permeation, good antioxidant activity, and better epidermal retention compared to the dermis, indicating high safety, stability, and sun protection factor values for topical administration.

    Gels, 2023
  • Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.

    CMAJ, 2010
  • Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010
  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Quercetin, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Edta, Salicylic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

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