Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil for dry sensitive skin
Heartleaf Extract
Curcuma Longa Root Extract
Sunflower Seed Oil
Jojoba Seed Oil
Grape Seed OilAverage
- SuperiorDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry sensitive skin; other pre-cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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
- Offers excellent makeup removal for your dry and sensitive skin, as Ethylhexyl Palmitate and Caprylic Capric Triglyceride effectively dissolve impurities while sunflower and macadamia seed oils provide essential moisture and barrier support.
- The formula is generally safe for your dry or flaky skin and sensitivity, with no harsh ingredients that would cause irritation.
- It provides good cleansing and hydration, supporting your skin's needs without compromising its delicate nature.
How to apply
- Use your makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine. Start 3×/week daily use if your dry skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. It prepares your face for a thorough double-cleansing routine.
- Gently press a small amount onto your skin using a soft cotton pad. Avoid rubbing to protect your sensitive and flaky skin.
- Apply the makeup remover on completely dry skin to ensure better tolerance and comfort. This prevents any extra irritation for reactive skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your very first use to prevent irritation.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 20.0k+ reviewsThis lightweight cleansing oil is widely praised for its ability to dissolve sebaceous filaments and remove heavy makeup without stripping moisture, often resulting in "glass skin" for satisfied users. Based on a very large amount of data, this should be definitely taken into account. It is a polarizing product; while many find it gentle, a significant minority of users with acne-prone or sensitive skin report severe breakouts and cystic acne, likely due to the fragrance or specific oil ingredients.
Highlights
Effective pore cleansing Mostly Mentioned
- “Dissolved my sebaceous filaments immediately”
- “Blackheads on nose are gone”
- “Great for oil gritting method”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “Feels like water, not heavy oil”
- “Emulsifies instantly”
- “Rinses off completely clean”
Makeup removal Often Mentioned
- “Melted my waterproof mascara”
- “Removes all layers of SPF”
- “No raccoon eyes left behind”
Non-stripping finish Sometimes Noted
- “Skin feels moist afterwards”
- “No tight feeling”
- “Leaves face soft and glowy”
Severe breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “Wrecked my skin barrier”
- “Gave me deep cystic acne”
- “Caused tiny whiteheads all over”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “Made my vision blurry for an hour”
- “Stings my eyes bad”
- “Cloudy eyes after rinsing”
Fragrance irritation Rarely Noted
- “Smell is too strong”
- “Irritated my sensitive skin”
- “Fragrance caused redness”
Pore clogging Rarely Noted
- “Congested my skin worse”
- “Caused closed comedones”
- “Felt like it sat in my pores”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, oliveyoung.com, yesstyle.com, reddit.com, ulta.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does ANUA Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil work for dry sensitive skin?
This cleansing oil works decently for dry sensitive skin by melting away makeup while offering moisture and barrier support. It is generally safe and unlikely to cause irritation, though other options may fit your skin better. A cleanser for this skin type needs multiple types of deep hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, plus soothing emollients to lock in moisture and keep the skin soft.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Ethylhexyl Palmitate and Caprylic Capric Triglyceride dissolve impurities while sunflower, macadamia, jojoba, and grape seed oils provide essential moisture and support the skin barrier. A cleanser for this skin also needs multiple types of hyaluronic acid and rich hydrating ingredients for deep moisture and soothing benefits.
What does Heartleaf Extract do for dry sensitive skin?
Heartleaf Extract helps calm dry sensitive skin by reducing irritation and supporting the skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause trouble and may help keep your skin feeling soft and smooth.
What does Turmeric Root Extract do for dry sensitive skin?
Turmeric Root Extract helps calm dry sensitive skin by easing redness and irritation while boosting moisture levels. It has strong soothing and antioxidant qualities that make it very gentle and safe to use on easily upset skin.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2008Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet Thangphaet, 2007
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This cleansing oil goes in the evening routine as a makeup remover, followed by a gentle cleanser, soothing toner, treatment, and moisturizer. This type of product for dry sensitive skin needs soothing plant oils and gentle cleansers to melt away impurities while keeping moisture locked in and avoiding irritation.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover with retinol by applying it as the first step in your evening routine before cleansing and applying your retinol treatment. It helps gently take off makeup while supporting your skin barrier with plant oils, though dry and sensitive skin needs added soothing ingredients and richer moisturizers to fully prevent irritation.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleansing oil works as a makeup remover in your evening routine and weekly routine. It is generally safe for dry sensitive skin without harsh ingredients that would cause irritation, but a product of this type for your skin needs soothing plant oils and gentle cleansers that melt makeup while protecting your delicate moisture barrier.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your dry and sensitive skin, as it is generally safe and free of harsh irritating ingredients. However, to keep this skin type clear and comfortable, a cleanser needs nourishing plant oils and gentle soothing ingredients that clean without stripping away essential moisture.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical application of an emollient emulsion containing 15.0% caprylic/capric triglyceride doubled the amount of urocanic acid isomers and increased skin hydration with reduced transepidermal water loss in healthy subjects, though it did not prevent ultraviolet-induced urocanic acid isomerization.
Life, 2023Topical application of a water-in-oil emulsion containing 2% Muscat hamburg grape seed extract significantly improved melanin, elasticity, and sebum content compared to a placebo in human volunteers over 8 weeks, with no reported skin hypersensitivity.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2015Grape seed extract based emulgel and emulsion formulations reduced skin roughness, scaliness, wrinkles, and sebum content while enhancing elasticity and hydration.
Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2021Oligomeric proanthocyanidin topical cream and lotion significantly reduced UV-induced erythema by 45.9% and 53.1% respectively and increased skin hydration by nearly 20% in human subjects, with dietary supplementation providing additional suppression of erythema and higher skin hydration.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2007Quercetin 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, 2016Quercetin-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, 2019Optimized 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, 2023Topical application of curcumin or turmeric treats various skin conditions by leveraging antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2023Topical formulations of curcumin target oxidative damage and inflammation to improve wound healing in animal models.
Drug Discovery Today, 2017A curcumin-loaded spanlastic anti-aging gel utilizing formula F5 incorporated into 2% HPMC E50 demonstrated sustained release action, compatibility, and the ability to penetrate skin layers to a depth of about 112.5 um without signs of irritation.
Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 2024Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Topical application of jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα by approximately 30% and increased the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid compared to untreated skin in an ex-vivo human skin organ culture model.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024Topical jojoba oil application in male mice decreased exercise-induced pro-inflammatory gene expression (Il-1b and Il-6 in soleus, Il-1b in gastrocnemius) compared to untreated exercised mice.
Biomolecules, 2025Grapeseed oil-loaded dermocosmetic nanoemulgel applied on the cheeks of healthy volunteers significantly reduced skin melanin, erythema, sebum production, and pores while increasing moisture and elasticity compared to a placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical treatment with cranberry oil and grape oil improved wound healing in rats, with cranberry oil showing an 88.1% wound area reduction and grape oil showing 84.6% compared to 74.1% in controls and 78.4% in the mupirocin standard group on day 13.
Phytotherapy Research, 2011An ionic liquid-based grapeseed oil emulsion increased transdermal penetration by 4.63-fold and improved skin hydration, firmness, elasticity, and facial wrinkles after 28 days of continuous use compared to ordinary emulsion.
Pharmaceuticals, 2024
Ingredients
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Butyl Avocadate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea Oil Fruit Olive Oil Fruit, Jojoba Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil Grape Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Melia Azadirachta Bark Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
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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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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