Anua Heartleaf + BHA Pore Deep Cleansing Foam for oily skin
Heartleaf
Bha Beta Hydroxy Acid
Quercetin
Centella Asiatica ExtractAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other cleansers fit it 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
- Offers moderate exfoliation for your oily skin, as salicylic acid and willow bark extract work to decongest pores and regulate oil production. Houttuynia cordata extract and centella asiatica extract provide soothing benefits, helping to calm the skin.
- While the cleansing action is effective, the hydration and pore-refining benefits are supportive rather than directly addressing your primary concerns of oily shine and enlarged pores.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing botanical extracts.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 20.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly effective for oily and acne-prone skin, with users frequently noting its ability to deeply cleanse pores and reduce sebaceous filaments. Many also appreciate its texture-improving qualities and rich lather. Some users with dry or sensitive skin report it can be drying or irritating, and a moderate number experienced breakouts or purging upon initial use.
Highlights
Deep pore cleansing Mostly Mentioned
- “eliminated the blackheads on my nose”
- “removes sebum within my pores”
- “feel squeaky clean”
- “gently clear deep within the pores”
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels smooth and fresh”
- “made the red bumps go away”
- “leaves my skin super soft”
- “helped with texture and hyperpigmentation”
Rich foaming lather Often Mentioned
- “lathers pretty much well”
- “dense and creamy consistency”
- “creates soft and rich bubbles”
- “little goes a long way”
Calms acne/redness Sometimes Noted
- “helped clear the acne on my chin”
- “redness subsided after using it”
- “soothing effect on my skin”
- “pimples are slowly going away”
Causes breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “broke me out like crazy”
- “gave me tiny white bumps”
- “chin and cheek are freaking out”
- “awful purging until November”
Drying and stripping Sometimes Noted
- “leaves my skin a bit dry”
- “made my skin feel tight”
- “caused peeling around the nose”
- “too drying for twice a day”
Irritating to sensitive skin Rarely Noted
- “stung my eyes”
- “made it so irritated i cried”
- “burning sensation on sensitive areas”
- “reaction was bad”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smelled like cardboard”
- “herbal scent with spicy undertone”
- “scent is a bit strong”
Sources: lovi.care, yesstyle.com, oliveyoung.com, ulta.com, reddit.com, stylevana.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does anua Heartleaf + BHA Pore Deep Cleansing Foam work for oily skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for oily skin, as salicylic acid and willow bark extract help clear out pores and manage oil while heartleaf and centella asiatica calm the skin. Although it cleans effectively, it lacks the stronger pore-tightening benefits needed for this skin type, which typically benefits from cleansers featuring niacinamide and ceramides to better control oily shine and support skin health.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Salicylic acid and willow bark extract help decongest pores and regulate oil production on oily skin, while heartleaf and centella asiatica extract provide soothing benefits. To fit oily skin even better, a cleanser of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to manage oily shine and support skin health.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
What does Heartleaf do for oily skin?
Heartleaf helps calm redness and keeps oily skin clear by reducing bacteria and swelling. It is unlikely to irritate the skin and may help balance acne-prone areas.
Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, 2016The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2021
What does Bha do for oily skin?
BHA helps clear pores and keeps oily skin balanced by reducing extra shine and calming breakouts. It works deep inside pores to sweep away oil and dead skin cells, which helps keep skin looking clear and smooth. This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation and may improve overall skin hydration while controlling excess oil.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2014
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine for oily skin, right after removing makeup at night. For this skin type, it works well to clear pores and calm redness, but an oily routine needs stronger oil control and pore-shrinking benefits from targeted ingredients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by using the cleanser first and applying retinol afterward, provided your skin tolerates the combined exfoliating and retinoid activity. Because this cleanser offers moderate exfoliation with salicylic acid, using it with a strong retinoid may increase the likelihood of dryness or sensitivity. Oily skin dealing with excess shine and enlarged pores benefits most from cleansers that combine deep pore-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid with targeted oil-regulating actives and soothing botanical extracts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. This type of cleanser works well for oily skin when it provides oil control and gentle exfoliation, alongside ingredients like salicylic acid and soothing plant extracts.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
Yes, reviewers moderately complain that this cleanser may cause breakouts for oily skin. Oily skin often needs a cleanser that directly targets excess shine and enlarged pores with strong oil-balancing and pore-refining ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is safe for use on the body, but the skin around the eyes is much thinner and may be easily irritated by active ingredients like salicylic acid. When using cleansers on delicate areas like the face, a formula specifically designed to protect thin skin while controlling oil and refining pores is ideal.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016A 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, 2020Quercetin 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, 2023Cryotherapy 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, 2010Treatment 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, 2024Topical 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, 2010Quercetin directly targeted JAK2 and PKCδ, suppressed UV-induced MMP-1 and COX-2 expression, and prevented collagen degradation in human skin tissues compared to untreated UV-exposed skin.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2019Topical treatment with quercetin-3-O-glycosides, particularly isoquercitrin, reduced proinflammatory cytokine expression, skin lesions, and epidermal hyperplasia in an AD mouse model.
Inflammation, 2025Topical administration of liposomes co-loaded with quercetin and resveratrol reduced tissue damage, oedema, and leukocyte infiltration in a mouse model of skin lesion.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2016Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020A 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, 2017Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Why other cleansers fit oily skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salicylic Acid, C12-14 Pareth-12, Octyldodeceth-16, Melaleuca Alternifolia Extract Tree, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Quercetin, Pentylene Glycol, Willow Bark Extract, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Edta, Tocopherol, Ceramide Np, Butylene Glycol, Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Dimethylsilanol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, 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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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