Anua Heartleaf Low PH Deep Cleansing Water for acne-prone skin
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 cleansing and hydration for your combination, acne-prone skin, as houttuynia cordata extract provides anti-inflammatory benefits while glycerin and panthenol offer humectant support.
- The gentle purification from these ingredients is beneficial, though more targeted acne treatments would enhance efficacy for blemishes.
- The formula is safe for your skin, containing no harsh or irritating ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
- This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers with sensitive and acne-prone skin highly praise this cleansing water for its ultra-gentle, non-stripping formula that effectively removes base makeup while soothing redness. It leaves skin feeling hydrated and refreshed without a sticky residue, though some users note it may struggle with waterproof mascara.
Highlights
Gentle and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “Doesn't strip my skin”
- “mild feeling of use”
- “no irritation or dryness”
- “feels like water”
Effective on base makeup Often Mentioned
- “Removes base makeup easily”
- “cleans skin very well”
- “foundation melts off”
- “great for light makeup”
Soothing for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “Soothes sensitive skin”
- “great for acne-prone skin”
- “calms my redness”
- “no breakouts”
Hydrating finish Sometimes Noted
- “Leaves skin nourished and hydrated”
- “moisturizing finish”
- “skin feels soft after”
- “contains panthenol and squalane”
Waterproof makeup Sometimes Noted
- “Mascara may require special remover”
- “struggles with waterproof eye makeup”
- “need multiple pads for heavy makeup”
- “doesn't remove everything”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “Tingling sensation in eyes”
- “stung my eyes a bit”
- “irritated my eyes”
Inconvenient packaging Rarely Noted
- “Not a pump type”
- “hard to control amount”
- “bought a separate pump”
- “wish it had a dispenser”
Slightly pricey Rarely Noted
- “Price gave me pause”
- “wait for a sale”
- “a bit pricey for micellar water”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, global.oliveyoung.com, stylevana.com, skinsort.com, yesstyle.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Anua Heartleaf Low PH Deep Cleansing Water a great fit for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for acne-prone skin because it offers gentle cleansing while heartleaf extract helps calm redness. Glycerin and panthenol also provide light moisture and keep the skin feeling comfortable without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for acne-prone skin because heartleaf extract helps calm redness, while glycerin and panthenol keep skin soft and hydrated without irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
What does Houttuynia Cordata Extract do for acne-prone skin?
Houttuynia cordata extract helps acne-prone skin by fighting bacteria and calming redness, making it a great addition for clear skin. Research shows it provides strong antibacterial activity against the bacteria linked to breakouts.
What does Panthenol do for acne-prone skin?
Panthenol helps acne-prone skin by soothing redness and supporting the skin barrier while keeping skin hydrated. It is unlikely to cause irritation and works well to calm angry spots without clogging pores.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser fits into your morning routine and your evening routine. It gently purifies your skin with calming ingredients while keeping your moisture balanced.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this cleanser before retinol because its gentle, calming ingredients help keep acne-prone skin comfortable while you use stronger treatments.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in your morning and evening routines, as it is gentle and safe for your acne-prone skin. Regular use helps purify your skin and provides calming and hydrating support through ingredients like heartleaf extract, glycerin, and panthenol.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your acne-prone skin, as it contains soothing heartleaf extract alongside hydrating glycerin and panthenol. The gentle cleansing formula is safe and free of harsh ingredients, though adding a targeted blemish treatment may help enhance your routine.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2022American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, this cleanser is safe for the thin skin around the eyes and the skin on the body because its formula contains no harsh or irritating ingredients. It provides gentle purification, making it suitable for delicate areas.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2017Topical 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, 2002Quercetin loaded composite nanofibers achieved a skin deposition of 28.24%, higher antibacterial efficacy against Propionibacterium acne compared to quercetin alone, safety on skin fibroblastic cells, and a reduction of 61.2% in inflammatory, 14.7% in comedonal, and 52.9% in total acne lesions in acne patients.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2022Quercetin exhibits pronounced antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities for skin supplementation, though its poor solubility limits dermal penetration.
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2016Quercetin 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, 2023Moisturizer 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, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Houttuynia Cordata Extract Heartleaf Extract, Panthenol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Allantoin, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Disodium Edta
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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