Anua Heartleaf + BHA Pore Deep Cleansing Foam for oily acne-prone skin
Heartleaf
Bha Beta Hydroxy Acid
Quercetin
Centella Asiatica ExtractAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 and pore decongestion for your oily skin, as salicylic acid and houttuynia cordata extract work to gently remove impurities and soothe inflammation. Willow bark extract further supports pore deep cleansing, making it suitable for managing oiliness and breakouts.
- The formula provides general hydration and cleansing benefits, which are supportive for your primary concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.
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 work for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, as salicylic acid and heartleaf help gently clear pores and calm redness while managing breakouts. It is unlikely to irritate your skin, though cleansers that rate higher for this skin type need soothing ingredients like Niacinamide or probiotics alongside ceramides to balance oil and support clarity without causing dryness.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid, heartleaf, and willow bark extract make this cleanser a good fit because they help gently clear out pores, manage oiliness, and soothe breakouts without irritating the skin. To work best for oily acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, or probiotics that balance oil, maintain clarity, and ensure safe, irritation-free daily cleansing.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Heartleaf do for oily acne-prone skin?
Heartleaf helps calm red, irritated skin and keeps breakouts under control by fighting acne-causing bacteria. It is unlikely to irritate oily skin and may reduce swelling from blemishes.
Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, 2016Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2023
What does Bha do for oily acne-prone skin?
BHA helps clear up breakouts and keeps oily skin balanced by reducing excess oil and calming redness. It works deep inside pores to clear away dirt and oil while keeping skin smooth and comfortable.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening skincare routines as the first or second cleansing step. To better manage oily acne-prone skin, this type of cleanser also needs ingredients like salicylic acid and soothing plant extracts to deeply clear pores and calm breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
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 afterwards. Because this cleanser exfoliates your skin, you may want to start slowly to avoid dryness or irritation.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser works fine for your oily acne-prone skin, though an ideal product for this skin type typically includes balancing ingredients like salicylic acid, soothing plant extracts, and gentle hydrators used daily. It helps clear pores and manage oiliness without causing irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser may occasionally cause breakouts or drying for your oily acne-prone skin, as some reviewers experience stripped skin and clogged pores. To work well for this skin, a product of this type needs soothing plant extracts and gentle salicylic acid to keep pores clear without causing irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal 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 thin, delicate skin directly around your eyes. A cleanser for this skin needs a very gentle, fragrance-free formula with calming and hydrating ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to protect the skin barrier.
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, 2019Twice 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, 2024The 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, 2023Quercetin 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, 2022A 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
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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