Anua Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam for dry sensitive skin
Houttuynia Cordata Extract
Salicylic Acid
Glycerin
Hyaluronic AcidLow
- LowDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for dry sensitive skin; the cleansers alongside 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 moderate cleansing and pore exfoliation for your dry and sensitive skin due to Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Salicylic Acid, but the latter can cause further dryness.
- Hyaluronic Acid and Allantoin provide some hydration and soothing benefits, though the formula lacks sufficient emollients to fully counteract the drying effects of salicylic acid on dry skin.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your face fresh. Start slowly once a day if your dry skin feels sensitive at first.
- Apply your cleanser first thing in your routine before any toner or moisturizer. Follow the usual steps for your AM or PM daily routine.
- Gently massage the cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to protect your dry skin.
- Apply the cleanser to slightly damp skin to help it clean gently without stripping moisture. This method is very safe for sensitive and dry skin types.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and avoid the delicate eye area. Always do a patch test before using the product for the first time.
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 5.0k+ reviewsBased 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
Why is Anua Heartleaf Quercetin Pore Deep Cleansing Foam a weak match for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser is a weak match because salicylic acid can cause further dryness and the formula lacks sufficient emollients to counteract it. A cleanser for dry sensitive skin needs a rich blend of hydrating and barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to maintain moisture and skin health.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid is the main reason this cleanser is a weak match for dry sensitive skin because it can cause further dryness. A cleanser for this skin type needs a rich blend of hydrating and barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to maintain moisture and protect the skin.
What does Houttuynia Cordata Extract do for dry sensitive skin?
Houttuynia cordata extract helps calm dry sensitive skin by reducing redness and soothing irritation while supporting the skin barrier. It may also protect against everyday stress and environmental damage to keep skin feeling soft and comfortable.
What does Salicylic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid is generally a poor fit for dry, sensitive skin because it is designed to clear out pores by removing excess oil, which can easily leave dry skin irritated. A product of this type needs gentle exfoliating helpers paired with rich, soothing moisturizers and barrier-repairing ingredients to keep dry skin calm and comfortable.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine, but this type of product is a weak match for your dry and sensitive skin because it can cause further dryness. A cleanser for this skin needs plenty of rich softening ingredients to protect against moisture loss.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
This cleanser may be too drying for your dry sensitive skin when used alongside retinol, as it lacks enough rich, softening ingredients to balance out the exfoliating acid. A cleanser for this skin type needs extra soothing and deeply moisturizing ingredients like ceramides and rich emollients to protect your skin barrier.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser may be too drying for your dry and sensitive skin if used too often, so you should start by using it just once a week. Dry skin needs a cleanser that gently washes while keeping moisture locked in with rich moisturizing ingredients.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
Yes, this cleanser may cause breakouts or dryness on dry sensitive skin because it contains salicylic acid and lacks enough rich moisturizers to balance it out. A cleanser for this skin needs gentle hydrators and rich softeners to keep it calm and smooth without stripping natural moisture.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is a weak match for the thin skin around your eyes since harsh cleansing ingredients may cause dryness and irritation. Cleansers used on delicate areas need extra moisturizing ingredients and gentle cleansers to keep skin soft and comfortable.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 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, 2010A 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, 2020Treatment 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, 2024A 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, 2017The 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, 2001Topical 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, 2011Topical 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, 2022Treatment 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
Why other cleansers fit dry sensitive skin better
Phytosphingosine increased filaggrin metabolism and skin hydration in human skin by stimulating filaggrin biosynthesis and degradation leading to natural moisturizing factor formation.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017In 50 participants with sensitive skin, a Ceramide NP C15-containing emollient improved skin barrier function with a significant reduction in transepidermal water loss and induced modest changes in skin microbiota compared to the vehicle.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2026A lipid mixture enriched by ceramide NP with fatty acids of diverse chain lengths significantly improved skin barrier recovery rate, stratum corneum integrity, and hydration compared to a vehicle cream in healthy adult male volunteers with corticosteroid-impaired skin.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022
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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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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