Home / All products / Cleansers / Anua
Product photo: anua.us (official brand store). The pack size shown may differ from the Korean 150ml.
Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
Anua's pore foam: a creamy, amino-acid-type cleanser made with heartleaf water instead of plain water, with a little salicylic acid, heartleaf powder and quercetin for oily, congested skin.
Buyer verdictOne of the better daily foams for oily and blackhead-prone skin: thorough, but gentler than most pore cleansers. It has a little eucalyptus oil, so very sensitive skin should test it first. Seoul is cheaper than Amazon US and much cheaper than Amazon UK, and Olive Young adds a 25ml tube.
- Key ingredient
- Heartleaf (Houttuynia cordata) water, Sodium cocoyl glycinate and sodium lauroyl glutamate
- Texture
- Creamy foam that whips into a dense, soft lather
- Routine step
- cleanser · AM & PM
- Korean pack
- 150ml (+25ml)
Overview
Key ingredients
- Heartleaf (Houttuynia cordata) water The first ingredient, used in place of plain water
- Sodium cocoyl glycinate and sodium lauroyl glutamate Mild amino-acid surfactants that cleanse without a squeaky feel
- Salicylic acid BHA that helps keep pores clear; the reason it's a functional cosmetic
- Heartleaf powder and hectorite clay Add texture and help absorb excess oil
- Quercetin Antioxidant behind the 'Quercetinol' name, at the end of the list
From the US, it's 27% cheaper in Seoul after tax and refund. From the UK, it's 62% cheaper in Seoul.
Seoul packs often add a bonus (+25ml); we don't count it in the saving.
What it is
Anua is best known for its heartleaf toner, and this foam is the cleanser built to match it. It’s sold abroad as Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam, and in Korea as Anua’s heartleaf “pore foam”. It’s a white cream in a 150ml tube, and Olive Young often sells it with a 25ml travel tube added.
The Korean ingredient list starts with heartleaf water instead of plain water, then glycerin and a set of mild surfactants: sodium cocoyl glycinate, disodium cocoamphodiacetate and sodium lauroyl glutamate. Further down are salicylic acid, heartleaf powder, hectorite clay, a little eucalyptus leaf oil, several forms of hyaluronic acid and, last, quercetin.
Korea registers it as a functional cosmetic for acne-prone skin, because of the salicylic acid.
Who it suits (and who should skip it)
Good pick if
- Your skin is oily or combination, with visible pores and blackheads
- You get the odd breakout and want a cleanser with a little BHA
- Strong pore cleansers leave your skin tight, and you want something gentler
Skip it if
- Your skin is dry or easily irritated; a gel or milk cleanser will be kinder
- You react to essential oils, even in small amounts
- You already use a strong BHA toner or serum and don’t want more acid
What the ingredients do
The amino-acid surfactants (glycinate and glutamate) are the gentle, creamy-lathering type. They clean oil and sunscreen residue well but strip less than classic sulfate foams.
Salicylic acid dissolves into oil, so it can work inside pores. In a cleanser that’s on the skin for under a minute, the effect is mild, but regular use helps keep congestion down. Hectorite and heartleaf powder help absorb surface oil.
Heartleaf is a calming plant used across Anua’s range. Quercetin, an antioxidant flavonoid, gives the foam its name, but it’s the last ingredient, so it’s a small extra.
How to use it
Anua’s directions: work a suitable amount into a rich lather first, then massage it gently over the face and rinse thoroughly. Lathering in your palms or with a foaming net gives the densest foam.
At night, use it as the second step after a cleansing oil. In the morning, oily skin can use it alone. Leave it on for 30 to 60 seconds rather than scrubbing.
How it compares
COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser is lighter and lower-lathering, and also contains a little BHA. Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleanser is a mild, creamy foam without acids. SKIN1004 Centella Ampoule Foam is the softer, fragrance-free choice for sensitive skin.
Our double cleansing guide shows how to pair it with an oil.
Is it worth buying in Seoul?
Yes. Olive Young sells the same 150ml tube that Amazon lists. Seoul is clearly cheaper than Amazon US and far cheaper than Amazon UK, and the 25ml bonus tube isn’t counted in the price box. One tube is just below the ₩15,000 tax refund minimum, so buy it with other items.
The 150ml tube is over the carry-on limit, so pack it in your checked suitcase. The 25ml travel tube can go in your liquids bag.
FAQ
How strong is the salicylic acid?
Anua doesn't print a percentage, but it's mid-list in a rinse-off cleanser, so it's a mild amount. Korea registers the foam as a functional cosmetic for acne-prone skin care, which caps salicylic acid in cleansers at a low level.
Does it contain fragrance?
There's no added fragrance on the Korean label, but there is a small amount of eucalyptus leaf oil, an essential oil. Patch-test if your skin is reactive.
Is it the same as the Korean 'pore foam'?
Yes. In Korea it's sold as 아누아 어성초 피지쏙 모공 폼. Abroad it's called Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam.
Can I use it twice a day?
Most oily and combination skin can. If your skin feels tight or dry, use it at night only and rinse with water in the morning.
