Anua Heartleaf 80% Daily Relief Ampoule
The ampoule version of the brand's signature 어성초 (eoseongcho, heartleaf) formula, thicker and more concentrated than the toner that made the ingredient famous outside Korea. Houttuynia cordata has a long history in Korean and Chinese herbal use and has become the default soothing botanical of the current K-beauty wave. The texture is a light gel that sinks in without residue, aimed squarely at skin that is reactive, congested or freshly annoyed by something else.
What it is built around
Who it suits
Sensitive, oily and blemish-prone skin having a bad week, and anyone whose face goes pink easily. It sits well as the calming layer in a routine that also uses acids or retinoids on other nights. Dry skin will need a proper cream over it — this adds almost no lasting moisture. If heartleaf has irritated you before, the higher extract content here will not be kinder.
How to use it
After toner, before moisturiser, morning or night. A few drops pressed over the whole face, or concentrated on the red areas. It layers under sunscreen cleanly. On a genuinely irritated day, use it alone under a bland moisturiser and pause everything else until things settle.
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🙋 People also ask
What is an ampoule in K-beauty?
An ampoule is a highly concentrated Korean skincare treatment, stronger than a serum, used to target specific concerns like dullness, dryness or fine lines. Applied after essence and before moisturizer, it's typically used in short bursts or when skin needs an extra boost.
What is heartleaf in Korean skincare?
Heartleaf, or Houttuynia cordata (어성초 in Korean), is a trending calming extract used in K-beauty to soothe and help balance oily, blemish-prone skin. It's found in lightweight toners and essences and pairs well with centella, niacinamide or BHA for troubled skin.
What is the difference between essence, serum and ampoule?
Essence is the lightest and most hydration-focused, serum is more concentrated and targeted, and ampoule is the most concentrated of the three. The boundaries are marketing convention, not regulated definitions.
✍️ Written & reviewed by the KoreaPlus Editorial team — dermatologist-informed, cosmetic-science researched & source-cited. Last reviewed: 2026-08-23.
General educational information using cosmetic structure-function wording — not medical advice. Always patch-test new actives. © KoreaPlus.