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Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil

⏱ 2 min read
Quick answer: Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil is Anua's oil cleanser / cleansing balm, built around Heartleaf (Houttuynia). Oily and combination skin that wants makeup and SPF off without a greasy after-feel.

The product that turned Anua from a small Korean label into an export brand. It is a first-step cleansing oil built around 어성초 (eoseongcho), the heartleaf extract the brand uses across its range, in a light ester base rather than a heavy mineral or plant oil. It goes on thin, dissolves sunscreen and long-wear base makeup quickly, and emulsifies into a milky wash instead of leaving a slick. The pore-control framing is marketing; the cleansing performance is the real reason it sold.

🏷️ Anua 🫗 Oil cleanser / Cleansing balm 💸 $18-26

What it is built around

🌱 Heartleaf (Houttuynia)

Who it suits

Oily and combination skin that wants makeup and SPF off without a greasy after-feel. It suits congestion-prone skin better than most balms because the texture is light and rinses fully rather than sitting in the folds around the nose. Very dry skin may find it leaves nothing behind and prefer a richer balm. Check the current ingredient list for fragrance before buying if you react easily.

⚫ Blackheads & sebaceous filaments🕳️ Pores & texture🛢️ Oil control🔴 Acne & breakouts

How to use it

First step of an evening 이중 세안 (ijung sean) double cleanse. Two or three pumps onto dry hands and a dry face, massage for around a minute so it can break down sunscreen and makeup, then add a splash of water and keep working until it turns milky. Rinse lukewarm and follow with a water-based cleanser. PM only.

⚠️ Worth knowing: The blackhead angle is doing heavy lifting. An oil cleanser can loosen surface plugs and stop new ones setting; it does not empty pores, and nothing you rinse off in sixty seconds will. The other common complaint is a slippery film afterwards, which almost always means it was not emulsified properly — add more water and massage longer rather than skipping the second cleanse.

🏆 Compare Korean oil cleanser / cleansing balm for blackheads & sebaceous filaments →

We describe products from public information and rank ingredients, never take payment for placement. Formulas change — always read the current ingredient list on the pack you buy.

Related K-beauty guides

🌱 Heartleaf (Houttuynia)🌱 Anua

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🙋 People also ask

What is double cleansing?

Double cleansing is a two-step Korean method: first an oil-based cleanser dissolves makeup, sunscreen and sebum, then a water-based cleanser removes sweat and water-soluble debris. The pairing aims to clean thoroughly without the tightness or stripping that one harsh wash can cause.

Read the full answer →

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.

Read the full answer →

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✍️ 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.