Anua: Heartleaf, and Why It Suits Stressed Skin

Anua built its reputation on heartleaf — houttuynia cordata — and on a toner that became the brand's calling card. If you have seen one Anua product, it is probably that one.

Heartleaf is a calming agent, not an active

This is the distinction that decides whether the brand suits you.

Heartleaf does not exfoliate, brighten or resurface. It brings redness and reactivity down. That makes the range excellent for skin that is stressed — irritated, over-exfoliated, reacting to weather or to a routine that got too enthusiastic — and less relevant if what you want is correction.

If your skin is currently unhappy, this is a good shelf to reach for. See Sensitive Skin.

The exception: azelaic acid

The azelaic acid serum is the one product in the range that genuinely treats rather than calms. Azelaic acid is unusual in doing several things at once — reducing redness, clearing congestion and fading marks — while remaining gentle enough for skin that reacts to most actives.

If you have redness and blemishes together, this is the one to reach for. See Brightening & Dark Spots.

The rest of the range

Rice for gentle brightness, PDRN pads for repair, a cleansing oil that is genuinely good at removing sunscreen, and a niacinamide and tranexamic acid serum for tone.

Where to start

New to the brand: the heartleaf toner, layered in two or three light passes on damp skin rather than one heavy one. See Toners for how to use it properly, or browse Anua.