ANUA Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil (200ml)

Yes, it's designed with acne-prone and easily irritated skin in mind. It contains 10,000ppm heartleaf extract, which has soothing and antibacterial properties, plus a non-comedogenic plant-oil blend that helps clear makeup, blackheads, and excess sebum without clogging pores. If your skin is very reactive or fragrance-sensitive, the Mild version may be a better fit as it's fragrance-free and formulated specifically for sensitive skin.

The four hero ingredients are:

• Heartleaf extract (Houttuynia cordata): soothes redness and irritation, helps balance sebum, and supports the skin barrier
• Jojoba seed oil: structurally similar to the skin's natural oils, so it dissolves excess sebum effectively and helps keep pores clear
• Grapeseed oil: lightweight and antioxidant-rich, helps calm breakouts and lightly firms the skin
• Macadamia oil: nourishing and high in fatty acids, supports the barrier and leaves skin soft after rinsing

The base uses gentle cleansing esters (including Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride and Ethylhexyl Palmitate) that break down makeup and SPF without leaving a greasy residue.

It works on both in different ways:

• Pores: The lightweight oil dissolves excess sebum, makeup, and sebaceous filaments (the waxy plugs that sit inside pores), so they appear cleaner and less visible after rinsing. With regular use, pores can look smaller over time.
• Redness: Heartleaf extract has well-known soothing and antibacterial properties, making it good for calming irritation and acne-prone or flushed skin. Supporting plant oils (jojoba, grapeseed, and macadamia) also help reinforce the skin barrier and reduce reactivity.

It works best as the first step of your evening cleanse. Apply to dry skin to break down sunscreen, makeup, and excess oil, then follow up with a water-based cleanser. If you're very oily or wore heavy products overnight, you can use it in the morning too, but most people stick to nights only.

Full ingredients, in order:

• Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyl Avocadate, Fragrance, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata (Heartleaf) Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Melia Azadirachta Bark Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract

It can, with one thing to bear in mind. The cleansing oil is gentle and non-stripping, and the plant oils help soften skin without leaving it feeling tight. That said, it's a first-step cleanser, so to really address flakiness you'll want to follow up with a hydrating second cleanser and a good moisturiser.

Once a day in the evening is the most common approach, used to dissolve sunscreen, makeup, and daily buildup. If your skin feels comfortable with it, you can use it in the morning too, but that's optional for most people.

Yes, it's formulated with both skin types in mind.

• Heartleaf extract has soothing properties that can help calm redness and irritation
• The plant oils used (jojoba, grapeseed, macadamia) are non-comedogenic, meaning they won't clog pores
• Suitable for daily use across all skin types, including acne-prone

The formula centres on four plant-based ingredients:

• Heartleaf extract (Houttuynia Cordata): soothes redness and irritation, helps balance oil, and supports the skin barrier
• Jojoba seed oil: mimics the skin's natural sebum, helps regulate oil and hydration, and supports elasticity
• Grapeseed oil: lightweight and non-greasy, helps reduce inflammation and leaves skin feeling softer
• Macadamia seed oil: rich in fatty acids, helps balance sebum production and conditions the skin after cleansing

Together they dissolve makeup, excess sebum and impurities while calming skin that's prone to redness or breakouts.

It's your first cleanse in the evening, used on dry skin before a water-based cleanser. This two-step process is called a double cleanse, and it's the most effective way to remove SPF and makeup thoroughly.

• Apply 2 to 3 pumps to dry skin and massage for 2 to 4 minutes, focusing on congested areas.
• Rinse with lukewarm water.
• Follow with a gel or foam cleanser to finish.