What is heartleaf in skincare?
Heartleaf is the common name for Houttuynia cordata, a leafy plant with heart-shaped leaves that grows in damp, shady parts of East and Southeast Asia. In Korea it is called eoseongcho, and it has a long history in traditional herbal use. On ingredient lists you will usually see it as Houttuynia Cordata Extract.
In skincare, heartleaf is valued as a calming, balancing ingredient. It is especially popular for oily, acne-prone and easily irritated skin, and it rose to fame through bestselling Korean toners and cleansing oils that made "heartleaf" a household word in K-beauty.
What does heartleaf do for skin?
It calms redness and irritation
Heartleaf helps settle skin that looks flushed or feels irritated, whether from breakouts, heat or over-exfoliation.
It helps balance oily skin
Heartleaf formulas are typically light and refreshing, and the extract is associated with a cleaner, less shiny feel, which is why it is a favourite for oily T-zones.
It supports breakout-prone skin
Heartleaf has natural antioxidant and soothing properties, so it helps keep skin comfortable while pore-clearing ingredients do their work.
It gives gentle hydration
Most heartleaf toners are watery and hydrating, adding moisture without heaviness.
Is heartleaf good for your skin type?
Is heartleaf good for oily skin?
Yes, this is where heartleaf shines. A heartleaf toner after cleansing helps oily skin feel fresh and balanced, especially in hot, humid weather. Pair it with a lightweight moisturiser rather than skipping hydration.
Is heartleaf good for dry skin?
Heartleaf itself is gentle enough for dry skin, but its formulas are usually light. If your skin is dry, use a heartleaf toner for calm and follow with a richer cream, or layer it under a ceramide moisturiser.
Is heartleaf good for acne?
Heartleaf is a helpful supporting ingredient for acne-prone skin. It calms the redness around spots, while a BHA from our salicylic acid edit works inside pores. It does not replace a dedicated acne treatment, and persistent acne should be checked by a dermatologist.
Heartleaf for sensitive skin
Most sensitive skins tolerate heartleaf well. As with any plant extract, patch-test first, especially if you react to botanicals.
Heartleaf for combination skin
Combination skin benefits from a heartleaf toner all over and a little extra moisturiser on dry cheeks.
Best heartleaf skincare in Pakistan
Here is every heartleaf product we stock, from cleansers to toner pads. Visit each product page for details and how to use it.
ANUA Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner
The best-known heartleaf toner, for calm, balanced skin.
ANUA Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
A cleansing oil that melts sunscreen and makeup.
ANUA Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
A foaming cleanser for oily, congested skin.
ANUA Heartleaf 77% Toner Clear Pad 70EA
Toner pads for quick, gentle exfoliation and calm.
ABIB Heartleaf Spot Pad Calming Touch 80 Pads
Soothing pads for targeted calm on irritated areas.
ANUA Heartleaf Cleansing & Hydration Set
A cleanse-and-hydrate set to try the range.
How to use heartleaf skincare in your routine
Evening double cleanse
- Massage a heartleaf cleansing oil onto dry skin to dissolve sunscreen and makeup.
- Add a little water to emulsify, then rinse.
- Follow with a gentle foaming cleanser.
How to use a heartleaf toner
- After cleansing, pour a few drops into your palms and press into the face, or use a cotton pad.
- Layer two or three times for extra hydration.
- Follow with serum and moisturiser.
Using heartleaf pads
Wipe a pad over clean skin in the morning or evening, or leave one on red or oily areas for a few minutes as a quick calming mask. Some pads are textured on one side for light exfoliation, so use that side gently and not every day if your skin is sensitive.
Morning and night
Heartleaf toners can be used twice daily. In the morning, finish your routine with sunscreen.
What to pair heartleaf with
With salicylic acid
A strong pairing for oily, acne-prone skin: BHA clears pores while heartleaf keeps skin calm.
With niacinamide
Both help balance oil and support a more even look. Explore our niacinamide edit.
With centella
Two of K-beauty's favourite calming botanicals, often combined for very reactive skin. See our centella edit.
With retinol and vitamin C
A heartleaf toner is a gentle first layer before stronger actives. Browse our retinol and vitamin C edits.
Heartleaf compared with other calming ingredients
IngredientBest known forIdeal skin
HeartleafCalming plus oil balanceOily, acne-prone, combination
Centella (cica)Soothing and barrier supportSensitive, all types
MugwortTraditional calming herbSensitive, irritated
AloeInstant coolingSun-stressed, all types
Tea treeClarifyingOily, spot-prone
If your main goal is calming redness on sensitive skin, centella is often the gentler first choice. If you want calm plus a fresher, less oily feel, heartleaf is usually the better fit.
Ingredients often found with heartleaf
- Quercetin: an antioxidant that heartleaf naturally contains, highlighted in some cleansers.
- BHA (salicylic acid) and LHA: added to some heartleaf products for pore care.
- Panthenol and hyaluronic acid: for comfort and hydration.
- Centella: for extra soothing.
Why heartleaf became a K-beauty favourite
For years heartleaf was a quiet traditional ingredient. It reached a global audience when Korean brands built simple, gentle routines around it at a time when many people were moving away from harsh, stripping acne products. A high-percentage heartleaf toner that felt like water, calmed skin and suited oily types answered exactly what shoppers wanted: fewer irritants and visible calm. Today heartleaf appears in cleansers, pads, ampoules and sunscreens, and it remains one of the most searched K-beauty ingredients in Pakistan.
Heartleaf toners compared with other toners
Hydrating and calming toners
Heartleaf toners belong here: watery, gentle and suitable for daily layering. They prepare skin for serums and keep it comfortable.
Exfoliating toners
Toners with AHA, BHA or PHA remove dead skin and unclog pores. They are stronger and usually used a few times a week. Some heartleaf pads include mild exfoliants, so read the label.
Brightening toners
Toners with niacinamide, vitamin C or rice extracts focus on tone and glow. You can use one in the morning and a heartleaf toner at night.
Heartleaf routines by skin type
For oily skin in summer
Morning: gentle gel cleanser, heartleaf toner, light gel moisturiser, matte sunscreen. Evening: heartleaf cleansing oil, foaming cleanser, heartleaf toner, niacinamide serum, gel cream.
For acne-prone skin
Evening: double cleanse, BHA two or three nights a week, heartleaf toner on the other nights, then a light moisturiser. Use heartleaf pads on red areas after a long day.
For combination skin
Use a heartleaf toner all over, a light lotion on the T-zone and a richer cream on the cheeks.
For sensitive skin
Start with the toner only, once a day, for a week. Add the cleansing oil next, and introduce pads last.
Common heartleaf mistakes
- Skipping moisturiser because the toner feels hydrating enough.
- Rubbing exfoliating pads hard or using them every day on sensitive skin.
- Expecting a calming toner to clear active acne on its own.
- Leaving cleansing oil on without emulsifying it with water.
Which heartleaf product should you start with?
If you buy only one heartleaf product, make it a toner: it is the most versatile, suits morning and night and fits into any routine. If you wear sunscreen or makeup every day, a heartleaf cleansing oil is the next best addition, because thorough, gentle cleansing is the foundation of calm skin. Pads are a convenient extra for busy mornings, travel or quick touch-ups after the gym.
Heartleaf for men
Men with oily skin or shaving irritation often like heartleaf because it feels light and fresh, not greasy. A heartleaf toner after shaving helps calm redness, and a pad wiped over the face after a workout removes sweat and leaves skin feeling clean.
How long does heartleaf take to work?
Skin often feels calmer and fresher straight after the first use of a heartleaf toner. Visible improvement in redness and oiliness usually builds over two to four weeks of daily use, alongside a consistent routine and sunscreen.
Heartleaf side effects and who should be careful
Heartleaf is generally gentle, but any plant extract can cause a reaction in some people. Some heartleaf products also contain exfoliating acids, so check the ingredient list if your skin is sensitive and avoid over-exfoliating. Patch-test new products for a couple of days and stop if you notice stinging, itching or a rash.
Heartleaf for Pakistan's heat and humidity
Heartleaf toners are ideal for Pakistani summers: they feel cooling and light, help skin stay balanced through sweaty commutes and layer easily under sunscreen. Keep a toner or pads in the fridge for an extra-refreshing feel on hot days, and store everything away from direct sun.
Shop heartleaf by brand
ANUA made heartleaf famous with its 77% Soothing Toner and cleansing oil, while Abib offers calming heartleaf pads. Explore both ranges:
How to buy original heartleaf skincare in Pakistan
Heartleaf toners and cleansing oils are among the most copied K-beauty products. Buy from a seller that sources directly through each brand's official distribution channels in Seoul, check batch and expiry codes and compare packaging with official images. Every heartleaf product at YESBEAUTY is 100% original and backed by our 7-day authenticity return guarantee.
Every heartleaf product at YESBEAUTY
ANUA
- ANUA Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
- ANUA Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner
- ANUA Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
- ANUA Heartleaf Cleansing & Hydration Set
- ANUA Heartleaf 77% Toner Clear Pad 70EA