Anua
Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner
Key ingredient: Heartleaf Extract 77%
Available at
Live price not available - check current price on retailer site.
For oily-combination, acne-prone, redness-flushed skin in the 18–35 age range, the Anua Heartleaf 77 Soothing Toner is the K-beauty viral phenomenon that actually earns its hype — 77% heartleaf extract, fragrance-free, with measurable redness reduction within 1–2 weeks.
The ingredient story
Hero ingredient
Houttuynia Cordata (Heartleaf) Extract
Concentration
77% heartleaf extract (front-of-bottle claim, INCI-verified second listed ingredient)
Deep-dive
Read the full guide →How it works
Heartleaf delivers four polyphenolic flavonoids — quercetin, quercitrin, hyperoside, and rutin — that together suppress the NF-κB inflammation pathway (reducing redness), provide direct antibacterial activity against acne-causing C. acnes, and gently regulate sebum output. The 77% concentration is high enough that these mechanisms produce visible results in days, not weeks.
What the evidence shows
2024 Korean Society of Cosmetic Dermatology review concluded heartleaf is one of the few "natural" actives with strong enough mechanistic basis to recommend as a primary calming active. The Anua formulation specifically has been used in multiple Korean dermatologist-led informal patient panels with consistently positive results for acne-prone and rosacea-prone skin.
Anyone with very dry skin should patch test — the mildly astringent profile can over-do it. Anyone with a Saururaceae plant family allergy should skip (rare).
The brand
Philosophy
“Single-ingredient, high-concentration, no-fragrance formulations — a deliberate counter to the multi-active mainstream.”
Anua is one of the K-beauty success stories of the late 2010s — a Korean indie brand that bet on a single ingredient (heartleaf) at high concentration in a minimalist alcohol-free formulation, and rode the TikTok algorithm to a global breakout in late 2023. The Heartleaf 77 Soothing Toner became one of the K-beauty products most-frequently-bought by Western Gen-Z consumers entering Korean skincare for the first time. What kept the brand relevant past the initial viral spike is that the products genuinely work for their target audience — oily, acne-prone, sensitive skin — at sub-£20 price points. Anua has since expanded into heartleaf-adjacent ingredients (peach, rice + heartleaf hybrids, quercetin isolates) but the original 77% toner remains the anchor.
Where this fits in your routine
Routine step
Toner — first step after cleansing, before any serum or essence
Morning: cleanse → heartleaf toner (1–3 layers) → niacinamide → moisturiser → SPF Evening: double cleanse → heartleaf toner (2–3 layers) → BHA (alternate nights) → snail or peptide serum → moisturiser
Layers especially well with: niacinamide (heartleaf calms, niacinamide refines pores), snail mucin, BHA/salicylic acid (apply BHA first, wait 10 min, then heartleaf to soothe any sting).
Pregnancy-safe.
A note on the smell: The Korean name for heartleaf, eoseongcho, literally translates to "fish-smell grass." Cosmetic-grade extract has the fishy aroma removed but a faint residual herbal-grassy smell is normal and indicates the extract has not been heavily fragranced over. The Anua 77 has very minimal smell — most users do not notice it.
Pairs especially well with
Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam — same-brand cleanser pairs deliberately — heartleaf throughout the routine for stacked effect
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence — heartleaf calms inflammation, snail repairs the underlying barrier — daily combination for trouble skin
Numbuzin No. 5 Vitamin Daily Toner — alternate-day pairing: heartleaf one night, brightening niacinamide the next
Full ingredients
Free from
Full INCI ingredient list (manufacturer)
Houttuynia Cordata Extract (77%), Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Allantoin, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate
What real users say
“My skin used to flush red after every cleanse. Two weeks of using this twice a day and the redness was gone. I have repurchased five times.”
— TikTok review, @skin_diary, 4.2M views
“I have rosacea-tendency skin and used to spend a fortune on calming products that did nothing. This £15 toner outperformed all of them.”
— r/SkincareAddictionUK 2024
“I would not call it a miracle but it is the most reliable daily toner I have used. My acne is more manageable, my skin feels calmer overall.”
— Cult Beauty verified review
Texture / feel
Lightweight, water-like consistency. Absorbs instantly with no residue. Faint herbal scent (no added fragrance). Pairs well with the 7-skin layering technique because the texture stays comfortable across multiple applications.
Buying authentic
Verified UK retailers
Counterfeit warning
Anua products have been widely counterfeited since the 2023 viral moment. Genuine bottles have a clear holographic seal on the cap and a batch code printed (not stickered) on the bottle base. Buy from listed authorised retailers only.
This page was last reviewed on 2026-05-17. We update product storytelling when formulation, retailer availability, or evidence changes meaningfully.
About this product
The toner that launched Anua into global fame. 77% heartleaf extract calms redness, soothes irritation, and balances oil production with a featherlight watery texture.
Concerns addressed
Centella asiatica, green tea, and azelaic acid calm inflammation. Avoid alcohol-based products and fragrance.
