Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol vs. COSRX Low pH
Two BHA foam cleansers at the same price per mL, built on opposite formulation philosophies: calming heartleaf against antibacterial tea tree.
Criteria | Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam | COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.00 | $14.00 |
| Price / unit | $0.09/mL | $0.09/mL |
| Size | 150 mL | 150 mL |
| Price checked | 9/24/2026 | 9/12/2026 |
Both are foam cleansers built around a BHA exfoliant and marketed for oily or combination skin, priced identically per milliliter. The real difference isn't the active, it's what each formula is built around alongside it.
Why compare these two specifically
Both use a betaine-bound BHA and land at exactly the same price per mL, which removes price and active-ingredient type as differentiators entirely. That makes this a genuinely useful comparison of formulation philosophy, calming versus antibacterial, rather than a price or active-ingredient decision.
Price per milliliter
Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol runs $0.09 per milliliter ($14.00 for 150mL). COSRX Low pH runs $0.09 per milliliter ($14.00 for 150mL). Identical on both sticker price and per-mL cost.
Same active, different formulation focus
Anua builds its formula around heartleaf at 33.4% alongside quercetin, betaine salicylate, and evening primrose extract, positioned for pore care with a calming, antioxidant backbone. COSRX builds around tea tree leaf water alongside its own betaine salicylate, positioned for oily and combination skin with an antibacterial, acne-focused backbone.
A real fragrance difference worth knowing
Neither is fragrance-free. Anua's formula includes eucalyptus globulus leaf oil, a real essential oil with its own sensitization risk, on top of the BHA. COSRX's tea tree leaf water is a much more diluted hydrosol form of tea tree, gentler than a concentrated essential oil, though its plain tea tree oil variant used elsewhere in the line is more concentrated. If fragrance sensitivity is a concern alongside the BHA itself, that's worth factoring in beyond just the calming-versus-antibacterial framing.
Our take
If redness or irritation alongside oiliness is the bigger concern, Anua's heartleaf-and-quercetin backbone is the more purposeful pick. If active breakouts and bacterial concerns are the priority, COSRX's tea tree focus is the more targeted choice. Price and the BHA itself don't differentiate these two at all, the formulation philosophy does.
Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam: $0.09/mL. The calming pick, built around heartleaf and quercetin alongside its BHA, for oily skin that also deals with redness or reactivity.
COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser: $0.09/mL. The antibacterial pick, built around tea tree alongside its BHA, for oily and acne-prone skin without a strong redness component.
For the double-cleanse method and what low pH actually means, see how to double cleanse, or browse the rest of our cleanser coverage.
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Price checked 9/24/2026
Price checked 9/12/2026
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Frequently asked
Which is better for oily skin, Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol or COSRX Low pH?
Both cost the same and use the same type of BHA. Anua leans calming, built around heartleaf and quercetin for oily skin that also deals with redness. COSRX leans antibacterial, built around tea tree for oily, acne-prone skin without a strong redness component.
Do Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol and COSRX Low pH cost the same?
Yes, both run $0.09 per milliliter at $14.00 for 150 mL, identical on price.
Are Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol and COSRX Low pH fragrance-free?
No, neither is fragrance-free. Anua contains eucalyptus globulus leaf oil. COSRX contains tea tree leaf water, a diluted hydrosol form gentler than concentrated tea tree oil.