Home / Ingredients / Heartleaf (Houttuynia Cordata)
Heartleaf (Houttuynia Cordata)
By Nur → Last verified 9/26/2026
What it is
Heartleaf, or Houttuynia cordata, is a plant extract traditionally used in East Asian medicine, popularized in K-beauty specifically for calming and anti-irritation effects on sensitive and redness-prone skin.
What the evidence says
Heartleaf is commonly included for calming, anti-irritation effects. It's frequently paired with centella asiatica, another calming botanical, in the same formula, since the two are considered complementary rather than redundant. Anua built an entire product line's reputation around heartleaf specifically, with real social-media-driven demand strong enough to cause intermittent retailer restocks.
Who it's for
Redness-prone or reactive skin specifically looking for a calming-focused formula, whether in a cleanser, serum, or sunscreen.
Worth knowing
No specific group needs to avoid it, but a product being marketed around heartleaf doesn't guarantee fragrance-free status, check the full ingredient list separately.
Where you'll find it
Products in our catalog that list Heartleaf (Houttuynia Cordata) as a key ingredient.
- Anua Heartleaf 80% Moisture Soothing Ampoule
- Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
- Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
- Anua Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++
- Arencia Pore Melt Mochi Cleansing Oil
- Atopalm Zinc Mild Up Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++
- Axis-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Cream
- Axis-Y Heartleaf My Type Calming Cream
- Axis-Y TXA 2.5% Intensive Brightening Cream
- Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser
- benton Deep Green Tea Lotion
- Dr.G Green Mild Up Sun+ SPF50+ PA++++
- EQQUALBERRY Purple Rice Pore Smoothing Cleansing Oil
- Goodal Heartleaf Calming Moisture Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++
- goodal Heartleaf Soothing Tone Up Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++
- Goodal Houttuynia Cordata Calming Mineral Filter Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++
- haruharu wonder Black Rice Pure Mineral Relief Daily Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++
- Mizon Peptide Ampoule Cream
- numbuzin No.1 Pantothenic B5 Active Soothing Cream
Frequently asked
What is heartleaf used for in Korean skincare?
It's used for calming and anti-irritation effects, popularized specifically for sensitive and redness-prone skin.
What's the difference between heartleaf and centella asiatica?
Both are calming botanicals frequently paired together in the same formula, since they're considered complementary rather than redundant, though they come from different plants (Houttuynia cordata versus Centella asiatica).
Why is Anua's heartleaf sunscreen sometimes out of stock?
Anua's heartleaf-focused line carries strong social-media-driven demand, real enough that it has caused intermittent restocks at some retailers.
Does a heartleaf product mean it's fragrance-free?
Not necessarily. Fragrance status is a separate fact from the heartleaf positioning, check each product's full ingredient list individually.