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Soothing / Anti-Inflammatory

Houttuynia Cordata Extract

Often labeled as: Heartleaf Extract

The iconic Korean acne-soother.

๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ
Overall Safety Safe
๐Ÿ‘ถ
Pregnancy Safety Safe
๐Ÿ•ณ๏ธ
Comedogenic (0-5) 0 / 5
โšก
Irritancy (0-5) 0 / 5

๐Ÿ”ฌ How It Actually Works

An extract from the Heartleaf plant. It is deeply revered in K-Beauty for its massive concentration of quercitrin, an antioxidant flavonoid that rapidly neutralizes acne-causing bacteria and severe inflammation.

๐Ÿ’– Why your skin loves it

Calms cystic acne, reduces redness, and purifies congested pores.

๐Ÿ’ก Pro Tip

A fantastic alternative for those who find Centella Asiatica too mild.

โš–๏ธ Myth vs. Fact

The Myth

It acts as an astringent and dries the skin.

The Science

It focuses on anti-inflammatory and antibacterial pathways, leaving the skin's moisture intact.

๐Ÿงด Formulations featuring Houttuynia Cordata Extract

โ˜… 9.3
Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner
Anua
Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner
Toner

The absolute gold standard for calming reactive skin layouts. Instead of a water base packed with synthetic thickeners, it replaces 77% of the bottle with pure Houttuynia Cordata (Heartleaf) extract. Heartleaf contains natural quercitrin compounds that immediately restrict vascular swelling and down-regulate heat inside the skin layers. It feels exactly like pure, light water and absorbs instantly with zero tackiness, acting like a cooling, anti-inflammatory splash. It works miracles for calming active, angry acne breakouts and cooling down skin flushed by tropical heat, but holds minimal lipid value for dry skin types.

โ˜… 9.1
Blemish & Oil Control Hydrating Lotion
Hada Labo
Blemish & Oil Control Hydrating Lotion
Toner

A highly unique entry in the famous Hada Labo lotion lineup, explicitly tailored for acne-prone skin in humid climates. Unlike their traditional ultra-thick hyaluronic syrups, this "Blemish & Oil Control" version is significantly more watery and astringent. It relies on a classic Japanese formulation structure using a mild alcohol base paired with botanical anti-inflammatories (Houttuynia Cordata and Chamomile) and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate to rapidly soothe angry, throbbing pimples. It also includes Tranexamic Acid and a touch of Menthol, creating an immediate cooling, redness-reducing splash that dries down weightlessly without feeding excess oil to the skin.

โ˜… 9.5
Niacinamide 5% Serum
The Raw.
Niacinamide 5% Serum
Serum

A highly sophisticated, multi-pathway acne treatment serum that goes beyond basic Niacinamide. The Raw balances a clinical 5 percent dose of Niacinamide with a highly calculated acid cocktail (Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid). This allows the serum to control sebum, fade post-acne marks, and gently clear clogged pores simultaneously without severe barrier stripping. The immense botanical load (Green Tea, Centella, Licorice) ensures that localized redness is actively suppressed during the chemical exfoliation phase safely.