Turn over a tube of Anua’s cleansing foam and plain water is only fourth on the list. First place goes to a plant most people outside Asia have never heard of.
Short answer:
- Yes, it is a fair choice for oily, acne-prone skin. It pairs mild cleansing agents with two gentle relatives of salicylic acid.
- But a face wash is the weakest acne tool you have. It is rinsed off within about a minute.
- Go slowly if your skin is dry or sensitive, or if you already use a retinoid, benzoyl peroxide or an acid pad. It also contains eucalyptus oil.
Oily T-zone and small breakouts that keep coming back?
This is the foam I would look at first.
Mild amino-acid cleansers do the washing; two salicylates work on oil in the pores. No sulfates are listed.
Is Anua a good brand?
Anua belongs to The Founders, a Seoul company founded in 2017 that also runs a hair-care and a pet brand. Per the company’s official site, Anua was the first K-beauty brand to reach #1 in Amazon’s cleansing category — it does not say which product.
A big brand tells you the company is real. It does not tell you whether one product suits your face. For that, I read the label.
What is actually in the tube?
- Heartleaf water (Houttuynia cordata) is first. In lab and animal studies, heartleaf calms inflammation [1]. I know of no human trial of a heartleaf face wash.
- Sodium cocoyl glycinate and sodium lauroyl glutamate — cleansers made from amino acids, among the gentlest types.
- Coco-glucoside and decyl glucoside — mild sugar-based cleansers that add lather.
- Betaine salicylate and capryloyl salicylic acid — two gentle relatives of salicylic acid (BHA). They like oil, so they can reach into pores.
- Eucalyptus leaf oil and a little isopropyl alcohol — in the middle of the list. These are the lines to watch if your skin stings easily.
- Quercetin — the “Quercetinol” in the name. On the label, it is the very last ingredient.
Anua does not publish the pH. Its page shows percentages from the brand’s own consumer tests. Those are marketing studies, not clinical trials, so I do not repeat them.
Does a BHA cleanser treat acne?
It can help a little. It is not a treatment on its own.
The American Academy of Dermatology’s 2024 acne guideline gives salicylic acid only a conditional recommendation, weaker than for benzoyl peroxide or retinoids [2]. And a wash-off product touches your skin briefly.
My clinical judgement, not a proven fact: think of this foam as a supporting player. It keeps oily skin clean without stripping it.
How should you use it?
The brand’s directions: remove makeup with a cleansing oil first, lather a small amount with water in your hands, massage gently, and rinse with lukewarm water.
My additions:
- Spend a little longer on the oily zones (nose, forehead, chin) and less on the cheeks.
- Once a day, at night, is enough for many people. Oily skin may like it twice.
- Do not stack acids. On nights you use an acid pad like the one in my medicube Zero Pore Pad review, use a plainer wash.
What I tell my patients
Pick a cleanser for gentleness, and a treatment for acne. A foam like this is fine for oily, breakout-prone skin. If spots keep coming, the answer is usually a leave-on treatment, not a stronger wash. Other gentle options are in my Korean foam cleanser guide.
FAQ
Is Anua a good brand?
It is a real Korean company, The Founders, founded in 2017. Whether a product suits you depends on your skin. This foam is best suited to oily, acne-prone skin.
Can I use Anua cleansing foam twice a day?
Oily skin often tolerates it. If your skin feels tight or stings, drop to once a day at night.
Does Anua cleansing foam remove makeup?
Not fully. The brand itself says to use a cleansing oil first, then the foam.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This article contains affiliate links: if you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change what I recommend.
References
- Shingnaisui K, Dey T, Manna P, Kalita J. Therapeutic potentials of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. against inflammation and oxidative stress: a review. J Ethnopharmacol 2018;220:35-43. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2018.03.038
- Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol 2024;90(5):1006.e1-1006.e30. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.017
Disclaimer: I write about cosmetics and shops based on clinical experience. Product mentions reflect my clinical opinion; availability and formulas change, so check the current label. Skin responds differently from person to person, so patch test anything new, and see a doctor about a skin condition.
14 years in practice · replies to messages herselfPhysician in non-surgical aesthetic medicine, practising in Ansan, South Korea. Every article here is written from clinical practice and the published literature.
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