Heartleaf: Why Korea's Calming It-Ingredient Is Outpacing Cica in 2026
Per SGC's formula check, heartleaf (houttuynia cordata) became Korea's new calming default by doing what cica does — soothing stressed, oily, breakout-prone skin — in lighter, watery textures built for summer routines.
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Heartleaf: Why Korea's Calming It-Ingredient Is Outpacing Cica in 2026
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. SeoulGlowClub may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure below.
Short answer: heartleaf is not rebranded cica — it's a different plant running the same playbook, better suited to oily and combination skin. Per SGC's formula check, houttuynia cordata extract anchors Korea's current calming wave because it delivers the soothing story in watery, summer-friendly textures, with Anua's 77% line as the franchise that made it global.
What the Trend Actually Is
Heartleaf is a cordate-leaved herb long used in East Asian folk preparations, now extracted into toners, pads, and cleansers. The trend signature is the percentage flex — "77%" on Anua's label — signalling that the soothing extract is the base of the formula, not a sprinkle.
It rode the same wave that made calming Korea's biggest category, the one our cica trend explainer maps — then overtook cica on virality because its products skewed lighter and cheaper.
How We Research
We don't run a lab or claim to wear-test products for weeks. This piece is built from published ingredient lists, how heartleaf formulas compare with the centella category, and the consistent experiences long-term users report across Korean platforms and global retailers. See About for our full method.
The Honest Science, In One Section
Per published ingredient profiles, heartleaf extract brings soothing and antioxidant support, and it reads well on irritancy databases. What it is not: a treatment — no extract treats skin conditions, and percentage-on-the-label is marketing shorthand, not a clinical dose claim.
The fair reading of aggregated reviews: heat-flushed, oily, breakout-prone skin reports feeling settled rather than stripped, which is precisely the gap harsh "oil-control" products used to fill badly.
Where the Real Work Happens: The Formula
The franchise product is the Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner — a watery, low-irritant daily layer users repurchase in multiples. The same extract carries the 77% toner pad, the lazy-routine format of the moment, and even a cleansing oil for the first cleanse.
Texture is the actual differentiator: heartleaf products ship overwhelmingly as watery toners, pads, and gels — built for humid summers and layered routines, the lane our cooling skincare trend piece covers.
What's Worth Buying (and What Isn't)
Worth it: the toner or pads as a calming base layer, especially for oily and combination skin — they slot into any routine per the soothing toner three-way. Skip: "heartleaf" makeup and body washes where the extract is a label garnish at the bottom of the list.
The One-Line Take
Heartleaf is cica's faster, lighter successor — a real soothing extract in genuinely good watery formulas. Buy the texture and the routine fit; enjoy the 77% on the label as branding.
→ Check today's prices in the Where to Buy table below.
Where to Buy
AD — affiliate links. SGC earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Ships to your country; Amazon auto-localizes to your local store.
| Store | Pick | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Stylevana | → Anua Heartleaf 77% Toner on Stylevana | often lowest price |
| Amazon | → Anua Heartleaf 77% Toner Pad on Amazon | fast / Prime · auto-localized |
| YesStyle | → Anua Heartleaf Cleansing Oil on YesStyle | global shipping |
Full Disclosure
SeoulGlowClub participates in affiliate programs including Amazon Associates and Awin (Stylevana, YesStyle). When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We do not accept payment for favorable coverage, and brands have no input on our verdicts.
This article is informational only and is not medical advice. Skin concerns vary — patch-test new products and consult a dermatologist for persistent conditions.
Sources
- Anua official product pages — published ingredient lists and extract percentages
- INCIDecoder — houttuynia cordata extract ingredient profile
- Aggregated verified buyer reviews — Korean platforms and global retailers (Amazon, Stylevana, YesStyle)