Anua in Australia: How a Humble Korean Plant Built a Skincare Cult, and Where to Start

Every great skincare brand begins with a problem. For Anua, the problem was a crowded shelf. By 2019 a handful of Korean brands had already made centella the darling of the aisle, and the question on a whiteboard in Seoul was a simple one: what plant could we own that nobody else had claimed? The answer was a humble, slightly pungent weed with a long history in East Asian home remedies. That plant was heartleaf.

The Beauty Desk · Anua · 10 minute read

If you have searched for anua australia, anua products or anua skin care, you have likely noticed how often the name comes up. This is the longer answer to why. It is a story about a clever strategy, a plain-spoken philosophy and a toner that feels like water. Browse everything we stock in our Anua collection.

Why heartleaf? The story behind the brand

Anua was founded in Korea in 2019 by The Founders, a brand-building company led by two co-CEOs. According to published brand histories, the idea was disarmingly simple: make skincare that is gentle and effective without unnecessary complication, and build it around a single hero ingredient. Where other Korean brands had found great success with centella, Anua wanted to replicate that success in a new field entirely, and found it in heartleaf, a wild plant used for centuries in traditional Korean and Japanese herbal practice for its calming reputation.

That clarity is a big part of the story. Instead of a dozen competing hero ingredients, Anua put one plant at the centre of its first line and kept the formulas short and simple. The Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner is the product that carried that idea into the world, and it went on to be reported as a top-rated toner at a major Korean beauty awards event. That is the kind of validation that matters in Korea, where shoppers at the biggest health and beauty retailers read ingredient lists very closely.

What the magazines and reviewers say

Across beauty publications and independent reviewers, the verdicts echo each other. The toner is repeatedly described as water-thin, lightweight and not sticky, with very little scent, which is why it appeals to people who want a calm, uncomplicated step. Reviewers who tested it for a month describe lightweight hydration and comfortable layering. A common observation is that it suits oily and combination skin in a quiet way, without the tightness some toners leave behind. As with any product, results vary, and not every reviewer saw dramatic change in texture or pores. That honesty is worth keeping in mind.

Where the brand is heading: PDRN

Anua has not stood still. In recent years it has added a PDRN line, tapping into one of the biggest ingredient stories in Korean skincare. PDRN, short for polydeoxyribonucleotide, is an ingredient described in editorial coverage as having moved from clinic treatments into everyday cosmetics. Industry trend pieces for 2026 describe PDRN, exosome-style ingredients and peptide complexes as the direction of travel, with more brands bringing these ingredients to affordable retail products. The Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum has been written about by several beauty publications and reported as a top seller at Korea's biggest beauty retailer. Reviewers praise its lightweight feel and its hydration, built on many forms of hyaluronic acid. One careful reviewer noted that the evidence for topping up skin renewal with a cosmetic PDRN serum is far less certain than the hydration case, and that is a fair way to think about it. We cover the line in our Anua PDRN guide.

Why Anua suits Australian skin

Australian skin has a particular set of demands. We have strong UV, humid summers in the north and dry, cold winters in the south, and many of us are juggling sunscreen, makeup and air conditioning all at once. A calming, lightweight routine suits that life, which is why the heartleaf range is so often recommended to people who want fewer steps and fewer surprises.

The Anua products to know

Cleansing, the first step. The Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil comes in a 20ml trial size from $13.00 and a full size from $32.99. Reviewers describe it as lightweight and refreshing, and it is the usual first step of an evening double cleanse. Follow it with the Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam ($26.95), or the gentler Anua Heartleaf Succinic Moisture Cleansing Foam ($24.99) if your skin runs dry. If you are searching for an anua face wash, those two foams are the place to start, along with the ANUA 8 Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser ($21.99) for a more hydrating wash.

Toning. The ANUA Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner ($35.00) is the hero. If you like a swipe-and-go step, the ANUA Heartleaf 77% Toner Pad ($32.95, 70 pads) is the same idea in pad form.

Serums. The ANUA Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum ($41.00) is a brightening-feel serum for uneven-looking tone, and the Anua Azelaic Acid 10% Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum ($34.95) is aimed at skin that looks flushed. For hydration, the ANUA 7 Rice Ceramide Hydrating Barrier Serum ($35.00) is a comfortable choice.

Moisturisers and sun care. The ANUA Heartleaf 70% Daily Lotion ($35.99) is a light finish for oily or combination skin, and the Anua Heartleaf 70 Intense Calming Cream ($49.00) is richer. The ANUA Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream ($34.00) is the morning finish. Australian guidance is SPF50+ reapplied every two hours outdoors.

Prefer a ready-made routine?

The Anua Double Cleansing Duo Set ($54.00) is the easiest first purchase. The ANUA Heartleaf Purity Collection ($160.00) is the full five-step system, and the ANUA Heartleaf Pure Calm Collection ($170.00) is made for sensitive, easily flushed skin. Our fuller comparison is in the Anua skincare sets guide.

A gentle way to begin

1. Patch test any new product for 24 hours first.
2. Start with a cleanser and the toner only.
3. Add a serum after a week or two, one at a time.
4. Use exfoliating products two or three times a week at most.
5. Wear sunscreen every morning.

Around Australia

• Sydney, NSW: humid summers suit the lighter lotion and the toner pads.
• Melbourne, VIC: cold, dry winters; reach for the calming cream.
• Brisbane and the Gold Coast, QLD: keep layers light; sunscreen first.
• Perth, WA: strong UV and dry air; hydrate and protect.
• Adelaide, SA: swap textures with the season.
• Canberra, ACT: dry winters; add a hydrating serum.
• Hobart, TAS: cool and windy; richer creams feel kind.
• Darwin, NT: tropical heat; keep the routine light.

Where we fit in

Eastern Curlew is an authorised Anua stockist and we dispatch from Sydney. We sell the products mentioned, so weigh our view accordingly. Prices come from the live product pages and can change, so check the page before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What is Anua best known for?
The Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner and the wider Heartleaf range of cleansers, toners, serums and moisturisers.

Why is Anua built around heartleaf?
According to published brand histories, the founders wanted a calming botanical with a long herbal history and less competition than centella, and landed on heartleaf.

Which Anua product should I buy first?
Most people start with the Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner at $35.00, or the Double Cleansing Duo at $54.00 for a gentle first step.

Is Anua suitable for sensitive skin?
Many people with sensitive skin like the range, but patch test first and introduce one product at a time.

Where can I buy Anua in Australia?
From Eastern Curlew, an authorised Anua stockist, with dispatch from Sydney and prices in AUD.

This article is general information only. It is not medical advice and does not replace advice from a doctor or dermatologist. Results vary from person to person, and you should patch test new products. This guide draws on our own product pages and on published brand histories, reviews and editorial coverage from Australian and international beauty and K-beauty publications and independent reviewers. Product information may change. Last checked: 10 November 2026.