For your skin
A calming K-beauty botanical that's also antibacterial, so it pairs well for acne-prone, sensitive skin.
Want the science? Keep reading ↓Mechanism of action
Quercetin-rich botanical with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects useful in acne-prone skin.
Why we tier this moderate
7 cited papers across 4 countries. The mechanism is well-described and there's at least one controlled trial in the literature, but we tier this Moderate rather than Strong to stay honest about how many specific papers we cite directly.
Layering matrix
Cited research
Huang R et al., Houttuynia cordata polysaccharides ameliorate atopic dermatitis in mice through modulation of skin immune barrier and lipid metabolism, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 2025;314:144264 — South-Central Minzu U Wuhan; HCP restored lipid metabolic homeostasis and modulated inflammation in AD mice
Kwon N et al., Protective Effects of Fermented Houttuynia cordata Against UVA and H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress in Human Skin Keratinocytes, Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 2023;195(5):3027-3046 — Korean-authored; fermented H. cordata showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection against UVA/H2O2 stress
Wu Z et al., Houttuynia cordata Thunb: An Ethnopharmacological Review, Frontiers in Pharmacology 2021;12:714694 — anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral effects supporting topical applications
Mapoung S et al., Photoprotective Effects of a Hyperoside-Enriched Fraction Prepared from Houttuynia cordata Thunb. on Ultraviolet B-Induced Skin Aging in Human Fibroblasts through the MAPK Signaling Pathway, Plants 2021;10(12):2628 — hyperoside-enriched H. cordata protected fibroblasts from UVB-induced collagen breakdown
Shingnaisui K et al., Therapeutic potentials of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. against inflammation and oxidative stress: A review, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2018;220:35-43 — H. cordata extracts possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties with no demonstrated toxicity
Anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol extract from Houttuynia cordata poultice, Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry 2016 — in-vitro mechanism; no human controlled trial for skin to date. (Published in a Japanese journal: BBB is the official journal of the Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry; J-Stage-indexed.)
Xue Mei Li et al., Stimulation of keratinocyte differentiation by extract of combined medicinal plant, Journal of Biomedical and Translational Research 2014;15(4):176-181 — Heartleaf Houttuynia was 1 of 4 plant components in a combined extract (ECMP, alongside Taraxacum, Glycyrrhiza, and Ulmus davidiana). The combined extract induced keratinocyte differentiation markers (involucrin, loricrin, filaggrin) and accelerated TEWL recovery in tape-stripped mouse skin. The observed effect cannot be attributed to Heartleaf alone.
Sources: PubMed · KCI · J-Stage · CNKI · Wanfang · SFD · MFDS · Cochrane · SCCS · CIR. Every entry points to a specific document. See methodology for what each outcome label means.