Ingredient
What does Houttuynia Cordata Extract, or heartleaf, mean on a label, and has it been safety-reviewed?
Heartleaf is the plant Houttuynia cordata, listed under names such as Houttuynia Cordata Extract or Houttuynia Cordata Leaf Extract, mostly as a skin-conditioning agent. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel has opened a safety assessment, but the version released in December 2025 is a literature review for public comment, with no safety conclusion yet.
What the review covers so far
The review groups six names, including the extract, leaf extract, powder and several waters; Houttuynia Cordata Water is listed only as a fragrance ingredient. The plant is a perennial herb native to China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia, and most of these ingredients come from its leaves and aerial parts. The extract was reported in over a thousand formulations, at up to 1.5% in leave-on face and neck products.
Try this
- Look for the INCI name in the ingredient list, not just front-of-pack wording.
- Test a new heartleaf product on a small area, like any other.
- Read a safety review as context about defined uses, not a sign it suits you.
A common mistake
Taking heartleaf on the front of a pack as a sign of a soothing product, when a safety review describes defined cosmetic uses, not effects or personal fit.