Anua vs Manyo Cleansing Oil: Which Should You Choose?
Anua vs Manyo cleansing oil: Anua is cheaper and in stock with an ester base; ma:nyo uses soybean oil and essential oils. Compare INCI, price and directions.
Choose Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil if you want the cheaper bottle you can buy now (checked October 13, 2026). Choose ma:nyo Pure Soybean Cleansing Oil if you prefer a soybean-oil base and can wait for a restock. Neither is fragrance-free.
Which versions does this comparison cover?
For Anua, this covers the original oil, not the Mild version. For ma:nyo, it covers the current US Renewed bottle, not Deep Clean.
Anua vs ma:nyo: price, size and formula side by side
| Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil (original) | ma:nyo Pure Soybean Cleansing Oil (US, Renewed) | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 200 mL (6.76 fl oz) | 200 mL (6.7 fl oz) |
| US brand-site price, Oct 13, 2026 | $22 | $23 sale, $29 regular |
| Price per mL | $0.11 | $0.115 sale, $0.145 regular |
| Stock on Oct 13, 2026 | Available | Sold out |
| Leads with | Ethylhexyl palmitate, a synthetic ester | Soybean oil, then hazelnut oil |
| Emulsifiers and surfactants | Sorbeth-30 tetraoleate, sorbitan sesquioleate | Sorbeth-30 tetraoleate, decyl glucoside |
| Scent ingredients on the label | Fragrance | Lavender, sweet orange and tea tree oils |
| Name ingredient | Heartleaf extract, listed near the end | Soybean oil, listed first |
Sources: Anua’s US product page and ma:nyo’s US product page.
What do the formula differences mean for you?
Less than the marketing suggests. A cleansing oil is a blend of oils with an emulsifier, an ingredient that lets oil mix with water. The oil loosens sunscreen, makeup and sebum on dry skin; when you add water, the emulsifier turns it milky so it rinses off.
Ingredient lists are most useful for screening: check them for scent ingredients and any plant oil that has bothered you before. What they cannot do is predict feel or results: INCI order is a ranking, not a recipe.
Does cleansing oil remove sunscreen better than face wash?
With a water-resistant sunscreen, the oil tested in one small study did. Chen and colleagues (Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020) imaged 20 people’s faces before sunscreen and after one wash with water, a foaming cleanser or a cleansing oil.
| Claim | Best evidence | Study type, size, duration | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| The tested cleansing oil removed a water-resistant sunscreen better than the tested foam or water | Residue after one wash: oil 5.8%, foaming cleanser 36.8%, water 59.3% | Human measurement study, 20 people, single wash | Limited |
| With a non-water-resistant sunscreen, the tested oil and foam left similar residue | Residue: oil 13.4%, foaming cleanser 15.6%, water 54% | Same study | Limited |
| Wash gently and do not scrub | AAD face-washing guidance | Professional-body recommendation | Guidance |
| A second cleanse is optional for most people | Cleveland Clinic, dermatologist Jane Wu, 2022 | Expert guidance | Guidance |
These results apply to the tested oil, foam and sunscreens, not Anua, ma:nyo or every product in each category, and the study did not track breakouts or blackheads.
Which is better for sensitive skin?
Neither; both list scent ingredients. The AAD notes that botanical ingredients can contain fragrance-related compounds and that unscented is not the same as fragrance-free.
If fragrance or essential oils are a known trigger for you, avoid both rather than testing them on your skin. Look instead for an oil cleanser labeled fragrance-free, and check its INCI for essential oils.
When you are considering a new product that suits those limits, the AAD’s at-home product test is a sensible first check. Apply the product to the same quarter-sized spot on your arm near the elbow twice a day for 7 to 10 days, rinse a cleanser off as its directions say, and stop if a reaction appears. A clear result is reassuring, but it does not diagnose an allergy or predict breakouts; diagnostic patch testing at a dermatologist’s office is a different procedure.
Will either oil clog pores or cause breakouts?
The evidence reviewed for this comparison does not establish whether either oil helps or worsens acne or blackheads. Single-ingredient comedogenicity ratings score raw materials in isolation and cannot predict how a finished, rinse-off formula behaves on your face.
What you can control is the same for both: emulsify fully and rinse well so the oil does not sit on your skin. If the gray dots on your nose are the worry, our guide to sebaceous filaments vs blackheads explains why those dots refill after any cleanse. For persistent acne, a board-certified dermatologist can build a treatment plan.
How do you use a cleansing oil without irritating your skin?
- Start dry. Anua suggests 2 to 3 pumps on a dry face.
- Massage gently with your fingertips just long enough to loosen sunscreen and makeup; a long pore-rubbing session adds friction without a known benefit.
- Emulsify. Add a little water and keep massaging until the oil turns milky.
- Rinse with lukewarm water, as the AAD recommends.
- Follow up only if needed with a gentle cleanser; the next section covers when.
The AAD’s advice to start with a wet face is written for cleansers in general. Its warning against scrubbing applies either way, because scrubbing irritates skin.
Do you need to double cleanse after Anua or ma:nyo?
Not every time. “Double cleansing is usually not necessary,” dermatologist Jane Wu said in a 2022 Cleveland Clinic article, which describes it as useful when you wear waterproof makeup or sunscreen. Washing more than you need can leave skin dry or irritated.
A simple way to decide: after rinsing the oil, if sunscreen or makeup is still visible or your skin feels filmy, follow with a gentle cleanser. If it looks and feels clean, stop there.
For tougher jobs such as costume makeup, see how to remove Halloween makeup without irritating your skin. For where an oil cleanse fits in a full evening routine, see our evidence-based Korean skincare routine.
So which should you buy?
- Choose Anua for the cheaper bottle if you tolerate added fragrance.
- Choose ma:nyo for a soybean-oil base if you tolerate essential oils.
- Choose neither if fragrance or essential oils are a known trigger.
Sources and research notes
Anua's and ma:nyo's official US product pages with full ingredient lists, sizes, prices, stock and directions, a 2020 human measurement study of sunscreen removal by water, foaming cleanser and cleansing oil, AAD face-washing and product-testing guidance, and Cleveland Clinic dermatologist guidance on double cleansing, checked on the date shown.
Source record date: 2026-10-13. Prices and availability are as of that date.
- Anua US: Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil 200mL, original (INCI, US$22 and in stock on 2026-10-13, directions)
- ma:nyo US: Pure Soybean Cleansing Oil 200mL, Renewed (INCI, US$23 sale / US$29 regular and sold out on 2026-10-13, directions)
- Chen et al., J Cosmet Dermatol 2020;19:180-184: sunscreen residue after one wash with water, foaming cleanser or cleansing oil (n=20, VISIA imaging)
- American Academy of Dermatology: face washing 101
- American Academy of Dermatology: how to test skin care products
- Cleveland Clinic: double cleansing explained, with dermatologist Jane Wu (2022-06-21)
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Anua or Manyo cleansing oil?
Neither has shown better cleaning in the evidence reviewed here; scent and availability usually decide.
Is ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil the same as Pure Soybean Cleansing Oil?
In the US, yes; older or Korean-market bottles may differ.
Is ma:nyo cleansing oil fragrance-free?
No; its essential oils can act as fragrance.
Do you put cleansing oil on a wet or dry face?
Dry, per Anua's directions. The AAD's wet-face advice covers cleansers in general.
Do I need a second cleanser after cleansing oil?
Consider one after water-resistant sunscreen or long-wear makeup, or when the first cleanse leaves residue. On bare-skin evenings, one gentle cleanse is usually enough.
Can cleansing oil cause breakouts?
The sources reviewed for this comparison don't establish either oil's effect on acne or blackheads, and single-ingredient comedogenic ratings cannot predict how a finished rinse-off product behaves. For persistent acne, see a board-certified dermatologist.