Water cleanser

Which Korean cleanser is right for your skin?

Gel or foam, texture matters less than pH and the main active.

• Oily skin, pores and blackheads: Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam, with 3,000 ppm heartleaf powder and salicylic acid. To target breakouts more directly, the COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser combines salicylic acid and tea tree.
• Combination, acne-prone skin: Beplain Mung Bean pH-Balanced Cleansing Foam, the brand's best-seller, with mung bean and green tea.
• Sensitive or reactive skin: SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule Foam, 84% centella extract and pH 5. For fragrance-free options, see the Haruharu wonder Black Rice 5.5 Soft Cleansing Gel and the Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser.
• Dry or dehydrated skin: Anua 8 Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser, with 8 hyaluronic acids and panthenol, or the Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleanser, pH 5 to 6, ceramide NP and panthenol.
• Dull skin and dark spots: Goodal Green Tangerine Vita C Cleansing Foam, with green tangerine, niacinamide and arbutin.
• Very oily skin, mornings included: COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser, a light gel with naturally derived BHA and tea tree.

Why low pH makes the difference

The surface of your skin is slightly acidic. A classic soap is alkaline: it cleans, but leaves skin dry and tight. Low pH Korean cleansers stay close to your skin's natural acidity, which protects the skin barrier and avoids rebound oiliness. On this page, SKIN1004 lists a pH of 5, Haruharu wonder a pH of 5.5 and Round Lab Dokdo a pH between 5 and 6.

Gel, foam or powder: which texture?

• Gel: fresh and low-foaming, the lightest of the three. COSRX Low pH, Haruharu wonder, Beauty of Joseon Green Plum.
• Cream foam: denser, for the second cleanse at night. Beplain, Anua, Goodal. The Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Bubble Foam comes out of the pump already foamed.
• Enzyme powder: the Anua Rice Enzyme Brightening Cleansing Powder is mixed with water and exfoliates gently.
• Korean rice cleansers: besides the Anua powder, the Arencia Fresh Green Rice Mochi Cleanser has a stretchy mochi-like texture, made for oily skin.

FAQ

What is an ampoule foam?

A cleanser concentrated in active extract, like an ampoule, that turns from gel to foam on contact with water. The SKIN1004 one contains 84% centella extract.

Which Anua cleanser should I choose?

Oily skin or visible pores: the Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam. Dry or sensitive skin: the 8 Hyaluronic Acid. For radiance: the Rice Enzyme powder.

COSRX Low pH or Salicylic Acid?

Low pH Good Morning is a daily gel for all skin types. Salicylic Acid is a more targeted foam for breakouts and blackheads.

Which Korean cleanser is the most gentle?

Look for a fragrance-free, low pH formula: Haruharu wonder Black Rice 5.5, Beauty of Joseon Green Plum or SKIN1004 Centella Ampoule Foam.

Do I need to cleanse in the morning?

No, unless your skin is very oily. In the morning, water is enough: there is no makeup or sunscreen to remove, and an extra cleanse can dry your skin out. Keep your cleanser for the evening, after a cleansing oil.