Korean Face Cleansers

How to choose your Korean face cleanser

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

Which cleanser for your skin

• Oily skin, pores and blackheads: Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam, with 3,000 ppm heartleaf powder and salicylic acid. To target breakouts, 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, a foam with 84% centella extract and pH 5. For fragrance-free options, choose the Haruharu wonder Black Rice 5.5 Soft Cleansing Gel or 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, with 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.

Gel, foam or powder: which texture?

• Gel: fresh and low-foaming, the lightest. 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.
• Rice cleanser: besides the Anua powder, the Arencia Fresh Green Rice Mochi Cleanser has a stretchy mochi-like texture, made for oily skin.

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.

Korean double cleansing, step by step

1. In the evening, a cleansing oil on dry skin to dissolve makeup and sunscreen, then rinse.
2. The cleanser on damp skin: massage for 30 seconds to a minute, without rubbing.
3. Rinse with lukewarm water, pat dry, then apply your toner.
4. In the morning, water is enough unless your skin is very oily.

Double cleansing duos pair the oil and the cleanser from the same line: Anua Heartleaf, SKIN1004 Centella, Beauty of Joseon, Round Lab Dokdo and Dr.Althea.

Blemish-prone skin? Read our guide to Korean skincare for acne-prone skin, from cleanser to targeted care.

Why buy your Korean face cleansers at SKINOREA

• Authentic products, bought in South Korea directly from the brands or their authorised distributors, then selected by our team, including Nahla, chemical engineer and co-founder, who reviews every formula.
• Stock in France: same-day dispatch from the Paris region for orders placed before 1 pm, with no customs fees within the European Union.
• Free pickup-point delivery in France from €75.

FAQ

What is the best Korean face cleanser?

The one that suits your skin. Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol foam for oily skin with visible pores, Beplain Mung Bean for combination skin, SKIN1004 Centella Ampoule Foam for sensitive skin, Anua 8 Hyaluronic Acid for dry skin. In every case, go for a low pH.

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 the oil.