If you’ve heard about the effectiveness of Korean skincare products and wanna start trying them, you’re not alone! Many people around the world are now switching to these gentle, affordable, and effective Korean products.
So, how about starting with a face wash? Well. The best Korean cleanser for you is the one that suits your skin needs the most.
Also, the best Korean cleanser can melt away all impurities from the skin, reduce inflammation and irritation, and prevent breakouts while leaving the skin healthy, hydrated, and supple.
In this article, I gathered a list of the best Korean skin cleansers so you can find what you need easily.
Let’s get started…
What Is The Best Korean Cleanser?
1- HARUHARU wonder Black Rice Moisture Cleansing Oil
This is the best Korean cleansing oil that can melt away makeup, SPF, and dust in no time. It’s formulated with naturally derived ingredients, including olive oil, jojoba oil, and rice bran oil, to deeply cleanse the skin while providing long-lasting moisture and preventing irritation. It works well to help clear pores and leave the skin looking healthy and clear.
Plus, using this face wash regularly can improve the quality of your skin, preparing it for the next steps of your skincare routine.
Related: Master Day and Night Korean Skincare Routine For Top Results
Key Ingredients: rice bran oil, olive oil, macadamia seed oil, jojoba seed oil, and sunflower seed oil.
Ideal For: dry and sensitive skin.
Pros:
- Best Korean oil cleanser.
- Gentle formula.
- Remove makeup and sunscreen well.
- Fragrance-free.
- Vegan.
- Non-comedogenic.
- Non-irritating.
- Effective pore cleansing.
Cons:
- May not suit oily skin.
2- BIODANCE Collagen Mask To Foam Cleanser
The BIODANCE Collagen Mask To Foam is the best Korean face wash for combination skin, which can remove excess sebum and other impurities while leaving the skin silky and extra smooth.
It’s a 2-in-1 product that can be used as a pore mask or a foam cleanser, helping to improve skin texture effortlessly and cleanse clogged pores, leaving the skin revitalized. Its formula is stretchy to cling to the skin to lift away buildups gently. The best part is that it doesn’t strip the skin of its natural moisture or cause irritation.
Lastly, this product is infused with 243Da ultra-low molecular collagen to provide extra hydration, restore elasticity, and plump the skin.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and collagen.
Ideal For: combination, acne-prone, and sensitive skin types.
Pros:
- Gel to foam texture.
- Strechty formula.
- Moisturizing.
- Non-irritating.
- Deep pore cleansing.
- Suitable for everyday use.
- Gentle formula.
- Mildly acidic pH to support the skin barrier health.
- Fragrance-free.
Cons:
- None.
Related: 18 Best Korean Toners For A More Balanced Skin 2025
3- AESTURA ATOBARRIER365 Gentle pH-Balanced Face Wash
The AESTURA Atobarrier365 line is designed especially to repair dry, dehydrated, sensitive, and reactive skin types. This makes this face wash from this line the most gentle on the skin and will not cause irritation.
Featuring a gentle yet effective formula that includes glycerin and antioxidant-rich green tea extract, to help cleanse while soothing and hydrating the skin barrier. It melts into the skin and rinses off easily, with no need to rub the skin. Surely, it’s one of the best Korean cleansers for dry skin on the market.
Key Ingredients: glycerin and green tea extract.
Ideal For: dry, dehydrated, and sensitive skin types.
Pros:
- Best Korean face wash for dry skin.
- Foam texture.
- Gentle.
- Soothing.
- Skin barrier-friendly.
- pH balancing formula.
- Nourishing.
- Fragrance-free.
- Free of colorants and mineral oils.
- Allergy-tested.
Cons:
- It may not be ideal for oily skin types.
Related: The 15 Best Korean Face Creams To Unlock Your Glow
4- Saturday Skin Hydrating Gentle Facial Gel Face Wash
The Saturday Skin Hydrating Gentle Facial Gel Wash is rich in vitamins and antioxidants thanks to acai berry, centella Asiatica, and grain complex. It washes away oil, dirt, SPF, and makeup while calming and soothing the skin. It can also plump and brighten the skin, protect the skin barrier, and promote collagen to a firmer, bouncy look.
The formula is super gentle on the skin, even for children. You don’t have to worry about irritation while using this product. This makes it the best Korean face wash for sensitive skin that will give your skin exactly what it needs.
Key Ingredients: Acai berry, grain complex, and Centella asiatica.
Ideal For: All skin types, including sensitive skin.
Pros:
- Airy-light formula.
- Daily use.
- Antioxidant and vitamin-rich formula.
- Nourishing and soothing.
- Deeply cleanse the skin without irritation.
- Fragrance-free.
Cons:
- May not suit all dry skin types.
5- ETUDE Soonjung pH 6.5 Whip Cleanser
The ETUDE Soonjung Whip is one of the best Korean facial cleansers for all skin types, including sensitive skin- thanks to its low pH formula (6.5). This low pH formula helps melt away makeup and skin impurities in addition to supporting the natural barrier function and preventing irritation and breakouts.
It’s formulated with panthenol and madecassoside to calm dry and irritated skin, strengthen the skin barrier health, and boost hydration.
Key Ingredients: Panthenol, camellia sinensis leaf extract, and madecassoside.
Ideal For: All skin types, including sensitive skin.
Pros:
- Hypoallergenic.
- Low pH level.
- Whipped cream texture.
- Fragrance-free.
- Free of 10 harmful additives.
- Vegan.
- No animal-derived ingredients.
- Reusable bottles.
Cons:
- None.
6- Beauty of Joseon Green Plum
The Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Face Wash features a slightly acidic formula (low pH) to support the skin’s moisture barrier and prevent stripping the skin of its natural oils. It’s a multi-tasking product that gently exfoliates dead skin cells while cleansing the skin deeply- thanks to mung bean extract and plum water.
It is also enriched with antioxidant ingredients, including green tea extract, heartleaf, and green plum water, which help soothe and hydrate the skin.
We can say it’s one of the best Korean cleansers that is highly recommended due to its quality and effectiveness.
Key Ingredients: Green plum water, mung bean extract, heartleaf extract, and green tea extract.
Ideal For: All skin types.
Pros:
- Lightweight gel texture.
- Barrier-friendly formula.
- Moisturizing.
- Refreshing.
- Fragrance-free.
- Hydrating finish.
- Hypoallergenic.
Cons:
- None.
7- ANUA Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
Are you looking for a cleansing foam for your super oily skin? The ANUA Heartleaf Quercetinol is the best Korean cleansing foam for oily skin.
This purifying face wash is enriched with BHA, quercetinol, houttuynia cordata extract, glycerin, and other plant-derived extracts, which remove dead skin cells and excess sebum, refine pores, prevent acne, and calm irritation, leaving the skin smooth and clear.
It’s definitely one of the best Korean cleansers for oily skin types that will keep breakouts and excess sebum at bay.
Key Ingredients: 0.5% BHA, plant-derived extracts, quercetinol, glycerin, Houttuynia Cordata extract, and hyaluronic acid..
Ideal For: oily, combination, and acne-prone skin types.
Pros:
- Thick cleansing foam.
- Non-stripping formula.
- Exfoliate the skin without causing inflammation.
- Hydrating.
- Calming.
- Pore cleansing.
- Vegan.
- Cruelty-free.
Cons:
- It may not suit mature, sensitive, and dry skin types.
8- Dr.Althea Green Relief Amino Gel Cleanser
This multi-tasking product can deeply cleanse the skin without stripping. Its formula is mildly acidic, containing hyaluronic acid, green tea extract, birch juice, heartleaf extract, and betaine. These ingredients work together to remove dirt and other impurities trapped in pores, soothe and calm irritated skin, keep the skin balanced, and prevent inflammation and future acne.
It’s an ideal face wash for acne-prone skin that keeps complexion balanced and soothed while helping you get rid of breakouts.
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, birch juice, heartleaf extract, betaine, and green tea extract.
Ideal For: acne-prone skin.
Pros:
- Gel texture.
- Calming.
- Skin balancing.
- Prevent inflammation.
- Purify pores.
- Heal existing acne faster.
- Prevent future acne.
- Artificial fragrance-free.
Cons:
- None
9- glow guava facial cleanser
Looking for a great face wash for dull skin? The Glow Guava facial cleanser is one of the best Korean cleansers for dull skin that can cleanse the skin effectively and leave it moisturized and revitalized.
It’s a combination of oil and water-based cleansing gel that you need to shake to mix and activate. It can melt away SPF, makeup, eye makeup, dust, and other impurities from pores without stinging.
This product is formulated with glycerin, guava, and rice bran oil to help keep the skin soft and moisturized. It’s one of the products you need to try if you are not sensitive to fragrance.
Key Ingredients: glycerin, guava fruit extract, and rice bran oil.
Ideal For: All skin types except sensitive skin, as it contains fragrance.
Pros:
- Jelly texture.
- Thick consistency.
- Two-step cleanse in one bottle.
- Has a guava scent.
- Leave no residue.
- Moisturizing.
- Glowing.
Cons:
- Not Fragrance-free.
10- TIRTIR Hydro Boost Enzyme Cleansing Powder
The TIRTIR Hydro Boost Enzyme Cleansing Powder restores skin clarity, removes dead skin cells, lifts away buildup trapped in pores without stripping the skin, resulting in a clear and soft complexion.
It’s a dry powder that turns to milky foam when you lather it with water. Infused with enzymes, probiotics, rice extracts, and mild PHA, to effectively dissolve all impurities from the skin surface gently to prevent irritation. Plus, it’s designed to suit all skin types, even sensitive skin.
Key Ingredients: Rice extracts, enzymes, PHA, mung bean powder, and probiotics.
Ideal For: Normal, combination, sensitive, oily, and acne-prone skin.
Pros:
- Exfoliating.
- Gentle formula.
- Dry powder activates with water.
- Milky foam.
- Fragrance-free.
- Hypoallergenic.
- Not a face scrub.
Cons:
- None.
11- Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm
This Award-winning sorbet soft cleansing balm dissolves long-wear makeup, sunscreen, excess oil, dirt, and environmental pollutants with no residue left. It prepares your skin for the second step of your routine.
This cleansing balm contains super-rich antioxidant ingredients, including seaberry oil, vitamin E, and persimmon extract. So, it can effectively cleanse the skin while also improving skin tone, brightening the complexion, boosting hydration, and protecting against free radical damage with prolonged use. It supports skin barrier health, reducing irritation and inflammation to make your complexion look soft and glowing.
Its sorbet-soft balm texture transforms into a silky oil that wipes away all impurities from pores.
Key Ingredients: Seaberry oil, persimmon extract, and vitamin E.
Ideal For: All skin types (For those with sensitive skin, patch test first as it’s not fragrance-free)
Pros:
- Rich balm.
- Skin-loving ingredients.
- Antioxidant-rich formula.
- Nourishing.
- Brightening.
- Non-irritating.
- Cruelty-free.
Cons:
- Not fragrance-free.
- It may not be ideal for those with sensitive eyes.
Related: Best Korean Vitamin C Serum: Top 9 Picks
What Is The Korean Cleansing Method?
It’s a popular cleansing technique that is super popular in Korea and could be one of the main reasons for their glowing skin. It starts with an oil-based face wash to lift away SPF, makeup, oil, and other oil-based impurities, followed by a water-based face wash that removes dust, oil, and other impurities the oil-based face wash missed.
What are some of the most effective ingredients found in Korean cleansers?
The ingredients that is usually found in a good Korean cleanser, including Cica (Centella Asiatica), salicylic acid, green tea extract, rice water, mugwort, hyaluronic acid, fermented ingredients, probiotics, and glycerin.
Each ingredient of those can help improve your skin health successfully:
Green tea extract is rich in antioxidants, which help protect the skin against damage and keep it soothed.
Rice water can hydrate and brighten the skin.
Mugwort has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help prevent acne.
Centella Asiatica calms and soothes irritation while strengthening the skin barrier’s health.
Glycerin and Hyaluronic acid attract moisture to the skin, which leads to a more plump and hydrated skin.
Fermented Ingredients can deeply hydrate and boost skin elasticity.
What are the best Korean cleansers for each skin type?
Choosing a face wash that is suitable for your skin type is the best thing you can do for your skin.
For dry skin: Oil-based or creamy gel face wash with olive oil, glycerin, rice water, or hyaluronic acid can help replenish moisture, increase skin hydration, and improve skin health. Plus, these ingredients are super gentle and won’t irritate dry skin.
Related: Best Korean Moisturizer For Dry Skin: Top 13 Picks
For oily skin: A foaming face wash containing salicylic acid, green tea extract, and mugwort can control excess oil, clear pores, and prevent breakouts.
Related: Best Korean Moisturizer For Oily Skin: Most Praised 12 Picks
For combination skin: A face wash containing green tea extract, rice water, or probiotics can help balance the skin, control oil production, and keep it hydrated.
For sensitive skin: A gel or milk face wash with Centella Asiatica or probiotics can cleanse the skin well without stripping it of its natural moisture. Plus, these ingredients are super gentle on the skin and can reduce irritation and calm the skin. Avoid face washes that contain fragrance.
For acne-prone skin: A foaming face wash with salicylic acid can clear anything that clings to pores, including dead skin cells, oil, dust, and other impurities that cause breakouts. Also, mugwort can calm the skin and prevent inflammation caused by acne.
Related: Best Korean Moisturizer For Acne Prone Skin: 11 Loved Picks
What do Koreans use to clean their face?
The double cleansing technique is what they usually use to cleanse their faces. They start with an oil-based face wash to melt away makeup, sunscreen, oil, and other oil-based impurities. Then, followed by a water-based face wash that removes oil, dust, and other impurities that an oil face wash has missed.
Why do Koreans look so clean?
This is because they take good care of their skin by following an effective skincare routine that depends on the double cleansing method and using products that can improve skin health, clear pores, prevent breakouts, and support the skin barrier health, which allows their skin to breathe and makes them age slower.
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