CLEANSING YOUR SKIN HAS NEVER BEEN THIS FUN...
Want to know how to turn a boring daily task like washing your face into something fun, exhilarating, and of course, effective? Try out a Korean cleanser and you'll feel exactly what we're talking about. These cleansers are packed with power ingredients to help keep your skin clear, healthy, and blemish free. Plus, they're infused with delicious scents and other bonus features that your skn will be craving after the first go. Curious? We tested out some of the best Korean cleansers and chose the top picks that are best for your skin.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST KOREAN CLEANSER
If you're a fan of Korean dramas or Korean television in general, you've probably seen the stars in the spotlight and their goregously perfect porcelain skin. How do they keep it looking so smooth and healthy? South Korea is one of the leading skin care industries in the world. Their products have used and sold across the globe because of their incredible efficacy.
However, great skin doesn't come at a cheap price. In this case, we're talking about the actual process itself. The Korean skincare regimen is not for the faint of heart, but the results are certainly worth it. These Korean cleansers are usually coupled with a Korean Cleansing Oil to achieve glowing skin. Fortunately, the cost of the products will leave you only with a radiant new look and not an empty wallet.
So how do you choose the best Korean cleanser? We did the dirty work and narrowed down a couple of categories that can help you pick which product works best for your skin.
Hydrating
You know that feeling of tightness you have right after you wash your face? Sometimes, people feel that describes how clean their face is. This is important to understand especially for people who already have dry skin. Most cleansers will leave your feelng dry, so be sure to check this if you have extra dry skin.
pH
Not a science fan? No worries! Understanding pH will help you get a grasp of how to choose your skin care products. Your normal flora on your skin has a pH of 5.5. Higher pH means more alkaline and less acidic, which is very effective for acne. Lower pH will be more moisturizing.
Acne Treating
Not all of us are born with blemish free spotless skin. Fortunately, thats why they have great cleansers that treat for this. Some products will specifically treat for blemishes, so it's good to keep and eye out for these if you have acne.
Skin Type
Yes, every human has different skin. It sure would be a hell of a lot easier if we didn't, but fortunately, they make a cleanser for every type of skin. Hooray! Just make sure you know your skin type because choosing the wrong cleanser may cause dryness.
Brightening
In Korean skincare, bright and white glowing skin is the ultimate goal. Some cleansers offer brightening for your skin. If you're into the pale look, definitely keep an eye out for these cleansers.
Scent
If you like nice smelling things, then follow your nose to the cleansers that have a smell. It's really a great way to keep your daily routine fun or a great wake up call in the morning.
THE BEST KOREAN CLEANSERS
Korean Cleansers | Name | Hydrating | pH | Acne | Skin | Brightening | Scent |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Normal | 7.5 | No | Normal | No | Aloe Vera | ||
Dry | 9 | No | Very Oily | Yes | Natural | ||
Normal | 8 | No | Normal | No | Subtle | ||
Dry | 8.5 | No | Normal/Oily | No | Banana | ||
Dry | 9 | Yes | Very oily/Acne Prone | No | Subtle | ||
Dry - Normal | 7.5 | No | Normal - Oily | No | Refreshing | ||
Dry | 8 | No | Oily | Yes | Subtle | ||
Dry | 9.5 | No | Very Oily | No | Subtle |
Dry - Normal
No
No
pH 8.5
Normal - Oily
Banana
For those of you who think with your nose, this is the perfect product for you. This cleanser smells like banana popsicles and all things wonderfully banana flavored. Heck, the container itself almost looks like a banana with its bright yellow exterior.
Not only does this product smell almost good enough to eat, it really gets the job done when it comes to cleansing. The texture is a fusion of gel and creamy lotion, which creates a beautiful lather on your skin with a small amount. Although it doesn't contain any specific blemish-fighting chemicals, the high pH tends to eradicate any existing acne leaving your skin healthy and clear.
Overall, we love this product because of its adorable exterior as well as it's ingredients. Although it does contain some chemicals, it generally is made with natural ingredients like banana and honey. We definitely recommend this for those who are foodie fans that want a good clean for their skin.
Dry
No
No
pH 9.5
Very Oily
Subtle
If you're the kind of person that jumps for joy when they experience that "squeeky clean" feeling after washing their face, you're in luck. This product is an extremely alkaline cleanser, so you can successfuly achieve that insanely clean feeling. The product comes with tiny orange microbeads that act as a mild scrub and clean out dirty and sebum from your pores.
Although this product does not directly treat acne, since its pH is at a 9.5, it tends to prevent acne from reoccuring and dries out existing blemishes. It is also extremely cleansing and a little bit of the product can create enough lather to clean most non-waterproof makeup off of your face.
If you have dry skin and are on the fence about this product, we suggest choosing a lower pH cleanser to prevent from extra dry skin. However, if you're finding that you have to blot your face frequently throughout the day, this product will keep your skin oil free and extra clean.
Dry - Normal
No
No
pH 7.5
Normal - Oily
Refreshing
The MISSHA Super Aqua Refreshing Cleansing Foam is the perfect balance of just right for those who don't have extreme skin types. Although it still has a generally higher pH, it still counteracts excess oiliness while keeping your skin moisturized and not completely dried out after use.
One great thing about this product is the smell. It's really quite refreshing and soothing when you wash your face. The product doesn't have any acne treatment, however, it cleans your skin thoroughly and gets most non-waterproof makeup off of your face with ease.
Again, we don't recommend this product for anyone who tends to have really dry skin. However, we definitely give the green light for those who have normal to oily skin and those who don't mind a little more strength than your average cleanser.
Normal
No
Yes
pH 8
Normal
Subtle
The reason why we love this cleanser so much is because it lives up to its name. This product claims to exfoliate, remove makeup, remove sunscreen, and cleanse your skin, which is pretty much a dream come true if you're an all-in-one kind of person. This could also save you a few bucks if you don't want to overstock your bathroom shelves.
The forumula comes with tiny beads that act as an exfoliant for your skin while you cleanse. In terms of efficacy, it cleases the skin of daytime products pretty well, but we still recommend using it as a part of a two-step cleansing routing with a cleansing oil.
Overall, we think this product is great. It gets the job done in terms of cleansing and leaves your face feelng "squeaky clean" and brightens. Don't forget to moisturize afterwards because of it's higher pH.
Normal
No
No
pH 7.5
Normal
Subtle Aloe Vera
Ahhh...the feeling of clean! You know exactly what I'm talking about and this product does all the dirty work for you. While it cleanses, it actually sooths your skin with aloe vera, so you feel fresh and actually have the sensation of feeling clean.
One thing that we love about aloe vera products is the smell. It has a light, soft and subtle smell of aloe vera that enhances yet another daily routine and makes it fun. The product also has a thick creamy texture, so you can use just a small amount to clean off most sunscreens and waterproof foundations.
In the end, this product is excellent for those who have normal skin and want to implement a new cleanser into their routine. We recommend using makeup remover before cleansing to get the fullest clean possible.
Dry
No
Yes
pH 9
Very Oily
Natural
One of the most spectacular household item that's been used for cleaning for centuries is baking soda. This just so happens to be the key ingredient that makes this product fun and unique to use as a cleanser. Although the packaging states that it's a "Baking Powder" cleanser, perhaps lost in translation but the actual ingredient is indeed baking soda.
As a forewarning, a very clean feeling will cost you. This product has one of the highest alkaline pH's out of all that we reviewed, so we highly recommend this for very oily skin. You may still feel the sensation of being dryed out, however, a toner and a hydrating moisturizer should do the trick.
We love this fun cleanser, and we know that you will too! If you're ready to get your morning routine shaking, dont for get to get baking...powder cleanser!
Dry
Yes
No
pH 9
Oily/Acne Prone
Subtle
Whether you've experienced serious acne breakouts or the occasional pimple or two, blemishes are a big pain in the face. This foaming cleanser is a lifesaver for those who hate acne as much as we do. Because of this products extremely high pH, it eradicates any existing acne as well as prevents for future breakouts. It will leave your skin feeling pretty dry, so make sure to follow up with a great toner/moisturizers to prevent fine lines.
There are also tiny microbeads that act as a strong exfoliator, so it removes any blemishes ready to go and removes any lingering dead skin particles. Since the product is pretty thick and pasty, you only need a small amount of the cleanser to create an sudsy lather. The bottle is fairly large, so it lasts quite a while.
All in all, this product gets the job done, treating your acne while cleansing your face, leaving you with squeaky clean, fresh skin.
Dry
No
Yes
pH 8.5
Oily
Subtle
Fans of high pH facial cleansers, this is the perfect product for you. If your pores tend to secret natural oils a little more than the average human being, the high pH in this formula will counter balance the oils, leaving your skin feeling extremely fresh and clean. The Face Shops Rice Water Brightening cleanser will leave your face feeling literally squeaky clean after just one use.
Another amazing feature of this product is the rice water, which is used to brighten your skin. In Korea, very fair, dewy skin is extremely trendy right now. Rice water has been used for many years to achieve that look, so this cleanser is a pretty hot commodity overseas.
For those of you who have oily skin, we highly recommend this product for you. Those who have medium to drier skin, it might be best to go with another cleanser because the high pH in the cleanser may tend to dry your skin out.
KOREAN SKINCARE ROUTINE

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