This is a no-fuss, low-pH cleanser designed for daily use. Its gel texture feels soft on the skin, and it effectively removes light impurities and oil without leaving that tight, stripped feeling. The inclusion of green plum water is part of the brand's story, and while it adds a pleasant note, the real work is done by the gentle surfactants and supportive botanical extracts. It's a reliable option for combination skin or anyone seeking a mild cleanse that won't disrupt their skin barrier.
Sephora price
$14.00
Price matters most when you are trying to learn whether this lane belongs in your routine without turning the test into a luxury gamble.
Sephora reviews
4.6 / 5
About 200 reviews on the current Sephora source, so there is real volume behind the reputation.
Shoppers keep mentioning
These are the shopper themes that keep showing up around this listing and shape why people open it in the first place.
Glass take
4.6 / 5 overall fit
This is a solid, gentle cleanser that works well for daily use, especially for combination skin. It rinses clean without stripping, and the low pH is a plus. The main consideration is whether its gentleness is enough for your needs, or if you're looking for something with more active treatment potential.
Sephora snapshot refreshed April 23, 2026
Price, rating, review count, and source status come from Sephora. Glass adds the routine fit, overlap risk, and what to compare next.
View SephoraWhat Sephora says
A low-pH daily cleanser built around a gentle gel texture and green plum extract positioning.
Use as a daily face wash.
If you wear heavy sunscreen or makeup, use after a first cleanse.
Do not over-cleanse just because the texture feels gentle.
What Glass adds
Glass sees this as a well-formulated, gentle daily cleanser. It does its job of cleaning the skin without irritation, which is exactly what a cleanser should do. It's a good choice if your primary concern is finding a mild wash that fits into any routine, especially if you have combination skin or are prone to dryness from harsher cleansers. It's not a treatment product, so don't expect it to address acne or hyperpigmentation on its own. Think of it as a clean slate for the rest of your routine.
Routine Fit
Shoppers consistently mention how well this cleanser fits into their existing routines without causing issues. The key is that it cleans effectively without adding unnecessary active ingredients or disrupting the skin barrier.
Skin Type Suitability
The consensus is that this cleanser is great for combination and normal skin. It handles mild oiliness well without making drier areas feel tight, which is a common challenge for daily cleansers.
Gentle Yet Effective
Many reviewers highlight the balance between gentleness and effective cleansing. It removes daily grime and light oil without stripping the skin, leaving it feeling clean and comfortable.
Best for
Skip if
Why it keeps selling
The Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser is popular because it nails the fundamentals of a good daily wash. It’s low-pH, uses gentle surfactants, and has a pleasant gel texture that feels good on the skin. This means it cleans effectively without the risk of irritation or stripping, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy skin barrier. If your routine already has treatments covered, this cleanser provides a clean, neutral starting point without adding complexity or potential conflict.
Where people get burned
The main pitfall with this cleanser is expecting it to do more than just cleanse. While it contains green plum water and botanical extracts, these are not potent actives designed to treat acne, hyperpigmentation, or texture. If your skin has specific concerns that require targeted ingredients, this cleanser will not address them. It’s also important to remember that even a gentle cleanser might require a double-cleanse if you wear heavy makeup or waterproof SPF, rather than trying to force it to remove everything in one go.
How I would use it
I would use this as my primary morning cleanser or as the second step in my evening routine after an oil-based cleanser. In the morning, it’s perfect for a quick refresh without stripping the skin. In the evening, after an oil cleanser has removed makeup and SPF, this low-pH gel cleanser would be ideal for a thorough but gentle second cleanse to remove any remaining residue and prep the skin for treatments. I would avoid using it immediately after strong exfoliating acids or retinoids if my skin was already feeling sensitive, just to be safe.
Why it works
The useful question is not whether this product is good in a vacuum. It is whether it makes your routine easier to run or just adds one more bottle with a familiar ingredient on it.
What it actually does well
Where it starts to feel redundant
Routine fit
Morning fit
Excellent for a gentle morning cleanse. It removes any overnight buildup without stripping, leaving the skin prepped for the rest of your morning routine.
Night fit
Best used as the second step in a double-cleansing routine. After an oil-based cleanser removes makeup and SPF, this gel cleanser will ensure the skin is thoroughly clean without irritation.
Pairing rule
Pairs well with almost any other product. Avoid using it immediately after very strong exfoliating treatments if your skin is already feeling sensitive, though its gentleness makes this less of a concern than with other cleansers.
Glass rating
This is a solid, gentle cleanser that works well for daily use, especially for combination skin. It rinses clean without stripping, and the low pH is a plus. The main consideration is whether its gentleness is enough for your needs, or if you're looking for something with more active treatment potential.
Gentle cleansing
4.8 / 5
The formula uses mild surfactants and a low pH to clean without irritation, making it a great choice for daily use without stripping the skin.
Combination skin fit
4.5 / 5
Effectively balances mild oiliness without causing dryness, making it suitable for those with combination skin types.
Rinsing and feel
4.6 / 5
Leaves skin feeling clean and refreshed, not tight or stripped, which is a common win for this type of cleanser.
Routine compatibility
4.4 / 5
Fits easily into any routine as a first step, but its primary job is cleansing, not treating other concerns.
Value
4.2 / 5
Priced competitively for a daily cleanser, offering good performance for the cost.
Full ingredient breakdown
Base solvent
Badness
0.2 / 10
The primary ingredient, forming the base of the cleanser and ensuring a lightweight texture.
Usually helps with
Creating a fluid, easy-to-rinse formula.
Watch for
A neutral ingredient that provides no active benefits on its own.
Humectant
Badness
0.5 / 10
Attracts moisture to the skin, helping to maintain hydration and prevent dryness after cleansing.
Usually helps with
Keeping skin soft and preventing a stripped feeling.
Watch for
A common and well-tolerated moisturizing agent.
Surfactant
Badness
1.5 / 10
A very mild anionic surfactant known for its gentle cleansing properties and ability to create a soft, creamy lather.
Usually helps with
Gentle yet effective cleansing without stripping the skin's natural oils.
Watch for
Considered one of the gentlest surfactants available.
Surfactant
Badness
1.8 / 10
An amphoteric surfactant that helps to create foam and improve the texture of the cleanser, while also being mild.
Usually helps with
Enhancing lather and contributing to gentle cleansing.
Watch for
Often used in conjunction with other surfactants for optimal mildness.
Surfactant
Badness
1.6 / 10
A mild amino acid-based surfactant that provides good cleansing and foaming properties with excellent skin compatibility.
Usually helps with
Gentle cleansing and a comfortable skin feel after rinsing.
Watch for
A good choice for sensitive or dry skin formulations.
Skin conditioning agent
Badness
1.0 / 10
Derived from green plums, this ingredient is part of the product's story and provides a refreshing base. It has mild antioxidant properties.
Usually helps with
Adding a refreshing element and supporting the gentle nature of the cleanser.
Watch for
Primarily for its aesthetic and brand story; not a potent active.
Antioxidant
Badness
2.0 / 10
Green tea extract, known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It can help soothe the skin.
Usually helps with
Providing antioxidant protection and soothing the skin.
Watch for
Benefits are mild in a rinse-off product.
Soothing agent
Badness
2.2 / 10
An extract known for its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, often used in products for irritated or acne-prone skin.
Usually helps with
Calming redness and irritation.
Watch for
Benefits are limited in a rinse-off formula.
Soothing agent
Badness
2.1 / 10
Also known as cica or gotu kola, this extract is renowned for its healing, soothing, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Usually helps with
Promoting skin repair and calming sensitive or irritated skin.
Watch for
Its benefits are more pronounced in leave-on products.
Viscosity agent
Badness
0.3 / 10
Commonly known as salt, it's used here to adjust the viscosity and texture of the cleanser.
Usually helps with
Achieving the desired gel consistency.
Watch for
Generally safe in cosmetic formulations.
pH adjuster
Badness
1.0 / 10
Used to adjust the pH of the formula to the optimal low level for skin health.
Usually helps with
Ensuring the cleanser is pH-balanced and gentle.
Watch for
Essential for a low-pH cleanser, but too much can be irritating.
Chelating agent
Badness
1.5 / 10
Helps to improve the stability and performance of the formula by binding to metal ions.
Usually helps with
Enhancing product stability.
Watch for
Generally considered safe in cosmetic use.
Preservative
Badness
3.0 / 10
A common preservative that prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi in the product.
Usually helps with
Maintaining product safety and shelf life.
Watch for
Can be a potential irritant for some individuals, especially in higher concentrations.
Preservative
Badness
3.2 / 10
Another preservative used to inhibit microbial growth, often paired with sodium benzoate.
Usually helps with
Ensuring the product remains free from contamination.
Watch for
Generally safe, but can be an irritant for sensitive skin.
Compare before you buy
A good product page should push you into the next decision, not trap you inside one product page forever. These are the cleaner next clicks.
Read next
Use this if you want to check whether the active and support ingredients make sense for your skin.
Read next
Use this if the bigger question is where this belongs in the routine without overlapping other actives.
Read next
Read this if product overlap and routine chaos are the real issue.
FAQ
This cleanser is best for those with combination, normal, or mildly oily skin who are looking for a gentle, low-pH daily wash that won't strip their skin.
Use it as your first step in the morning to refresh your skin, or as the second step in your evening routine after an oil-based cleanser to remove any remaining impurities.
While it's very gentle, avoid using it immediately after very strong exfoliating acids or retinoids if your skin is already feeling sensitive, just to err on the side of caution.
Yes, if you prioritize a gentle, effective, low-pH cleanser for daily use and your skin type aligns with its benefits. It's a solid staple for maintaining a healthy skin barrier.
