K-BeautyIntel
Honest ingredient research and real prices for Korean skincare.

Cleansers

Double-cleanse pairings, pH balance, and which gentle options are actually worth the extra step.

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Double cleansing only works if the two steps actually pair well together. We look at format (oil, balm, gel, or foam), how each is meant to fit into a double-cleanse routine, and real price-per-mL across very different bottle sizes.

Across the cleansers in our catalog, the median price per mL is $0.105 (based on 62 priced products), per our October 2026 K-Beauty Price Report.

Read more about how we compare cleansers

The first cleanse (oil or balm) is built to dissolve sunscreen and makeup; the second (gel, foam, or low-pH cleanser) is built to clean skin without disrupting its natural acid mantle, typically pH 4.5-5.5. Using only a foaming cleanser without an oil step first can leave residue behind; using only an oil cleanser can leave skin under-cleansed.

Cleanser sizes vary from travel-size 50mL bottles to 250mL+ everyday formats, which makes price-per-mL especially relevant here, since a bigger bottle at a higher sticker price is often the better value once it's calculated properly.

How we research cleansers

  • - We note cleanser format and double-cleanse step (first or second)
  • - We flag gentle vs. deep-clean positioning
  • - We calculate real price-per-mL, not sticker price
  • - We label evidence status and surface Olive Young Award data where it exists
Read the full methodology →

Affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

50 cleansers compared, lowest price-per-mL first

Skin type:
Best value (lowest $/mL)Research-based
COSRX
Low pH Niacinamide Micellar Cleansing Water
$13.51$0.03/mL

No fragrance or essential oils on the ingredient list

Price checked 10/6/2026

Research-based
ROUND LAB
1025 Dokdo Cleansing Water
$14.00$0.04/mL

Ceramide NP, panthenol, allantoin and several hyaluronic acid forms on the ingredient list

Price checked 10/6/2026

Research-based
Arencia
Pore Melt Mochi Cleansing Oil
$10.00$0.05/mL

Ceramide NP, centella and houttuynia extracts alongside avocado and olive oils

Price checked 10/6/2026

Market signalHwahae Beauty Award 2024 · #1Research-based
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil
$13.00$0.07/mL

Korean manufacture confirmed via an official retailer disclosure field

Price checked 9/27/2026

Research-based
I'm From
Rice Whip Facial Cleanser
$11.00$0.07/mL

Niacinamide, ceramide NP, beta-glucan and centella extract on the ingredient list

Price checked 10/6/2026

Research-based
Isntree
Yam Root Vegan Milk Cleanser
$16.68$0.08/mL

Second milk-format option alongside Manyo's, giving a choice within the newly-added category rather than a single default

Price checked 10/2/2026

Research-based
ZEROID
Foaming Cleanser
$20.07$0.08/mL

From Neopharm, a derma-heritage brand not otherwise represented on the site

Price checked 10/2/2026

Research-based
mixsoon
Centella Cleansing Foam
$12.00$0.08/mL

Hwahae rating 4.61 (market evidence)

Price checked 10/2/2026

Research-based
numbuzin
No.1 Easy Peasy Cleansing Oil
$15.60$0.08/mL

Full ingredient list published and available at partner stores

Price checked 10/2/2026

Research-based
irecipe
Ceramide Yuja Bio Cleansing Oil
$16.14$0.08/mL

The brand cites a patented low-molecular EZLite technology for the formula

Price checked 9/27/2026

Research-based
COSRX
Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
$14.00$0.09/mL

Widely credited with popularizing "low pH cleansing" as a mainstream skincare concept

Price checked 9/12/2026

Research-based
Anua
Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
$14.00$0.09/mL

Same calming heartleaf line as Anua's well-reviewed serum and moisturizer

Price checked 9/24/2026

Research-based
Heimish
All Clean Balm Mandarin
$11.35$0.09/mL

Contains ceramide NP and phytosphingosine

Price checked 10/6/2026

Research-based
LAGOM
Cellup Gel To Water Cleanser
$19.80$0.09/mL

Highly rated by shoppers at partner stores

Price checked 10/2/2026

Research-based
Anua
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
$17.69$0.09/mL

A first-cleanse oil, as opposed to the second-cleanse foam in Anua's Heartleaf Quercetinol line

Price checked 10/2/2026

Research-based
Manyo
Pure Soybean Cleansing Milk
$17.85$0.09/mL

Fills a real format gap -- no cleansing milk exists elsewhere on the site

Price checked 10/2/2026

Research-based
Etude
SoonJung pH 6.5 Whip Cleanser
$15.00$0.10/mL

Same minimal, sensitive-skin-focused SoonJung line as Etude's 2x Barrier Intensive Cream

Price checked 9/12/2026

Research-based
Pyunkang Yul
Low pH Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
$9.99$0.10/mL

Highly rated by shoppers at partner stores

Price checked 10/2/2026

Research-based
EQQUALBERRY
Purple Rice Pore Smoothing Cleansing Oil
$19.19$0.10/mL

Highly rated by shoppers at partner stores

Price checked 10/2/2026

Research-based
Arencia
Fresh Green Rice Mochi Cleanser
$11.50$0.10/g

A genuinely distinct texture/format -- a hand-kneaded rice-powder "mochi" paste rather than a standard foam or gel

Price checked 10/7/2026

Research-based
Round Lab
1025 Dokdo Cleanser
$15.00$0.10/mL

Very high review volume, one of the most reviewed Korean cleansers on the market

Price checked 9/12/2026

Research-based
Heimish
All Clean Green Foam
$14.71$0.10/g

No fragrance or essential oils on the ingredient list

Price checked 10/6/2026

Research-based
S.Nature
Aqua Rice Foam Cleanser
$16.00$0.10/mL

41.8% rice extract concentration confirmed consistently across two independent retailer sources -- a genuinely high concentration, not just a "rice water" marketing gesture

Research-based
Beauty of Joseon
Ginseng Cleansing Oil
$22.00$0.10/mL

Same trusted brand as the site's existing Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser, but a genuinely different format -- an oil, not a gel

Research-based
Round Lab
Birch Juice Moisturizing Cleanser
$17.00$0.11/mL

Birch sap and ceramide positioning from Round Lab's Birch Juice line, rather than the deep-sea-water minerals of its 1025 Dokdo line

Market signalHwahae Beauty Awards 2026 · #1Research-based
beplain
Mung Bean Cleansing Oil Jumbo
$21.00$0.11/mL

Hwahae Beauty Awards 2025, 2nd place, cleansing oil (market evidence)

Price checked 10/2/2026

Research-based
Torriden
Balanceful Cleansing Foam
$17.00$0.11/mL

Same trusted line as Torriden's well-reviewed serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen

Price checked 10/13/2026

Research-based
KAINE
Rosemary Relief Gel Cleanser
$15.75$0.11/mL

Highly rated by shoppers at partner stores

Price checked 10/2/2026

Market signalBeauty+ Super Cosmetic Awards 2026 · NO.1Research-based
make p:rem
PDRN Pore Clay Cleansing Milk
$23.80$0.12/mL

Squalane, rice bran oil and arginine sit alongside the sodium DNA (PDRN)

Price checked 10/6/2026

Research-based
Jumiso
Pore-Purifying Salicylic Acid Foaming Cleanser
$14.31$0.12/g

Fills a real gap -- no dedicated salicylic-acid foam cleanser exists elsewhere on the site (COSRX's pick uses the milder betaine salicylate derivative instead)

Price checked 10/2/2026

Research-based
haruharu wonder
Black Rice Moisture Deep Cleansing Oil
$17.50$0.12/mL

The official brand ingredient list contains no fragrance or essential oils

Price checked 10/2/2026

Research-based
mixsoon
Bean Cleansing Oil Jumbo
$24.00$0.12/mL

YesStyle Favorite Makeup Remover 2025 -- genuine current retailer recognition

Price checked 9/26/2026

Research-based
haruharu wonder
Black Rice Moisture 5.5 Soft Cleansing Gel
$11.90$0.12/mL

Highly rated by shoppers at partner stores

Price checked 10/2/2026

Research-based
Torriden
Dive-In Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Foam
$18.00$0.12/mL

Torriden's Dive-In line, built around a stacked hyaluronic acid complex, as distinct from the 5D Cica Complex of its Balanceful Cleansing Foam

Research-based
beplain
Mung Bean pH-Balanced Cleansing Foam
$10.26$0.13/mL

Mung bean powder and extract with ceramide NP, allantoin and sodium hyaluronate (retailer-described formulation)

Price checked 9/28/2026

Research-based
COSRX
Advanced Snail Mucin Gel Cleanser
$19.49$0.13/mL

Highly rated by shoppers at partner stores

Price checked 10/6/2026

Research-based
Dear, Klairs
Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil
$19.55$0.13/mL

A frequent bestseller at partner stores

Price checked 10/2/2026

Research-based
celimax
The Real Noni Acne Bubble Cleanser
$19.80$0.13/mL

Hwahae rating 4.41 (market evidence)

Price checked 10/2/2026

Market signalOlive Young Awards 2025 · #1Research-based
Manyo
Pure Soybean Cleansing Oil
$26.80$0.13/mL

Soybean oil base (about 67%) removes sebum and sunscreen with fast emulsification and little residue

Price checked 10/17/2026

Research-based
AESTURA
Atobarrier365 Foaming Cleanser
$21.00$0.14/mL

Fills a real gap -- no dedicated dermocosmetic/barrier-brand cleanser exists elsewhere on the site

Price checked 10/2/2026

Research-based
Primera
Mild & Perfect Cleansing Oil to Foam
$27.00$0.14/mL

A genuine oil-to-foam hybrid format not represented elsewhere on the site -- one product designed to handle both cleanse steps

Price checked 10/13/2026

Research-based
SKIN1004
Madagascar Centella Ampoule Foam
$17.00$0.14/mL

Same centella-focused line as SKIN1004's well-reviewed sunscreen, serum, and moisturizer

Price checked 9/12/2026

Research-based
beplain
Mung Bean pH-Balanced Cleansing Foam
$24.00$0.15/mL

Beplain's own claim: #1 in Korea's local cleanser category for eight consecutive years

Price checked 9/12/2026

Research-based
Beauty of Joseon
Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser
$15.00$0.15/mL

Same trusted brand as Beauty of Joseon's well-reviewed sunscreen and serum lines

Price checked 9/12/2026

Research-based
Banila Co
Clean It Zero Pore Clarifying Cleansing Balm
$16.50$0.17/mL

Highly rated by shoppers at partner stores

Price checked 10/6/2026

Research-based
Heimish
All Clean Balm
$19.99$0.17/mL

Frequently positioned as the budget-friendly alternative to Banila Co, similar performance claims

Price checked 10/17/2026

Research-based
Banila Co
Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original
$21.00$0.21/mL

Widely considered the original, most iconic K-beauty oil-balm cleanser

Price checked 9/12/2026

Market signalHwahae Beauty Awards 2026 · #1Research-based
Banila Co
Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm Mini
$12.24$0.24/mL

Highly rated by shoppers at partner stores

Price checked 10/6/2026

Research-based
Papa Recipe
Blemish Enzyme Powder Cleanser
$16.00$0.32/g

Fills a real format gap -- no enzyme/powder cleanser exists elsewhere on the site

Research-based
Dr.Althea
Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm
$19.47$0.39/mL

A cleansing balm in a grinder dispenser rather than a jar, for more hygienic dispensing

Price checked 10/2/2026

Guides & comparisons

Frequently asked

Do I really need to double cleanse every day?

If you wore sunscreen or makeup, yes, an oil or balm first step removes those more effectively than a water-based cleanser alone. If you didn't wear either, a single gentle cleanse is usually enough, especially in the morning.

What does low-pH mean and why does it matter for a second cleanse?

Skin's natural acid mantle sits around pH 4.5-5.5. A low-pH cleanser is formulated close to that range, so it cleans without disrupting the barrier the way a traditional high-pH soap can. This is specifically a second-cleanse concept, first-step oil cleansers work differently.

How is price-per-mL calculated?

We divide the listed price by the product's size in milliliters. It's a rough way to compare what you're actually paying, since bottle sizes vary a lot within a category and sticker price alone can be misleading.

What's the difference between "Research-based" and "Hands-on tested"?

Research-based means our assessment comes from pricing, ingredients, and published information, not personal use. Hands-on tested means someone on our team actually used the product. We label every product one or the other so it's never ambiguous which kind of evidence you're looking at.