The 10 Best Korean Cleansers: Oil Cleansers, Balms and Gel Washes for Double Cleansing

The best Korean cleansers are Banila Co Clean It Zero Original for the first, oil-based step and COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser for the second, water-based step. SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil is the best value oil, COSRX Hydrium Triple Hyaluronic Moisturizing Cleanser is the pick for dry skin, and Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam suits oily, congested skin. You only need both steps on days you wear sunscreen or makeup.

Before you buy, you can scan a cleanser's barcode or photograph its label with the ingredient scanner in Pori to check it against your skin type and spot fragrance or essential oils. Pori reads the label; it does not diagnose skin conditions.

Quick picks

• Best overall first step: Banila Co Clean It Zero Original ($21 for 100 ml, banilausa.com): the sherbet balm that melts long-wear makeup.
• Best overall second step: COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser ($14 for 150 ml, cosrx.com): a mildly acidic gel that rinses clean without a tight feel.
• Best value oil: SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil ($21 for 200 ml, skin1004.com): a thin oil that emulsifies fast.
• Best for dry skin: COSRX Hydrium Triple Hyaluronic Moisturizing Cleanser ($18 for 150 ml, cosrx.com): a cushiony foam with panthenol and three hyaluronic acids.
• Best for oily, congested skin: Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam ($20, anua.us): an amino acid foam with betaine salicylate.
• Best budget: Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser ($13 for 100 ml, beautyofjoseon.com): a gentle, low-foam gel with plum water.

We compared published ingredient lists, brand claims and listed prices; we did not test these products on skin. Prices are list prices on each brand's US store as of November 2026, and sales are frequent. For more on how Korean routines are built, see our guide to the Korean skincare routine steps, or browse the whole K-beauty section.

What is double cleansing, and do you need it?

Double cleansing means washing twice in a row: first with an oil or balm that dissolves makeup, sunscreen and sebum, then with a water-based cleanser that rinses off what is left. Cleveland Clinic describes double cleansing as useful for people who wear heavy makeup or water-resistant sunscreen, and less necessary for everyone else. A small study of sunscreen removal found that a cleansing oil removed water-resistant sunscreen better than water or a regular cleanser alone.

So the honest answer: in the evening after sunscreen or makeup, two steps help. In the morning, or on bare-skin days, one gentle water-based wash is enough. The American Academy of Dermatology's face washing advice is to use a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser, lukewarm water and your fingertips, and to avoid scrubbing. Our guide on how to double cleanse covers technique.

How do the best Korean cleansers compare?

The 10 best Korean cleansers

1. Banila Co Clean It Zero Original

This is the balm most people try first, and it still earns the top first-step spot. Banila Co lists the 100 ml jar at $21 and says it melts even stubborn makeup. The base is two light esters, ethylhexyl palmitate and cetyl ethylhexanoate, with PEG emulsifiers that turn it milky when you add water, plus acerola and other plant extracts and fragrance. Our cleansing balm roundup goes through the full list.

Who it suits: people who wear long-wear foundation, waterproof mascara or water-resistant sunscreen. Who should skip it: anyone with a fragrance allergy. The catch: Banila Co sells several balms, including a Calming version, so check which jar you are buying.

2. COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser

The best second step for most skin types. COSRX lists it at $14 for 150 ml and calls it a gentle gel with a mildly acidic pH. Small amounts of betaine salicylate and tea tree oil sit low on the list, so treat it as a gentle wash with no acne-treatment role. Our full review goes ingredient by ingredient.

Who it suits: oily, combination and normal skin, morning and night. Who should skip it: very dry skin, and anyone who reacts to tea tree oil. The catch: the light lather will not remove makeup alone; pair it with an oil or balm on makeup days.

3. SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil

SKIN1004 lists the 200 ml bottle at $21, often on sale. It pairs centella with sunflower, olive and jojoba oils, and the brand says it dissolves makeup, sunscreen and excess sebum.

Who it suits: normal, dry and combination skin that wants a quick, light first cleanse. Who should skip it: fragrance-sensitive skin. The catch: the brand's own key ingredient list includes bergamot, geranium and rose oils, which add scent and are common irritants. Our centella product guide covers SKIN1004's leave-on centella products.

4. COSRX Hydrium Triple Hyaluronic Moisturizing Cleanser

If your skin feels tight after washing, this is the second-step swap. COSRX sells it at $18 for 150 ml and describes a rich, cushiony lather with vitamin B5 (panthenol) and three types of hyaluronic acid for a moist finish.

Who it suits: dry, normal and dehydrated skin, especially in winter. Who should skip it: very oily skin that prefers a squeaky finish. The catch: hyaluronic acid in a rinse-off product has little contact time, so the comfort comes mostly from the mild base. Our best COSRX products roundup and COSRX guide cover the rest of the line.

5. Anua Heartleaf Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam

Anua sells this foam for $20 on its US store. The list starts with heartleaf water and glycerin and cleans with amino acid surfactants such as sodium cocoyl glycinate and sodium lauroyl glutamate, with betaine salicylate and capryloyl salicylic acid for light exfoliation. Anua reports a 17% drop in acne severity and lower sebum after two weeks in its own testing, which is a small brand study.

Who it suits: oily and combination skin with clogged pores around the nose. Who should skip it: sensitive skin that reacts to essential oils. The catch: the list also includes eucalyptus oil and isopropyl alcohol, both low down. Anua's toner partner is covered in our Heartleaf 77 toner review.

6. Ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil

Ma:nyo's US store sells the 6.7 fl oz bottle at $29, frequently discounted, and the brand says it ranked first in Olive Young's cleansing category five years running. The oil blend leads with soybean oil, hazelnut, grape seed and olive oils, and many people buy it for loosening blackheads and sebum plugs.

Who it suits: normal and oily skin with visible blackheads, and heavy makeup days. Who should skip it: fragrance-sensitive skin. The catch: it contains orange peel, lavender and tea tree oils, so it is scented even though fragrance is not listed by name.

7. Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Cleansing Oil

Beauty of Joseon lists this oil at $20 for 210 ml, the most oil per dollar among the brand-store prices here. Soybean oil leads, followed by esters, olive and camellia seed oils, and ginseng seed oil and extracts.

Who it suits: normal to dry skin that likes a cushioned first cleanse. Who should skip it: reactive skin. The catch: the list includes sage, mugwort and basil oils and camphor, all possible irritants.

8. Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser

The budget second step. Beauty of Joseon lists 100 ml at $13 and 200 ml at $20, and calls it a pH-balanced gel. The cleansers are mild: cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine and sodium cocoyl isethionate, with plum fruit water and mung bean extract. No fragrance or essential oils appear in the published list.

Who it suits: almost everyone, including sensitive skin. Who should skip it: people who want a deep-cleansing foam for very oily skin. The catch: the 100 ml size runs out fast; the 200 ml is better value.

9. SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule Foam

SKIN1004 lists this foam at $14 for 125 ml and describes a pH 5 cleanser with coconut-derived surfactants, citric acid, centella and sodium hyaluronate.

Who it suits: normal and sensitive skin, and anyone using the brand's centella line. Who should skip it: very dry skin in winter. The catch: 125 ml goes faster than a 150 ml tube.

10. Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil

Anua sells this oil at $22 on its US store. Its list starts with light esters and adds sunflower, macadamia, olive, jojoba and grape seed oils, turmeric and heartleaf extracts. Anua pitches it at breakout-prone skin.

Who it suits: oily and combination skin that wants an oil that rinses off cleanly. Who should skip it: anyone avoiding fragrance. The catch: fragrance is listed sixth, high for a product sold as gentle.

Are Korean cleansing oils fragrance-free?

Mostly not. Every first-step pick above lists fragrance or scented essential oils, and the FDA notes that fragrance ingredients can cause allergic reactions in some people. If you react to scent, use a fragrance-free oil from our best cleansing oil guide, or a micellar water from our micellar water roundup, and keep a Korean gel such as Green Plum for the second step. If you are trying a new oil, our patch test guide shows how.

Which Korean cleanser is best for your skin type?

• Oily or acne-prone: Ma:nyo or Anua oil at night, then COSRX Good Morning or the Anua foam. See also our Korean skincare for oily skin list.
• Dry: Beauty of Joseon Ginseng oil or Banila Co, then COSRX Hydrium.
• Sensitive: one gentle wash such as Green Plum; add a first step only on sunscreen days.
• Breakouts: for acne treatment, read our Korean skincare for acne list.

After cleansing, a hydrating step from our best essence, snail mucin or sheet mask roundups fits any of these routines. Finish with sunscreen in the morning; our Korean sunscreen guide explains which ones carry a US label, and our Relief Sun review covers the best-known import.

How we chose

We started with Korean cleansers that are sold on the brand's own US store, then read each published ingredient list and brand description and checked prices in November 2026. We chose five first-step and five second-step products at several price points and noted fragrance and essential oils in every pick. We left off products we could not confirm were in stock in the US. We did not wear-test any product. For more brands to explore, see our Korean skincare brands guide; the full cleanser catalogue is under cleansers.