Tester feedback: “I test a lot of products for new curations at Soko Glam, but I keep going back to this light, sweet berry-smelling gel cleanser,” says Cho. “It is so gentle, only foams up slightly, and it makes my skin feel soft and clean—it’s so gentle, I even use it on my toddler. I love the sturdy glass packaging with a pump because it feels and looks very luxe in my bathroom.”
Key ingredients: açai berry, grain complex, Centella asiatica | Who it’s for: all skin types, including sensitive skin | Fragrance-free: yes
Best Korean Cleanser for Pores: Hanskin Pore Cleansing Oil BHA
Why it’s worth it: Dr. Chang highly recommends Hanskin Pore Cleansing Oil BHA for oily and acne-prone skin, as well as clogged pores. “It contains a blend of salicylic acid and non-comedogenic oils to cleanse the skin without clogging the pores,” she says. Salicylic acid, a popular acne-fighting ingredient, acts as an anti-inflammatory exfoliant on blackheads, whiteheads, and breakouts. It’s paired with a blend of non-comedogenic olive and jojoba oils that leave your skin feeling smooth and looking clear. (Note: Hanskin also makes this cleansing oil in AHA and PHA versions. The former sweeps away dead skin cells and brightens dull skin, while Dr. Chang recommends the latter if you’re sensitive to exfoliants since it’s a much gentler acid.)
Tester feedback: “I use this cleansing oil as the first step of my double cleanse,” says Dr. Chang. “I use two to three and massage it onto my face, including around my eyes. It has a lightweight, thin consistency that makes it easy to apply. The BHA version can be used in those with oily, acne-prone skin as the salicylic acid will go deep into the pores to reduce whiteheads and blackheads. It’s another of my favorites for oily and acne-prone skin and leaves my skin feeling hydrated but clean at the same time.”
Key ingredients: jojoba oil, salicylic acid | Who it’s for: oily skin, acne-prone skin, combination skin, and anyone with clogged pores | Fragrance-free: yes
Best Exfoliating Korean Cleanser: Tirtir Hydro Boost Enzyme Cleansing Powder
Why it’s worth it: Enzymes exfoliate your skin by dissolving dead skin cells—but only on the surface level, so there’s less potential for irritation. Tirtir’s travel-friendly Hydro Boost Enzyme Cleansing Powder, infused with enzymes, probiotics, and mild PHA, is a dry powder that activates when you wet it. Formulated as a true cleanser (not a face scrub), it foams into a milky cleanser with just a few drops of water. Rice extract and probiotics help keep your skin moisturized, and while it’s designed to clear buildup and refine pores, it does so with especially gentle ingredients that work for a wide range of skin types.
Tester feedback: “I have combination skin that’s very dry and sensitive in my midface, but prone to excess oil and blackheads in my T-zone,” says Wu. “I usually take a very targeted approach to exfoliants and make sure they only touch my T-zone to avoid irritating the rest of my face. But this cleanser is so gentle, I’ve found that it also works great as an allover face wash and exfoliant in one. Most powder cleansers I’ve used in the past turn into a sort of gritty paste texture when I wet them. Not this one! It transforms into a creamy, super smooth foam as soon as I add water. It doesn’t feel like a face scrub; instead, the powdered enzymes lightly exfoliate and clear my pores so that my face feels baby-soft when I rinse it off.”