№ 01
Beauty of Joseon
Radiance Cleansing Balm
Sub-$25 cleansing balm with rice extract. Melts sunscreen and makeup without leaving residue. The gold-standard first-cleanse on the Australian shelf.
9.3/ 10 GLOW
The best Korean cleanser in Australia.
Korea defined the double-cleanse. These are the cleansers that earned their place in Glow editors' routines — and the ones that didn't.
Korean cleansing philosophy is built on the double-cleanse: an oil-based first cleanse to dissolve sunscreen, sebum, and makeup, followed by a gentle low-pH water-based second cleanse. Done correctly, this is the most effective cleansing method for makeup-wearing or SPF-using skin. Done wrong (with high-pH cleansers), it strips the barrier.
The ranking.
№ 02
COSRX
Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
pH 5.0-6.0 gel cleanser with BHA and tea tree. Doesn't strip the barrier. The most-recommended K-beauty second-cleanse.
9.1/ 10 GLOW
№ 03
Anua
Heartleaf 77 Quercetinol Pore Deep Cleansing Foam
Foam cleanser for combination skin. Heartleaf calms while gentle surfactants clean. Better for daytime routine than night.
8.8/ 10 GLOW
№ 04
Banila Co
Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm
The legacy K-beauty cleansing balm. Premium-priced but extremely effective at removing waterproof makeup. Slight fragrance.
8.6/ 10 GLOW
№ 05
Innisfree
Green Tea Cleansing Foam
Mass-accessible foam cleanser. Fine for normal skin; can be slightly stripping for very dry skin types.
8.3/ 10 GLOW
The full ranking, side by side.
| Brand | Best for | Price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| BoJ Radiance Cleansing Balm | First cleanse, all skin | $22 | 9.3 |
| COSRX Low pH Cleanser | Second cleanse, gentle | $23 | 9.1 |
| Anua Heartleaf Foam | Combination skin | $32 | 8.8 |
| Banila Co Clean It Zero | Heavy makeup, premium | $45 | 8.6 |
| Innisfree Green Tea Foam | Mass-accessible | $25 | 8.3 |
How we tested.
Six-week testing across four skin types (dry, oily, combination, sensitive). Tested for makeup removal, residue, post-cleanse hydration (corneometer), barrier integrity, and tolerance with retinoids/SPF on the same day.
Frequently asked questions.
- Do I really need to double-cleanse?
- If you wear sunscreen daily, makeup, or have oily skin: yes, on most days. If your skin is dry/sensitive and you skip makeup: a single gentle cleanse is fine. Double-cleansing every night strips dry skin.
- What's the best K-beauty cleanser for oily skin?
- COSRX Low pH Good Morning Cleanser as the second-cleanse, paired with Beauty of Joseon Cleansing Balm for first. The combination removes excess sebum without stripping.
- Is double-cleansing too much for sensitive skin?
- Often yes. Sensitive skin tolerates one cleanse better than two. If you wear SPF, use a gentle balm cleanser at night and a water-rinse only in the morning.
- What's a low-pH cleanser?
- A cleanser with pH 4.5-6.5, matching skin's natural pH. High-pH cleansers (pH 9+) strip the barrier; low-pH cleansers preserve it. COSRX Low pH and Beauty of Joseon Cleansing Balm both qualify.
- Should I use Korean cleansers with Western actives?
- Yes. Korean cleansers work fine with Western retinoids, vitamin C, and AHAs. The cleanser doesn't conflict with downstream actives.
- Are Korean cleansing balms better than micellar water?
- For SPF and makeup removal, yes — cleansing balms emulsify oil-based products more effectively. Micellar water is fine for casual makeup but struggles with modern Australian SPFs.
- How long should I cleanse for?
- 60-90 seconds total massaging time, including the first cleanse oil-emulsion phase. Most people under-cleanse, which is why dirt and SPF residue persists.