A beautifully gentle gel cleanser that proves effective cleansing doesn't require aggressive surfactants. At $10.40 for 100ml, the Green Plum Cleanser delivers a clean-but-never-stripped finish that makes it a near-universal recommendation for anyone tired of cleansers that wage war on their skin barrier.
Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser
A beautifully gentle gel cleanser that proves effective cleansing doesn't require aggressive surfactants. At $10.40 for 100ml, the Green Plum Cleanser delivers a clean-but-never-stripped finish that makes it a near-universal recommendation for anyone tired of cleansers that wage war on their skin barrier.
Score Breakdown
An exceptionally gentle gel cleanser with thoughtful botanical ingredients and mild surfactants. The ingredient quality reflects solid but not groundbreaking actives — this is a cleanser designed to do no harm rather than deliver active benefits. Outstanding value and broad skin type compatibility elevate the overall score.
Data Confidence: high
This score is based on approximately 4 years of market presence, 770+ reviews on the official store with a 4.9 rating, and thousands more across Amazon, iHerb, and other retailers. The cleanser has been widely reviewed by independent beauty bloggers and K-beauty experts.
0/100
Overall Score
Ingredient Quality 0
Value for Money 0
Suitability Breadth 0
Irritation Risk (↑ = safer) 0
Assessment
Pros
- Ultra-gentle sulfate-free surfactant system leaves skin clean without any tightness or stripping
- Traditional mung bean and green plum ingredients offer genuine cleansing benefits beyond marketing story
- Outstanding value at $10.40 for 100ml with an even better deal on the 200ml size
- Fragrance-free and free of common irritants — safe for even the most reactive sensitive skin
- Excellent companion cleanser for retinoid and active treatment users who need barrier protection
- Rich botanical blend including green tea, houttuynia cordata, and lotus flower for antioxidant support
Cons
- Very runny gel consistency can be messy to dispense — requires careful handling
- Insufficient for removing heavy or waterproof makeup as a standalone cleanser
- Minimal lather may feel unsatisfying for those accustomed to foaming cleansers
- No active exfoliating or acne-fighting ingredients — strictly a basic cleansing step
- 100ml size depletes in about 6-8 weeks of twice-daily use — opt for the 200ml
Full Review
Long before sodium lauryl sulfate became the default way to strip a face clean, Korean women were grinding mung beans into a fine powder, mixing it with water, and using it to wash their skin. The practice worked — the saponins in mung beans create a gentle natural lather, while the starch absorbs oil without the scorched-earth approach of modern detergent-based cleansers. Beauty of Joseon took that centuries-old wisdom and built a contemporary cleanser around it, pairing mung bean extract with green plum water to create something that feels distinctly traditional in spirit but entirely modern in execution.
Green plum — maesil in Korean — is a fruit so fundamental to Korean culture that it appears in everything from cooking to medicine cabinets to, now, your bathroom sink. The plum water sits as the second ingredient in the formula, providing a naturally acidic base that helps the cleanser maintain a skin-friendly pH without relying heavily on synthetic pH adjusters. It also carries its own mild astringent and antioxidant properties, which means even the base solvent is doing something useful rather than just filling space.
The surfactant system is where this cleanser really earns its stripes. Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine and sodium cocoyl isethionate are among the gentlest cleansing agents available in cosmetic chemistry. Neither is a sulfate. Neither is an aggressive foam-builder. Together, they create a fine, almost reluctant lather — the kind that makes you wonder if anything is happening until you rinse and realize your skin feels thoroughly clean but completely comfortable. This is what modern cleansing science looks like when it prioritizes barrier preservation over dramatic foam.
The botanical supporting cast reads like a tour through a traditional Korean medicinal garden. Houttuynia cordata — known as eoseongcho in Korean herbal medicine — brings antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Lotus flower extract contributes antioxidant and skin-soothing benefits. Rice extract maintains the hanbang thread that runs through all of Beauty of Joseon's products. And green tea extract delivers EGCG, one of the most researched antioxidants in skincare, which provides a brief burst of protective activity during the cleansing step.
The texture is a translucent gel with a barely-there green tint — more fluid than you might expect, which can make dispensing a minor adventure if you're not prepared for the thin consistency. It spreads easily across wet skin and builds just enough foam to feel satisfying without crossing into the territory of aggressive surfactant action. The lather is more suggestion than statement.
Rinsing is clean and complete. There's no film, no residue, no sense that you need to wash your face again to get your cleanser off. And critically, there's no tightness. That post-wash feeling of comfortable, balanced skin is the single most important quality a cleanser can have, and this one nails it consistently.
What this cleanser doesn't do is equally important to acknowledge. It won't dissolve a full face of waterproof mascara and heavy foundation — that's a job for an oil cleanser in the first step of a double cleanse. It doesn't contain active exfoliants, so it's not going to chemically clear your pores. And it won't leave oily skin feeling mattified for hours. This is a cleanser that does one thing exceptionally well: it removes daily accumulation of oil, sweat, dust, and light product residue while leaving the skin barrier entirely intact.
The value proposition is particularly strong. At $10.40 for 100ml, it's already affordable, but the 200ml size at $14 is where the math gets genuinely compelling — double the product for a fraction more in price. For a cleanser you'll use twice daily, that kind of value adds up over months.
For anyone using retinoids, acids, or other active treatments, this cleanser deserves serious consideration. The gentlest surfactant system protects a barrier that your treatment products are already challenging, and the botanical extracts provide a layer of soothing that helps keep reactive skin from escalating. It's the kind of cleanser that dermatologists wish more people would use — one that supports the rest of your routine rather than undermining it.
The Green Plum Cleanser isn't flashy. It won't trend on social media for its dramatic foam or its Instagram-worthy application ritual. But it embodies a philosophy that K-beauty does better than almost any other tradition: the best products are the ones that do their job so quietly and competently that you forget they're there. Sometimes the most revolutionary thing a cleanser can do is simply not cause problems.
Formula
Ingredients
The hero actives that drive this product's performance.
| Ingredient | Function | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Green Plum Water (Prunus Mume Fruit Water) | The second ingredient in the formula, providing a naturally acidic, antioxidant-rich base that helps maintain the cleanser's mildly acidic pH while delivering gentle astringent properties. Works alongside the mung bean extract to create a cleansing system that targets sebum and dead skin cells without harsh surfactants. | traditional-use |
| Mung Bean Extract (Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract) | A traditional Korean cleansing ingredient prized for its gentle exfoliating and sebum-clearing properties. Synergizes with the plum water to help dissolve pore-clogging debris while the saponin content provides natural foaming action that supplements the mild synthetic surfactants. | traditional-use |
| Green Tea Extract (Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract) | Delivers EGCG and other catechin polyphenols that provide antioxidant protection during the cleansing step, preventing the brief surfactant exposure from causing oxidative stress. Also contributes mild anti-inflammatory benefits that help keep reactive skin calm during cleansing. | well-established |
| Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate | One of the gentlest available surfactants, derived from coconut. Paired with cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine as the primary cleansing system, this combination creates a low-irritation foaming profile that effectively removes makeup residue and daily grime without disrupting the skin's natural lipid barrier. | well-established |
| Glycerin | Counteracts the potential drying effects of cleansing by drawing moisture into the skin during the wash step. Ensures that even after rinsing, skin retains some of the hydration rather than feeling stripped or tight. | well-established |
Full INCI List
Water, Prunus Mume Fruit Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Coconut Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Isethionate, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Punica Granatum Extract, Clitoria Ternatea Flower Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA
Product Flags
✓ Fragrance Free✓ Alcohol Free✓ Oil Free✓ Silicone Free✓ Paraben Free✓ Sulfate Free✓ Cruelty Free✓ Vegan✗ Fungal Acne Safe
Compatibility
Skin Match
Best For
Works For
Not Ideal For
Addresses These Conditions
oiliness blackheads dullness large pores
Routine Step
cleanser
Time of Day
AM & PM
Pregnancy Safe
Yes ✓
Layering Tips
Use as the second step in a double-cleanse routine (after an oil cleanser in the PM) or as a standalone morning cleanser. Apply to damp skin, massage gently for 30-60 seconds, then rinse with lukewarm water.
Results Timeline
Immediately leaves skin feeling clean and refreshed without tightness. Within 1-2 weeks of consistent use, skin texture may feel smoother and pores appear less congested. Ongoing use maintains a balanced, clear complexion.
Pairs Well With
oil cleansers for double cleansinghydrating tonersany serum or treatment
Sample AM Routine
- Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser
- Hydrating toner
- Brightening serum
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen
Sample PM Routine
- Oil cleanser
- Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser
- Exfoliating toner (2-3x/week)
- Treatment serum
- Moisturizer
Evidence
Science
The Science
The surfactant science in this cleanser reflects current dermatological thinking about gentle cleansing. Both primary surfactants — cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine and sodium cocoyl isethionate — belong to the amphoteric and isethionate surfactant classes, respectively, which are recognized as among the least irritating cleansing agents available.
Sodium cocoyl isethionate (SCI) has been extensively studied for its mild cleansing profile. Research published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science has shown that isethionate-based surfactants cause significantly less disruption to the stratum corneum lipids compared to traditional sulfate surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). This translates to less transepidermal water loss (TEWL) after cleansing — the clinical measure of barrier disruption.
The mung bean extract (Phaseolus radiatus) brings saponins, which are natural surfactant compounds that have been used in Asian cleansing traditions for centuries. While their cleansing power is modest compared to synthetic surfactants, they contribute to the overall cleansing efficacy without adding to irritation potential.
Green tea extract provides EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), arguably the most studied polyphenol in skincare. A review in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2005) documented EGCG's anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and photoprotective properties. While the contact time in a rinse-off product is brief, the antioxidant activity can still provide some protective benefit during the vulnerable cleansing window when the barrier is temporarily compromised.
The inclusion of glycerin — a proven humectant with decades of supporting research — serves a critical function in a cleanser: it counteracts the moisture-depleting effects of surfactant exposure. Studies have demonstrated that glycerin-containing cleansers maintain significantly better skin hydration levels post-wash compared to glycerin-free formulations.
Dermatologist Perspective
Dermatologists consistently emphasize that the cleanser is one of the most important products in any routine — not for what it adds, but for what it preserves. Board-certified dermatologists frequently recommend sulfate-free, fragrance-free cleansers like this one, particularly for patients using prescription retinoids, undergoing chemical peels, or managing conditions like rosacea and eczema where barrier integrity is already compromised. The combination of sodium cocoyl isethionate and cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine represents what dermatologists consider the gold standard in gentle cleansing. This cleanser is commonly cited as the type of product that supports rather than undermines treatment plans.
Guidance
Usage Guide
How to Use
Wet your face with lukewarm water. Dispense a small amount (about a coin-sized blob) onto damp hands and gently lather between palms. Apply to face in circular motions for 30-60 seconds, paying extra attention to the T-zone and areas prone to congestion. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. Use morning and evening. In the PM, double cleanse by using an oil-based cleanser first to dissolve sunscreen and makeup, then follow with this gel cleanser.
Value Assessment
At $10.40 for 100ml, this is already an affordable cleanser, but the real value play is the 200ml size at $14.00 — effectively a 35% discount per milliliter. For a cleanser used twice daily, the larger size translates to roughly $3.50-4.50 per month, which is exceptional value for the ingredient quality. The formula competes favorably with gentler cleansers from brands like CeraVe and La Roche-Posay, offering comparable mildness with the added benefit of traditional Korean botanical extracts. There are no corners cut in the surfactant system to hit this price point.
Who Should Buy
Anyone who wants a genuinely gentle daily cleanser that won't compromise their skin barrier — especially retinoid users, sensitive skin types, and people with reactive or easily irritated skin. Also excellent for K-beauty enthusiasts who appreciate traditional hanbang ingredients in modern formulations, and budget-conscious shoppers who refuse to sacrifice quality.
Who Should Skip
Those who need a heavy-duty cleanser to remove thick makeup or waterproof sunscreen in a single step. Also skip if you strongly prefer a rich, foamy lather — this cleanser's gentle surfactant system produces minimal foam by design. If you're looking for active ingredients in your cleanser (salicylic acid, glycolic acid), look elsewhere.
Ready to try Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser?
Details
Details
Texture
A lightweight, translucent gel with a slight green tint. Very fluid consistency that lathers into a gentle, fine foam when worked with water. Rinses clean without residue.
Scent
No added fragrance. A very faint, naturally fresh herbal scent from the plum and botanical extracts that is subtle and disappears upon rinsing.
Packaging
Squeeze tube with a flip-top cap. Available in 100ml standard and 200ml value size. Traditional Korean design aesthetic consistent with the Beauty of Joseon line.
Finish
non-greasylightweightfast-absorbing
What to Expect on First Use
On first use, the gel feels noticeably lightweight and lathers less aggressively than most cleansers — a sign of the mild surfactant system. Skin feels soft and balanced after rinsing, with no tight sensation even before applying toner.
How Long It Lasts
6-8 weeks with twice-daily use (100ml); 3-4 months with the 200ml size
Period After Opening
12 months
Best Season
All Year
Certifications
VeganCruelty-Free
Background
The Why
Green plum (maesil) is a staple in Korean cuisine and traditional medicine, valued for its natural acidity and antibacterial properties. Beauty of Joseon translated this kitchen wisdom into skincare, pairing the plum water with mung bean — another traditional Korean beauty ingredient historically used as a natural face wash powder — to create a cleanser that honors hanbang traditions while meeting modern formulation standards.
About Beauty of Joseon Established Brand (5–20 years)
Beauty of Joseon was founded in 2016 and reinvented in 2019 with a focus on traditional Korean hanbang ingredients combined with modern formulation science. The brand has built a strong global following and is now stocked at Sephora, with products that consistently earn high user ratings across multiple retail platforms.
Brand founded: 2016 · Product launched: 2022
Myth vs. Reality
Myths
Myth
A cleanser needs to foam a lot to actually clean your skin properly.
Reality
Foam volume has no correlation with cleansing efficacy. This cleanser uses sodium cocoyl isethionate, a gentle surfactant that produces a fine, low-volume foam while effectively lifting oil, dirt, and daily grime. Heavy foaming often indicates harsh surfactants like SLS that can strip the skin barrier.
Myth
If your skin doesn't feel squeaky-clean after washing, the cleanser isn't working.
Reality
That squeaky-clean feeling actually indicates over-stripping of the skin's natural lipid barrier. A well-formulated cleanser like this one should leave skin feeling clean but comfortable — not tight or dry.
FAQ
FAQ
Can the Green Plum Cleanser remove makeup?
This cleanser is effective at removing light makeup, sunscreen, and daily grime, but it's not designed to tackle heavy or waterproof makeup on its own. For a thorough PM cleanse, use it as the second step after an oil-based cleanser in a double-cleansing routine.
Is the Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Cleanser good for acne?
While this cleanser doesn't contain active acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, its gentle formula with mung bean extract helps keep pores clear without triggering the inflammation or barrier damage that harsh cleansers can cause. It's an excellent base cleanser for acne-prone skin when paired with targeted acne treatments applied after cleansing.
Is the 200ml size worth it over the 100ml?
The 200ml size at $14.00 offers significantly better value per milliliter compared to the 100ml at $10.40 — you get double the product for only $3.60 more. If you've confirmed this cleanser works for your skin, the larger size is the smarter purchase.
Can I use this cleanser with tretinoin or retinol?
This is an ideal cleanser for retinoid users. The sulfate-free, fragrance-free formula with gentle surfactants and glycerin won't aggravate the increased sensitivity that retinoids cause. It cleans effectively without further compromising the barrier that retinoids are already challenging.
What skin type is the Green Plum Cleanser best for?
This cleanser works across all skin types but particularly shines for oily, combination, and normal skin. The mung bean extract helps manage excess sebum while the gentle surfactant system and glycerin prevent the over-stripping that oily skin types often experience with conventional cleansers. Dry and sensitive skin types can also use it comfortably.
Community
Community
Common Praise
"Leaves skin feeling clean without any tightness or dryness"
"Gentle enough for daily use on sensitive skin"
"Pleasant subtle natural scent"
"Good value for a high-quality K-beauty cleanser"
Common Complaints
"100ml size runs out quickly"
"May not fully remove heavy or waterproof makeup alone"
"Some find it too gentle for deep cleansing oily skin"
"Very runny gel texture can be messy to dispense"
Notable Endorsements
Sephora K-Beauty collectionFrequently recommended in K-beauty cleanser roundups
Appears In
best cleanser for sensitive skin best gel cleanser k beauty best cleanser under 15 best sulfate free cleanser
Related Conditions
oiliness blackheads sensitivity acne dullness
Related Ingredients
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