Sunday Morning Refreshing Cleansing Foam
Summer Morning Favorite
Verified reviewer
Pros & cons.
- +Rich, fluffy K-beauty lather experience
- +Cooling peppermint sensation is genuinely refreshing
- +Generous 180ml size offers strong value per use
- +Includes niacinamide and centella as calming supports
- +Vegan, cruelty-free, sulfate-free formulation
- +Rinses clean without residue or greasy film
- −Alkaline pH disrupts the acid mantle during wash
- −Peppermint oil may irritate reactive or rosacea-prone skin
- −Too stripping for dry or compromised barrier skin types
- −Citrus extract is an additional sensitizer for some users
The full review.
Sunday Morning has an evocative name that sets a high bar. It suggests slow mornings and clean bathrooms, a pedestal that most cleansers fail to reach.
The good news: Sunday Morning feels like the right cleanser for a real Sunday morning. The thick white cream whips into a fluffy, cushiony foam when wet. This lather style is rare in Western drugstore cleansers today. A small amount lasts a long time. Massaging it onto the face creates a brief cooling tingle from the peppermint oil. It is a subtle brightness rather than the numbing menthol blast found in drugstore shaving cream. After rinsing, skin feels clean and softly hydrated from the glycerin, with a faint citrus and mint scent. This sensory experience is a core part of K-beauty cleanser marketing.
The less cinematic news: this is a classic high-pH saponified-soap cleanser. Myristic acid, stearic acid, and potassium hydroxide are at the top of the INCI, which creates soap in situ. This traditional Korean foam format has existed for decades, but the chemistry matters. The pH is around 9-10, well above the skin’s natural 4.5-5.5, which temporarily disrupts the acid mantle. Axis-Y added sodium cocoyl isethionate, a gentler coconut-derived surfactant, along with glycerin, centella, allantoin, and niacinamide to soften the effect. These ingredients make this less stripping than old-school Korean soap foams, but they do not change the fundamental formula. Skip this if your skin is dry, sensitized, or has a damaged barrier; use a low-pH amino acid cleanser instead. This cleanser suits skin that rebuilds its acid mantle within an hour and likes a squeaky-clean feeling.
Who Should Buy
This suits combination to oily skin, especially those with T-zone sebum, enlarged pores, or morning dullness. For these skin types, Sunday Morning is a pleasant daily habit. It rinses without residue, pairs well with hydrating toners and serums, and works as the second step of an evening double-cleanse after an oil or balm cleanser removes sunscreen and makeup.
Common Complaints
Peppermint is the most divisive ingredient. Most users find it refreshing, but people with rosacea, perioral dermatitis, or reactive skin may feel discomfort. The orange fruit extract is also a mild sensitizer, though it mostly affects those already sensitive to citrus. Both ingredients appear clearly on the INCI and serve functional roles: peppermint provides modest antibacterial activity, and the citrus adds faint exfoliation via natural alpha hydroxy acid.
Works for
The niacinamide concentration is workable for a cleanser. Because it is a rinse-off product, niacinamide contributes less here than in a leave-on serum due to limited dwell time. Do not expect brightening effects within a week; instead, view it as a supplement to your leave-on routine. It is a bonus, not the primary reason to buy.
Value
At $22 for a 180ml tube, the price is reasonable for this caliber of K-beauty cleanser. It lasts five to seven months with twice-daily use, or longer if used only in the morning, costing well under a dollar per week. It is pricier than pharmacy-grade gentle cleansers, mid-range compared to luxury Korean brands, and priced correctly for its role compared to other Axis-Y products.
Verdict
The verdict is simple. If you have oily or combination skin, enjoy a cooling wash, and have no barrier sensitivity, this daily cleanser lives up to its name. If you are dry, sensitive, or reactive, choose a gentler, lower-pH option instead.
Ingredient analysis.
Full INCI list · pH 9.5
Water, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Lauric Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, PEG-100 Stearate, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Caprylate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Arginine, Disodium EDTA, 1,2-Hexanediol
Skin match.
The science.
The Science
This cleanser uses fatty acid saponification: myristic acid, stearic acid, and lauric acid combine with potassium hydroxide to produce soap in situ during manufacture. This traditional Korean foam cleanser base has been used for decades. Saponified soap cleans thoroughly, but its pH is inherently alkaline, typically in the 9-10 range, which is much higher than the skin's natural acid mantle. Research shows repeated use of high-pH cleansers can transiently disrupt stratum corneum enzyme activity and impair barrier recovery in compromised skin, though healthy skin generally rebounds within one or two hours.
The addition of sodium cocoyl isethionate and disodium cocoyl glutamate — both gentler secondary surfactants — moderates the overall harshness. Comparison studies show these syndet-family surfactants produce less transepidermal water loss than pure soap systems, so the net skin impact is softer than the pH reading suggests.
Niacinamide's inclusion in a rinse-off product is a recurring debate. Leave-on niacinamide has strong evidence for barrier support, sebum regulation, and pigmentation reduction, but contact time in a cleanser lasts only seconds, making the direct leave-behind effect modest. Some research suggests niacinamide can still deposit enough to contribute marginally, but it is a supportive rather than primary benefit here.
Peppermint oil's primary active, menthol, produces a cooling sensation by activating TRPM8 receptors and has shown mild antibacterial effects against common skin flora.
Dermatologist Perspective
Dermatologists typically advise patients with barrier dysfunction — including rosacea, eczema, perioral dermatitis, or post-procedure skin — to avoid high-pH cleansers and use low-pH amino acid or syndet-based alternatives instead. This traditional Korean format foam cleanser is commonly recommended only for resilient, non-reactive skin types with active oil production, usually limited to once daily. Board-certified dermatologists note that cleanser pleasantness is a double-edged metric — the "squeaky clean" feeling many users enjoy often signals a disrupted acid mantle, and chasing that sensation can predispose healthy skin to sensitivity. For this specific product, niacinamide and centella moderate the concern somewhat, but sensitive and dry skin types should still look elsewhere.
Where it fits in your routine.
Rub a small amount (pea-to-dime size) into wet palms to create a lather. Massage onto damp skin for 30-60 seconds, targeting the T-zone and oil-prone areas. Rinse well with lukewarm water. Use once or twice daily based on skin type: oily skin uses it AM and PM; combination skin uses it in the morning and a gentler cleanser at night. Apply a hydrating toner immediately to rebalance pH. Patch test on the neck or jaw if you have a history of peppermint or citrus sensitivity.
At $22 for 180ml, Sunday Morning is a mid-range K-beauty foam cleanser. The cost-per-wash is excellent; used twice daily, it lasts 5-7 months. The formulation is more thoughtful than drugstore equivalents at a third of the price, as niacinamide and centella additions matter. Compared to other emerging K-beauty brands charging $25-$35 for similar formats, this is a fair price for a transparent, vegan formula from a brand that doesn't overpromise. If your skin suits it, the value is solid. If it doesn't suit you, no price justifies the barrier disruption.
Combination-to-oily skin types who want a well-formulated, affordable daily foam cleanser with a cooling sensation. It works for anyone building a Korean-style double-cleanse routine with a resilient skin barrier.
The alkaline pH and peppermint oil irritate dry, sensitive, rosacea-prone, or barrier-compromised skin. Skip this if you have documented citrus or mint sensitivities, or if your current cleanser works and you do not need another.
Product details.
Thick white cream that whips into a fluffy, cushiony foam
Natural botanical extracts provide a light citrus-peppermint scent; there is no added synthetic fragrance.
180ml squeeze tube with flip cap
The peppermint causes a cooling tingle during the first wash. The rinse leaves skin feeling clean and almost squeaky. Drier skin types may find this sensation too stripping; that tightness shows the cleanser is not for you. Oily skin will likely find it refreshing and thorough.
5-7 months with twice-daily use or 9-12 months as a morning-only cleanser
12 months
spring summer
The backstory.
Sunday Morning launched as Axis-Y's take on the everyday K-beauty foam cleanser — the kind of product people buy as an afterthought but use twice a day. The brand positioned it as the refreshing morning companion to their more treatment-focused lineup, and its name was designed to evoke the ritual of waking up with a slow, sensorial wash.
About Axis-Y
Emerging Brand (2–5 years)Axis-Y launched in 2018 as a Korean-American collaboration. It uses a 5-3-1 ingredient philosophy for transparent, vegan formulations. The brand builds credibility through ingredient honesty instead of clinical trials. Its formulas have high regard in the K-beauty community, though independent third-party validation is limited.
Common myths.
Foam cleansers are always drying because they contain soap.
This formula uses saponified fatty acids for lather, but sodium cocoyl isethionate and glycerin soften the feel. It creates a creamy foam instead of a stripping bar soap. However, the pH remains alkaline. People with barrier issues should use a low-pH alternative.
The peppermint oil will fix oily skin.
Peppermint adds a refreshing sensation and faint antibacterial properties, but it does not regulate sebum. Oily skin feels cleaner after washing, but not necessarily less oily over time.
FAQ.
Is this cleanser gentle enough for sensitive skin?
Not really. The pH is alkaline and it has peppermint and orange extract, which often trigger sensitized or rosacea-prone skin. A low-pH amino acid cleanser works better if your skin reacts to most things.
Can I use this as the only cleanser in a morning routine?
Oily and combination skin types can use this as a standalone morning cleanse. Dry skin types may skip morning cleanser or use a water-only rinse instead.
Does it remove sunscreen and makeup effectively?
It removes light tinted moisturizers and mineral sunscreens well but struggles with waterproof makeup and heavy chemical SPF. Use an oil or balm cleanser first in the evening for best results.
Is the peppermint oil enough to irritate skin?
Most users will find the concentration low. People with documented peppermint sensitivity or reactive rosacea will react. Patch test on the neck first if unsure.
How does this compare to Axis-Y's other cleansers?
The Daily Purifying Treatment Toner exfoliates, while Sunday Morning is the lineup's pure cleansing foam. They work together in a routine instead of replacing each other.
Community
What the community says.
"Refreshing cooling sensation"
"Leaves skin thoroughly clean without residue"
"Big 180ml tube lasts a long time"
"Pleasant citrus-mint scent"
"Tight feeling on drier skin"
"Peppermint irritates some users"
"Not truly a gentle cleanser despite marketing"
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