Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser
K-Beauty Gentle Cleansing Staple
Verified reviewer
Pros & cons.
- +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
- −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
The full review.
About Beauty of Joseon
Green plum — maesil in Korean — is a fruit central to Korean culture, used in cooking, medicine, and skincare. Plum water is the second ingredient in the formula. It provides a naturally acidic base that helps the cleanser maintain a skin-friendly pH without heavy use of synthetic pH adjusters. It also has mild astringent and antioxidant properties, so the base solvent provides utility instead of just filling space.
Texture
The texture is a translucent gel with a faint green tint. It is more fluid than expected, so the thin consistency makes dispensing difficult if you are unprepared. It spreads easily on wet skin and creates enough foam to feel satisfying without aggressive surfactant action. The lather is minimal.
Common Praise
Rinsing is clean and complete. It leaves no film or residue, so you do not need to wash your face again to remove the cleanser. Critically, it causes no tightness. This cleanser consistently provides a comfortable, balanced post-wash skin feeling, which is the most important quality a cleanser can have.
Best for
This cleanser is a strong option for anyone using retinoids, acids, or other active treatments. The gentle surfactant system protects a barrier that treatment products already challenge, while botanical extracts soothe skin to prevent reactivity. It is the type of cleanser dermatologists want more people to use — it supports your routine instead of undermining it.
Not ideal for
This cleanser has specific limits. It won’t dissolve waterproof mascara or heavy foundation; use an oil cleanser in the first step of a double cleanse for those. It lacks active exfoliants, so it does not chemically clear pores. It also won’t leave oily skin mattified for hours. This cleanser does one thing well: it removes daily oil, sweat, dust, and light product residue while leaving the skin barrier intact.
Ingredient analysis.
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
Skin match.
The science.
The Science
The surfactant science in this cleanser follows current dermatological standards for gentle cleansing. Both primary surfactants — cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine and sodium cocoyl isethionate — belong to the amphoteric and isethionate surfactant classes, which are among the least irritating cleansing agents available.
Sodium cocoyl isethionate (SCI) has an extensively studied mild cleansing profile. Research in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science shows that isethionate-based surfactants disrupt stratum corneum lipids significantly less than traditional sulfate surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). This results in less transepidermal water loss (TEWL) after cleansing — the clinical measure of barrier disruption.
The mung bean extract (Phaseolus radiatus) contains saponins, natural surfactant compounds used in Asian cleansing traditions for centuries. Their cleansing power is modest compared to synthetic surfactants, but they add to cleansing efficacy without increasing irritation potential.
Green tea extract provides EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), the most studied polyphenol in skincare. A 2005 review in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology documented EGCG's anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and photoprotective properties. Even with brief contact time in a rinse-off product, antioxidant activity provides protective benefit when the barrier is temporarily compromised during cleansing.
Glycerin — a proven humectant with decades of research — performs a critical function: it counteracts the moisture-depleting effects of surfactant exposure. Studies show that glycerin-containing cleansers maintain significantly better skin hydration levels post-wash than glycerin-free formulations.
Dermatologist Perspective
Dermatologists emphasize that the cleanser is a vital routine product — not for what it adds, but for what it preserves. Board-certified dermatologists frequently recommend sulfate-free, fragrance-free cleansers like this one, especially for patients using prescription retinoids, undergoing chemical peels, or managing rosacea and eczema where barrier integrity is compromised. The combination of sodium cocoyl isethionate and cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine is the gold standard in gentle cleansing. This cleanser supports rather than undermines treatment plans.
Where it fits in your routine.
Wet your face with lukewarm water. Put a small amount (about a coin-sized blob) onto damp hands and lather between palms. Massage onto your face in circular motions for 30-60 seconds, focusing on the T-zone and congestion-prone areas. Rinse well with lukewarm water. Use morning and evening. For PM double cleansing, use an oil-based cleanser first to remove sunscreen and makeup, then use this gel cleanser.
At $10.40 for 100ml, this cleanser is affordable, but the 200ml size at $14.00 offers better value—a 35% discount per milliliter. Using this cleanser twice daily costs roughly $3.50-4.50 per month, providing exceptional value for the ingredient quality. The formula matches the mildness of gentler cleansers from brands like CeraVe and La Roche-Posay, but adds traditional Korean botanical extracts. The surfactant system does not sacrifice quality to reach this price point.
This cleanser works for anyone needing a gentle daily option that protects the skin barrier — specifically retinoid users, sensitive skin types, and people with reactive or easily irritated skin. It also suits K-beauty enthusiasts who like traditional hanbang ingredients in modern formulations and budget-conscious shoppers who want quality.
Use this if you need a heavy-duty cleanser to remove thick makeup or waterproof sunscreen in one step. Skip this if you prefer a thick, foamy lather; this cleanser's gentle surfactant system produces minimal foam by design. If you want active ingredients like salicylic acid or glycolic acid, look elsewhere.
Product details.
This lightweight, translucent gel has a slight green tint. The fluid consistency lathers into a fine, gentle foam with water. It rinses clean without residue.
No added fragrance. The plum and botanical extracts have a faint, natural herbal scent that disappears after rinsing.
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.
The gel feels lightweight on first use and lathers less than most cleansers, showing its mild surfactant system. Skin feels soft and balanced after rinsing; it does not feel tight even before applying toner.
6-8 weeks with twice-daily use (100ml); 3-4 months with the 200ml size
12 months
All Year
The backstory.
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 launched in 2016 and updated in 2019. The brand combines traditional Korean hanbang ingredients with modern formulation science. Beauty of Joseon has a large global following and sells at Sephora, with products that earn high user ratings on many retail platforms.
Common myths.
A cleanser must foam heavily to clean skin properly.
Foam volume does not correlate with cleansing efficacy. This cleanser uses sodium cocoyl isethionate, a gentle surfactant that produces fine, low-volume foam to lift oil, dirt, and daily grime. Heavy foam often shows harsh surfactants like SLS that strip the skin barrier.
If your skin doesn't feel squeaky-clean after washing, the cleanser fails.
That squeaky-clean feeling means you stripped the skin's natural lipid barrier. A well-formulated cleanser leaves skin clean but comfortable, not tight or dry.
FAQ.
Can the Green Plum Cleanser remove makeup?
This cleanser removes light makeup, sunscreen, and daily grime, but it does not remove heavy or waterproof makeup alone. 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?
This cleanser lacks active acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid. Its gentle formula uses mung bean extract to keep pores clear without causing inflammation or barrier damage from harsh cleansers. It works as a base cleanser for acne-prone skin when you use targeted acne treatments after cleansing.
Is the 200ml size worth it over the 100ml?
The 200ml size at $14.00 has better value per milliliter than the 100ml at $10.40 — you get double the product for only $3.60 more. If this cleanser works for your skin, buy the larger size.
Can I use this cleanser with tretinoin or retinol?
This cleanser works well for retinoid users. The sulfate-free, fragrance-free formula uses gentle surfactants and glycerin to avoid aggravating retinoid-induced sensitivity. It cleans effectively without further compromising the barrier that retinoids already challenge.
What skin type is the Green Plum Cleanser best for?
This cleanser works for all skin types, but works best for oily, combination, and normal skin. The mung bean extract manages excess sebum. The gentle surfactant system and glycerin prevent the over-stripping oily skin types often get from conventional cleansers. Dry and sensitive skin types also use it comfortably.
Community
What the community says.
"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"
"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"
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