COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser — a gentle gel wash

COSRX describes the Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser as a gentle gel-type cleanser with a mildly acidic pH that cleanses without stripping, for all skin types. YesStyle calls it a long-time bestseller that removes a night's worth of sebum and dead skin cells with tea tree oil and BHA, without drying skin out.

In Korean it is a "low pH" (yaksanseong, 약산성) cleanser: the idea is to stay close to the skin's own slightly acidic pH instead of using a strongly alkaline soap.

The listing's ingredient list begins with water, cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate (the cleansing agents). It also includes tea tree leaf oil, betaine salicylate (a BHA) and allantoin, plus several plant extracts. COSRX's own page lists the pH as 5.31 ± 1.00, according to our skincare routine guide.

Because tea tree oil is an essential oil, patch-test it first if your skin is sensitive. Ingredient lists can change between versions, so read the list on the package or product page you actually buy.

This is the first step. COSRX lists it for morning and night, and its directions say to use it after removing makeup. The AAD's basic order is: wash your face with a gentle cleanser and pat dry, then apply any treatment, then moisturizer and/or sunscreen.

Then continue with toner, an ampoule or serum, and lotion. Don't open five new bottles on the same day: add one product at a time.

COSRX says it is for all skin types, and the tea tree and BHA make it a natural fit for skin that feels oily or congested. If your skin is dry or easily irritated, start by using it once a day and watch how your skin feels.

The AAD's patch-test method: apply the product to a quarter-sized spot twice a day for seven to 10 days. For a wash-off product like a cleanser, leave it on that spot for about five minutes or as long as the label says. If you get redness, itching or swelling, wash it off and stop using it.