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COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser tube
COSRX

Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser

Cleanser 150 ml
8.9OUT OF 10
Great formula

Formula has a high safety profile. Suitable for most skin types.

22
Safe
3
Caution
0
Higher risk

Score breakdown

Safety10/10
Barrier support9.8/10
Acne-safe8.9/10
Active treatment1.2/10

Our verdict

The Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser is the product that taught a generation of skincare users why cleanser pH matters, and it remains a benchmark gentle daily gel. Its whole design philosophy is in the name: a mildly acidic pH close to skin's own, achieved with gentle amino-acid-derived surfactants (cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate) instead of harsh high-pH soaps. The result cleanses and lightly refreshes without the squeaky, tight, stripped feeling that disrupts the barrier. It adds a low level of betaine salicylate — a mild BHA relative — for a gentle daily decongesting effect, plus tea tree oil and a stack of botanical extracts. Two honest notes. First, this is a light cleanser: it will not remove heavy makeup or sunscreen on its own, so it works best as a morning cleanse or the second step of an evening double cleanse. Second, it does contain tea tree oil and botanical extracts, which a small number of fragrance- or essential-oil-sensitive users react to — worth a patch test if your skin is reactive. For normal, combination and mildly oily skin, it is a reliable, barrier-respecting everyday cleanser.

At a glance

What it does
hydrationsoothingbarrier supportexfoliation
Best for
sensitive skinacne-prone skindry and dehydrated skinmost skin types
Not enough for
visible hyperpigmentationactive anti-aging treatment

Key ingredients

Cocamidopropyl Betainesupports skin comfortButylene Glycolsupports skin comfortSaccharomyces Fermentsupports skin comfortUlmus Davidiana Root Extractsupports skin comfort

Full ingredient list (25)

WaterCocamidopropyl BetaineSodium Lauroyl Methyl IsethionateSodium ChloridePolysorbate 20Leaf Extract*Butylene GlycolSaccharomyces FermentCryptomeria Japonica Leaf ExtractNelumbo Nucifera Leaf ExtractPinus Palustris Leaf ExtractUlmus Davidiana Root ExtractOenothera Biennis (evening Primrose) Flower ExtractPueraria Lobata Root ExtractMelaleuca Alternifolia Leaf ExtractAllantoinCaprylyl GlycolEthylhexylglycerinBetaine SalicylateCitric AcidEthyl Hexanediol1,2-HexanediolTrisodium Ethylenediamine DisuccinateSodium BenzoateDisodium EDTA

Colour indicates our safety assessment for each ingredient — green is well-tolerated, amber warrants caution, red is higher-risk. Tap any ingredient to read its full profile.

Frequently asked

Why does low pH matter in a cleanser?
Healthy skin sits at a mildly acidic pH of around 4.7–5.5. Cleansers with a high (alkaline) pH can disrupt that and leave skin tight and vulnerable. A low-pH cleanser like this one cleans while staying close to skin's natural pH, which helps keep the barrier and microbiome intact.
Does it remove makeup and sunscreen?
Only lightly. It is designed as a gentle daily gel, so it handles sweat, oil and light residue well but will not fully remove long-wear makeup or water-resistant sunscreen. Use it as your morning cleanse, or as the second step after an oil cleanser at night.
Is it suitable for sensitive skin?
For most people, yes — the gentle surfactants and low pH are barrier-friendly. The one caveat is that it contains tea tree oil and several botanical extracts, so if your skin reacts to essential oils, patch test first.
What is the score based on?
The score comes from the same Pure Moonlight ingredient analyzer used across the whole site. It weighs safety, barrier support, acne and comedogenic risk, and active-ingredient strength, so this product's score is directly comparable to any ingredient page here.

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