I Swear By This Highly-Rated Low pH Gel Cleanser To Clean Out My Pores

Bless you, Cosrx! Your formulas always make magic happen.

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Listen up, people: While you might know the brand for their famed pimple patches, Cosrx has tons and tons of Korean skincare products that work amazingly for all skin types, but especially sensitive and combination skin.

@sokoglam / Via instagram.com

Their products are top-notch when it comes to ingredients that'll treat your irritated skin without being overly harsh — we're talking tea tree oil, honey, willow bark water, snail mucin, apple fruit water, etc.

Much to my delight, my skin (with occasional redness around the cheeks) has decided to start shifting from normal to combination. Hello, oily T-zone! Hello, pimples around my chin!

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This has been an important PSA. Thanks for helping me spread the word, JLaw.

As a result, I needed a gentle cleanser that also kept my pores clean from dirt, makeup, and future breakouts — and I found one. Cosrx Good Morning Gel Cleanser stands at a skin-friendly pH of 5 (your skin's optimal pH is 5.5), which means my face is never left feeling raw or stripped.

Sarah Han

FYI: Most cleansers tend to lean towards being alkaline, which is a pH of over 7.

My takeaways from using this bb consistently for a year:

1. Even though it's a gel, it does foam up! Which I love! I like to rub it in my hands before applying it on my face. It's super light and easier to work in and go to town with a lil' massage than, say, a creamy cleanser.

2. Yes, it smells kinda medicinal, but I stopped caring after the first few washes — and trust me, I've given up on a few products in the past because of super strong smells.

3. It removes makeup like a dream! That being said, if I'm wearing heavy eye makeup and mascara, I'd still go in with a soft cotton pad and micellar water, before going in with the cleanser.

4. One bottle lasts you forever since you just need a lil' pinch of product. And at just over $10, that's a steal.

5. I tend to get some breakouts when I travel, and I really think the Betaine Salicylate and Tea Tree Leaf Oil helped keep my pores clear in check and prevented breakouts from popping up.

6. My foundation glides on *so* smoothly after I use this cleanser (proof below).

Sarah Han

This is me during my recent vacation in South Korea, where I only brought this one cleanser with me to use — and as someone who has cleansers on cleansers on cleansers, that's a pretty big deal.

Of course, I'm not the only one obsessed. There are tons of happy customers, including this glowing lady!

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"I've dramatically changed my skincare routine after having acne-filled skin this summer. I was recommended this cleanser and I LOVE it, because having a low pH cleanser is what makes my serums work best! It activates the other ingredients in my other products (salicylic acid, etc.), and it's awesome! I also have sensitive skin, so it was nice to find a product that wasn't too harsh." —Ily

Need more proof? Look no further than Tiffany's review!

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Promising review: "I'm not the type of customer to rave over a product, but this cleanser has become my holy grail. After a couple of uses, my milia went away and my skin has gotten so much softer and dewy. I do combine this cleanser with Mizon All in One Snail Cream, and honestly you can't find another iconic duo." —Tiffany Nguyen

Of course, NO skincare product is one-type-fits-all. Test it out, give your skin some time to adjust, and make your own educated call. But there's a darn good number of people who love this cleanser, just like me.

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Here are some more glowing reviews:

"I had been using Origins Checks and Balances Face Wash for about ten years, and then I read something about pH and how your cleanser can strip your skin, if it has a high pH. I looked up my cleanser and it had a pH of about 8. 8!! Little did I know, my skin had just been okay for ten years. This Cosrx cleanser has made my skin SO healthy. I noticed a huge difference within two weeks. My skin GLOWS, I tell you!! I used to wear a high-coverage foundation to mask any discoloration or blemishes, and now I just wear tinted sunscreen! A month ago, I would not have left my house without foundation on, but now my skintone has evened out, the moisture has been restored, and blemishes are fewer than EVER. My skin is smooth, supple, clear, and bright. PRAISE THIS CLEANSER!" —Kathryn Draney

"I cannot describe the goodness that is this gel cleanser. It cleans without stripping my skin to the point of being squeaky clean and leaves my skin feeling fairly refreshed. While it has a mild soap scent, the smell of this cleanser by no means irritating. I have sensitive, acne-prone skin, and this cleanser has become my holy grail. I have noticed my breakouts becoming milder, and my skin is glowing after using this cleanser for about three months." —Wat

Try it yourself from Amazon for $10.17 (also available in a two-pack for $20.36).

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The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.

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