15 Best Korean Cleansers For Dry Skin (In 2023)
Are you looking for the best Korean cleansers that won’t agitate your dry skin? If so, have a look at our list of 15 best Korean facial washes, cleansing balms, water cleansers, and oil cleansers!
Cleansing your face is the first essential step in every skincare routine. At the end of the day, you need to wash away all the dirt, sebum, and other impurities that have built up on your skin.
However, picking a facial cleanser is a different story for everybody because not all share the same skin type. In this article, we’re going to focus more on the best Korean cleansers for people with dry skin.
But before we go straight to the products, let’s first talk about the different types of facial cleansers and the differences among them.
Best Cleanser Types For Dry Skin
1. Cleansing Balms
A cleansing balm is formulated with lots of natural oils and thick butters that are moisturizing to the skin. These oils break down impurities that might have built up on your face and provide deep cleaning of your pores without stripping the skin of its natural moisture.
2. Oil Cleansers
Some people hate having that squeaky feel on their face after cleansing, especially if you have skin that is excessively dry.
Oil-based cleansers are very popular with people who have dry skin types because, aside from their cleansing properties, you don’t have to worry about them making your skin even drier.
3. WAter-based Foam Cleansers
These are traditional water-based facial cleansers that are in foam or cream-like textures. Their main purpose is to remove makeup, oil, and other grime from your face.
These are perhaps the most popular types of cleansers on the market, and luckily many of them are hydrating even for those who have dry skin.
4. Micellar waters
These easy cleansers are made up of micelles, which contain both oil-soluble and water-soluble parts, making sure you remove everything you need to remove from your face. If you love using micellar water, we recommend using it as your first line of cleansing, and following up with a water-based cleanser of your choice.
Note: If you’re familiar with Korean skincare, you’ll know that double cleansing is HIGHLY recommended. So, pick your favorite combination of an oil-based makeup remover and a water-based cleanser from the list below, and make magic happen.
Best Korean Cleansing Balms For Dry Skin
1. Then I Met You – Living Cleansing Balm
Get this on Soko Glam
This luxurious cleansing balm is so great that it has won 12 beauty awards (and counting!) from renowned beauty experts over at Byrdie, Allure and other publications. So what’s so amazing about the Living Cleansing Balm?
Well, its star ingredient seabuckthorn oil gives the balm a delicious scent and distinctly orange color, which, combined with the sorbet-like texture of the balm, will make you look forward to taking off your makeup at night. Not only does seabuckthorn smell divine, it is also rich in antioxidants and fatty acids, softening your skin and removing makeup and dirt without stripping the skin.
The balm is also enriched with other beneficial ingredients, such as vitamin E and olive oil to nourish, and persimmon extract for brightening.
2. heimish – All Clean Balm
Get yours from YesStyle
If you’re new to cleansing balms, we recommend you try out this best-selling cleansing balm from heimish. This gentle cleansing balm turns into an oil cleanser when it comes in contact with water. It’s made with hypoallergenic ingredients like shea butter, citrus, and botanical garden extracts to provide ultimate comfort for your dry and sensitive skin.
This gentle balm is especially great if you’re looking for a 2-1 cleanser that can get rid of eye makeup at the same time as your cleansing your face.
3. I’m from – Fig Cleansing Balm
Get yours from YesStyle
This Fig Cleansing Balm has a sherbet-like texture that your skin will absolutely love. It contains fig oil water, which cleanses the skin of impurities, keeping dead skin cells and blackheads at bay. It’s also formulated with polyphenols and vitamin derivatives, which add vitality to your dry skin, and keep it moisturized and supple.
To top it all off, the cleanser is hypo-allergenic and perfectly safe for sensitive skin.
4. MIZON – Cicaluronic Cleansing Balm
Get yours from YesStyle
This powerful yet gentle cleansing balm from Mizon promises to remove all the gunk on your face, all while retaining its moisture. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid and cica, which are always excellent additions to any skincare products, especially if you have dry skin.
On top of that, this balm doesn’t have any scent to it and promises to soothe and hydrate. Plus, the packaging looks luxurious, even though the price of the product is very affordable.
Best Korean Oil Cleansers For Dry Skin
5. iUNIK – Calendula Complete Cleansing Oil
Get yours from YesStyle
Cleansing oils like this one from iUNIK are effective in melting hard to remove makeup on the face. It’s made with 94% of oils derived from six different plants, including calendula, sunflower seed, and jojoba, to remove remnants of makeup and sunscreen.
The mild cleanser has a light oil-based texture that glides on the skin smoothly. Meanwhile, the Calendula flower extract contains calming properties and can strengthen sensitive skin.
6. coxir – Ultra Hyaluronic Cleansing Oil
Get yours from YesStyle
If you have a problem removing makeup, especially waterproof mascaras, your best bet is to stick to cleansing oils like the Ultra Hyarulorinc Cleansing Oil from Coxir. Aside from being able to thoroughly cleanse your skin,this cleansing oil has been enriched with hyaluronic acid for more hydration, as well as aloe vera to soothe the skin.
7. Hanskin Pore Cleansing Oil
Get this on Soko Glam
If you have dry skin but you’re also battling blackheads or the occasional pimples, this is the cleanser for you. Formulated with polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) that are suitable for sensitive and dry skin, the Hanskin Pore Cleansing Oil will gently exfoliate the outer layer of your skin, leaving behind a glowing, softer canvas.
In addition to this, the mild formula is enriched with tea tree oil to fight existing breakouts, as well as a mix of plant oils like jojoba and sunflower seed oil to remove makeup without stripping the skin.
8. Dear, Klairs – Gentle Black Fresh Cleansing Oil
Get yours from YesStyle
Dear Klairs is widely known in the beauty community for having a good range of skin care products. Not only that, they also pride themselves for being cruelty-free. If you’re looking more into products that are not tested on animals, you might want to include Dear Klairs in your list.
This cleanser contains about 85% of plant-based oils that are rich in fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins that help nourish the skin and reduce irritation. It’s also formulated with sunflower, jojoba, and grapeseed oil for soothing and hydration.
Best Korean Foam & Cream Cleansers For dry skin
9. Then I Met You Soothing Tea Cleansing Gel
Get this on Soko Glam
Formulated to be used after the Living Cleansing Balm, this water-based gel cleanser stands well on its own, too. Packed with fermented rice water, the hydrating Soothing Tea cleansing gel is the perfect product to finish off your cleansing routine.
Apart from being soothing and non-stripping, the cleanser has also been formulated with small amounts of PHA, which helps help to gently exfoliate the skin, as well as licorice root extract to help brighten dark spots, making it great for people with dry skin who struggle with occasional breakouts.
10. COSRX – Triple Hyaluronic Moisturizing Cleanser
Get yours from YesStyle
COSRX is a cult favorite in the K-beauty community thanks to its effective and affordable products. Although the brand is most known for its range of acne-targeting skincare, they also have excellent products for dry skin, such as the Hydrium Triple Hyaluronic Moisturizing Cleanser.
This cleanser is a wonderfully moisturizing gel that turns into a buildable foam to clean your face while retaining its moisture. Packed with three different types of hyaluronic acids and hydrating Vitamin B5, you can be sure that your dry skin is going to love the cleansing experience.
11. B.LAB – Matcha Hydrating Foam Cleanser
Get yours on YesStyle
This is mild cleanser turns into a foam to effectively remove impurities from your face after a long day of being exposed to dirt and pollution. It is formulated with green tea and centella, which help gently purify and soothe the skin. Furthermore, it’s packed with hyaluronic acid, and ceramides to retain your skin’s moisture and help improve the skin’s barrier.
If you’re looking for an affordable, hypoallergenic, and hydrating facial cleanser, this is the cleaner for you.
12. FRUDIA – Blueberry Hydrating Cleansing Gel To Foam
Get yours from YesStyle
The Blueberry Hydrating Cleanser from Frudia is specifically formulated for dry skin. Made with cypress and moringa to soothe the skin, blueberry extract to help replenish the skin’s moisture, as well as bamboo and eucalyptus extracts that target impurities, this affordable cleanser gently removes any makeup and impurities from your face.
If you like fruity scent cleansers, you might end up loving this one!
Best Korean Miscellar Cleansers for dry skin
13. Son & Park Beauty Water
Get this from Soko Glam
If you’re looking for a multi-tasking micellar water, look no further than the Beauty Water by Son & Park. This best-selling cleansing water also doubles up as a toner.
Formulated with gently exfoliating papaya extract, as well as other beautifying ingredients like rose water, lavender water, and orange fruit extract that provide hydration, this cleansing water is the perfect product for lazy days, or simply as the first step of your cleansing routine.
14. innisfree – Blueberry Rebalancing Cleansing Water
Get yours from YesStyle
The Blueberry Rebalancing Cleansing Water is packed with antioxidants that aid in strengthening the skin’s natural lipid barrier. It also contains Propanediol and Centella which offer moisturizing properties. Meanwhile, its 5.5 pH formulation ensures that there’s a water and oil balance on your skin.
15. MAXCLINIC – Micellar Cleansing Water
Get yours from YesStyle
If you’re a fan of botanical infused cleansers, check out the MAXCLINIC Micellar Cleansing Water. It combines the moisturizing benefits of chamomile and lavender, micellar water and natural surfactants which helps remove skin impurities without dryness and irritation.
Tips for Cleansing Dry Skin
1. Avoid alcohol-based products.
Similar to other skin types, people with dry skin need to have a specific approach when it comes to their skincare routine. In order not to worsen dryness and flakiness, you need to choose the right products that are made for specifically for your skin type.
2. Look For These Ingredients
Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, almond milk, shea butter, oat milk, and polyphenols are great for people who have dry skin. Look for these products in hydrating cleansers, toners, moisturizers, and creams to help in hydrating your skin to make it look and feel supple. Also, as a word of advice, steer away from products that contain parabens and artificial fragrances.
3. Don’t use facial wipes.
Although they are convenient for traveling or when you need to quickly freshen up, most of these wipes contain alcohol. Additionally, you don’t want to rub your face too harshly as this might cause irritation especially if you have dry skin.
4. Avoid hot showers and hot water.
Though it’s relaxing to take hot showers and hot baths, they might not be good if you have dry skin. Hot water removes natural oils from your body. Furthermore, it can also cause damage to the keratin cells that are on the outermost layer of the skin.
5. Be gentle to your skin
If you’re going to be using balms that don’t lather, it’s important that you don’t rub your skin too hard when you wipe it off with a towel. You can just splash water on your face and gently pat your face dry. If you’re using oil, you can wipe the excess with a damp soft cloth that you dipped in lukewarm water.
So that’s a wrap! We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the best Korean cleansers for dry skin. If you want to see more posts relating to beauty and skincare, check out some below.
Get More Skincare & Beauty Ideas
10 Best Korean Moisturizers For Dry & Dehydrated Skin
8 Best The Ordinary Products for Dry & Dehydrated Skin