COSRX Low pH vs Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Cleanser
It’s a close, fair fight: COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser and Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser are both gentle, low-pH gel cleansers that clean without stripping — the kind that fix that tight, squeaky after-feel. The real difference is what’s in them: COSRX adds tea tree oil and a mild BHA (so it’s slightly more clarifying, but not fragrance-free), while Beauty of Joseon is fragrance-free with no acids, built on green plum and mung bean. Below: how they feel, how they differ, and who each one suits.
Last verified: June 2026. Formulas change — we re-check periodically against the current INCI.
The short answer (TL;DR)
- COSRX Low pH is a low-pH (~5.3) gel with a gentle BHA (betaine salicylate) and tea tree to help keep pores clear. Slightly more “clarifying” — but it isn’t fragrance-free.
- Beauty of Joseon Green Plum is a low-pH, fragrance-free gel built on green plum (~24%) and mung bean, with no BHA or AHA. Calmer, simpler, and sold at Sephora.
- Sensitive / fragrance-reactive skin → Beauty of Joseon.
- Oily or breakout-prone skin that wants a touch of daily BHA → COSRX.
- Both are gentle, affordable everyday cleansers — you only need one.
At a glance
| COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel | Beauty of Joseon Green Plum | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Low-pH gel cleanser | Low-pH gel cleanser |
| pH | ~5.3 (low-pH) | Low / slightly acidic |
| Hero ingredients | Tea tree oil, BHA (betaine salicylate), allantoin | Green plum (~24%), mung bean |
| Exfoliation | Gentle daily BHA | None (no BHA/AHA) |
| Fragrance | Contains tea tree oil (not fragrance-free) | Fragrance-free (no essential oils) |
| Feel | Light gel, fresh finish | Light gel, fresh finish |
| Best for | Oily / combination / breakout-prone | Sensitive / combination / normal |
| Retail | YesStyle, Amazon | YesStyle, Amazon, Sephora |
| Value | Excellent (budget) | Excellent (budget) |
How we evaluated
This is an independent, evidence-based comparison. We assess each cleanser on (1) pH and how gently it cleans, (2) ingredients and formulation, (3) texture and real-world feel, (4) who it suits and who should avoid it, and (5) value and availability. We combine published ingredient analysis (COSRX on INCIDecoder, Beauty of Joseon on INCIDecoder), brand information, and synthesized long-term user consensus.
What each one actually is
COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
A genuinely low-pH (around 5.3) gel that cleans away oil and grime without stripping the acid mantle. Its character comes from a gentle BHA (betaine salicylate) and tea tree oil, which help keep pores clear, plus allantoin to soothe. That makes it a smart pick for skin that’s both sensitive and breakout-prone — it’s the most-recommended “first low-pH cleanser” buy for a reason.
- Pros: low pH (~5.3); gentle daily BHA keeps pores clear; soothing allantoin; cheap; a decade-long community staple.
- Cons: contains tea tree oil, so it isn’t fragrance-free and can sensitise very reactive skin; a minority find it slightly tight; it’s a second cleanse, not a makeup remover.
Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser
A low-pH, fragrance-free gel built on green plum water (around 24%) and mung bean extract — antioxidant botanicals that leave skin feeling fresh, not tight. With no added fragrance and no essential oils, it’s a calmer choice than tea-tree-based gels for reactive skin, and it’s one of the few good low-pH gels you can buy at Sephora.
- Pros: fragrance-free, no essential oils; gentle and low-pH; antioxidant green plum + mung bean; cheap; easy to buy at Sephora.
- Cons: no BHA/AHA despite the “deep pore” framing — so no real exfoliation; light gel format (very dry skin may want a cream cleanser); it’s a comfortable clean, not a dramatic one.
How they differ
For everyday gentle cleansing, these two are more alike than not — both are low-pH gels that leave a fresh, comfortable finish. The differences come down to three things:
- Fragrance. This is the biggest one. COSRX contains tea tree oil, an essential oil that’s effective for breakouts but a potential sensitiser — so it isn’t fragrance-free. Beauty of Joseon has no fragrance or essential oils, making it the calmer choice for reactive skin.
- Exfoliation. COSRX has a gentle BHA (betaine salicylate) that helps keep pores clear with daily use. Beauty of Joseon has no acids at all — its botanicals are antioxidant, not exfoliating. So COSRX leans slightly more “clarifying”; BoJ leans purely “gentle clean.”
- Botanical character. Beauty of Joseon’s green plum and mung bean give it an antioxidant, fresh-cleanse identity; COSRX’s identity is the low-pH-plus-mild-BHA workhorse.
What they have in common: both are genuinely low-pH, both are budget-friendly, both are second/daily cleansers (neither removes heavy SPF or makeup on its own — double cleanse with an oil first), and both leave skin comfortable rather than squeaky.
Which should you buy?
- Sensitive, reactive or fragrance-sensitive skin → Beauty of Joseon Green Plum (no essential oils).
- Oily, combination or breakout-prone skin that wants a touch of daily BHA → COSRX Low pH.
- You react to tea tree or essential oils → Beauty of Joseon.
- You want the easiest Western retail (Sephora) → Beauty of Joseon.
- You want one cheap, do-it-all low-pH gel and tolerate tea tree fine → COSRX.
- Very dry skin → honestly, neither gel may be cushioning enough; consider a creamy whip instead (see below).
What people actually say
Both have strong reputations as gentle, non-stripping everyday cleansers. COSRX is one of the most-recommended “first low-pH cleanser” buys in skincare; the consensus is that it cleans gently and fixes post-wash tightness cheaply, and breakout-prone users like the mild BHA. The recurring negatives are tea tree (the reason a minority of reactive users find it irritating) and occasional mild tightness, especially on dry skin.
Beauty of Joseon is loved as a calm, fragrance-free, pleasant daily gel — the go-to alternative for people who react to the COSRX tea tree. The recurring disappointment is people who buy it expecting “deep pore” exfoliation and find it has no acids — it’s a quietly good cleanser, not a transformative one.
Our read: the choice is mostly about fragrance tolerance and whether you want a little BHA. If essential oils bother you, go BoJ; if you want gentle daily pore-clearing, go COSRX. (User reports, not guarantees — your skin may differ.)
What they won’t do / who should skip
- Neither removes heavy SPF or makeup on its own. Both are second/daily cleansers — double cleanse with an oil or balm first if you wear sunscreen or makeup.
- Beauty of Joseon won’t exfoliate — no BHA/AHA, despite the name. If pore-clearing is the goal, that’s COSRX’s job (or a dedicated BHA).
- COSRX isn’t for the most fragrance-reactive skin — the tea tree oil means very reactive users should patch-test, or just choose BoJ.
- Very dry skin may find either gel a touch light. A creamy whip cleanser is more cushioning — see the alternatives below.
- Always patch-test a new cleanser if your skin is reactive.
Alternatives & like-for-like
- Want a creamier, fragrance-free option for reactive or dry skin? A whipped foam built on panthenol and madecassoside is gentler than either gel.
- Redness your main concern? A centella-rich foam leans into calming a flushed complexion.
- Need a first cleanse for SPF and makeup? Pair either of these with an oil cleanser like the Anua Heartleaf Cleansing Oil.
- See the full line-up in our best gentle Korean cleansers for a compromised barrier, and the science in low-pH cleansing explained.
The verdict & where to buy
Both are excellent, affordable low-pH gels — you genuinely can’t go wrong. Choose Beauty of Joseon Green Plum if your skin is sensitive or fragrance-reactive, or you want a calm, fragrance-free cleanse you can grab at Sephora. Choose COSRX Low pH if your skin is oily or breakout-prone and you want a gentle daily BHA (and tea tree doesn’t bother you). Prices vary by retailer and region; the buttons below route you to the best option for your country.
Best for Oily / Breakout-Prone COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
Best for Sensitive / Fragrance-Free Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser
FAQ
What’s the main difference between COSRX Low pH and Beauty of Joseon Green Plum? Both are gentle low-pH gel cleansers, but COSRX contains tea tree oil and a mild BHA (betaine salicylate) to help keep pores clear — so it isn’t fragrance-free. Beauty of Joseon is fragrance-free with no essential oils and no acids, built on green plum and mung bean. COSRX leans slightly more “clarifying”; BoJ leans calmer and more sensitive-friendly.
Which is better for sensitive skin? For the most reactive, fragrance-sensitive skin, Beauty of Joseon Green Plum is the safer pick — it’s fragrance-free with no essential oils. COSRX is gentle too, but its tea tree oil is a potential sensitiser, so very reactive skin should patch-test it first.
Which is better for oily or acne-prone skin? COSRX has a slight edge for oily and breakout-prone skin thanks to its mild BHA and tea tree, which help keep pores clear with daily use. Beauty of Joseon is still a fine gentle cleanse for oily skin, but it has no acids, so it won’t do any pore-clearing.
Does Beauty of Joseon Green Plum exfoliate like the name suggests? No. Despite the “refreshing”/deep-pore framing, Green Plum contains no BHA or AHA — any mild “exfoliation” is just the physical effect of mung bean, not acids. If you want a cleanser with gentle daily exfoliation, COSRX’s BHA is the one with actual acid.
Can I use both, or should I just pick one? You only need one as your daily cleanser — they do nearly the same job. Some people keep COSRX for oilier days or when skin feels congested, and Beauty of Joseon for calmer, fragrance-free days, but that’s optional. Either works as your everyday low-pH cleanse.
Related: Best Gentle Korean Cleansers for a Compromised Barrier (Low-pH) · Low-pH Cleansing Explained · Double Cleansing: What It Is and How to Do It · The Fragrance-Free Korean Skincare Routine for Sensitive Skin