Scorecard!

Gentleness : 9/10

Clean-rinse feel : 9/10

Foam level : 6/10 (soft, not fluffy)

Scent : tea tree, 5/10 (shows up then fades fast)

Makeup removal : 3/10 (pair with oil)

Best for : sensitive / combo skin, AM use, second cleanse

Result : calm barrier, no tightness, no surprise breakouts

Why it’s my pick

I’ve got normal skin that goes from “totally fine” to “we need a talk” the minute a cleanser is too harsh. This one lives in the sweet spot: low-pH, soft gel, and a rinse that feels clean without squeak. I don’t get that post-wash tight band across my cheeks, and my skin doesn’t go into oil-rebound at noon. It’s the kind of cleanser I can reach for at 6 a.m. before class or 11 p.m. after a long day and never have to micromanage the rest of my routine.

Texture & foam

The gel is watery-light—more silk ribbon than jelly—and it makes small, satiny bubbles (not a marshmallow cloud). Foam maximalists might want more drama, but my face appreciates the cushion it gives. It’s enough slip to glide along the nose creases and chin without scrubbing.

Rinse & finish

Where it wins: rinse-off is quick and clean. No filmy after-feel around the hairline, no extra five minutes splashing my sink like I’m in a movie. I towel off and my face feels calm and balanced—not matte, not shiny—just the right canvas for toner/essence or straight to sunscreen if I’m in a rush.

Scent notes

There’s a tea-tree hit right as you lather (hello, 5/10 intensity), then it fades fast. I’m not a fragrance hater, but I don’t want a scent to hang around. This doesn’t. It’s a quick herbal wake-up, then it minds its business.

Makeup days

It’s not a mascara-melter, and it doesn’t pretend to be. On makeup/SPF days I use an oil or balm first, then come in with COSRX as my second cleanse. Together they remove everything without the tight aftermath. On bare-face mornings, COSRX solo is perfect.

What changed for me

Barrier stays happy. No tightness or “why am I shiny and dry at the same time?” moments.

Makeup applies better. Because the surface isn’t stripped, base doesn’t cling to little dry bits around the nostrils.

Predictable skin days. No random jawline bumps that sometimes pop up when a cleanser messes with my pH.

Less overthinking. I don’t need to “fix” the cleanse with heavy creams—my normal skin stays… normal.

How I use it (quick & real)

AM: pea-size, 30–40 sec gentle massage, lukewarm water. Pat dry, SPF.

PM (makeup days): oil/balm → COSRX gel for second cleanse.

Gym bag: the small tube; it cuts through sweat/sunscreen without torching my barrier.

Two tiny rules that keep it great: foam in your palms first (so your face meets bubbles, not raw gel), and keep water lukewarm (hot water = drama, even with a gentle cleanser).

Pros & “depends”

Pros

Low-pH, barrier-respecting

Clean rinse (no residue)

Soft micro-foam that reduces friction

Plays nice with actives (vit C AM, retinoid PM)

No breakout surprises on reactive weeks

Depends

Tea-tree note at the start (fades, but it’s there)

Foam is soft (if you want big clouds, this isn’t that)

Not a one-step makeup remover (pair with oil)

Who I’d recommend it to

Normal or combo skin that wants clean without the squeak. Sensitive-leaning friends who get red after washing. AM cleanse believers and second-cleanse fans. If you’re very dry and love milky cleansers, you can use this—just follow with a cushy moisturizer. If you’re very oily and crave a high-foam, high-stripping feel… honestly, that feeling backfires. I’d still nudge you to try this and let your toner/serum do the heavy lifting.

Why it’s “contest material”

My benchmark for a great cleanser is boring on purpose: be gentle, be effective, get out of the way. COSRX does exactly that. It doesn’t demand perfect conditions, it doesn’t derail my routine, and it lets everything after it work better. Three months in, my skin looks the same at 3 p.m. as it did at 8 a.m.—which, for a cleanser, is the most flattering thing I can say.

Final vote

COSRX Good Morning Gel Cleanser—Gentleness 9/10, Clean-rinse 9/10, Foam 6/10, Scent 5/10, Makeup removal 3/10 (use oil first). Result: calm barrier, no tightness, no surprise breakouts on my normal skin.