COSRX
Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser
A salicylic acid cleanser mild enough for daily washing, used as the first step morning and evening. 150 ml, and it rinses clean.
No reviews yet- Ships from our California warehouse
- Duties prepaid
- Suited to
- TexturedCongestedDryDehydrated
- Helps with
- Rough surface textureDehydrationExcess oilBreakouts and congestion
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- 30-day returns
- Free US shipping on orders of $100 or more
- Dispatched within 2 business days
How it works
A wash-off step has seconds on the skin, so a cleanser with an acid in it is a light daily pass rather than the exfoliating step in a routine. That is the job here: first step, morning and evening, worked into a lather in wet hands before it touches the face. It suits skin that looks congested across the nose and chin and does not get on with a harsh weekly scrub. Rinse with lukewarm water and go straight on to toner while the face is still damp. Keep any leave-on acid as its own separate step, because a rinse-off and a leave-on are doing different amounts of work.
Key benefits
- Salicylic acid is on the list for a gentle, daily-use BHA cleanse.
- Tea tree leaf oil sits alongside willow bark water further down the list.
- A potassium-soap base of myristic and stearic acids builds a creamy lather.
- Formulated for daily use rather than a targeted spot treatment.
Key actives
Salicylic Acid
the BHA that clears the look of clogged pores
Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil
a botanical long used for clean-feeling skin
Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Water
a plant-derived source of salicylates
COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser
Is this cleanser strong enough for acne, or is it just a gentle daily wash?
Salicylic acid appears on the list, positioned among the surfactants rather than near the top, so it contributes a mild exfoliating pass during the brief contact time of a wash. It is meant to complement a leave-on BHA or acne treatment used elsewhere in the routine, not to replace one.
What surfactants make this a gentle cleanser despite carrying salicylic acid?
Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate and cocamidopropyl betaine lead the surfactant portion of the list, both considered mild compared to a sulfate. That base is what keeps the formula wearable daily even with an acid present.
Is willow bark water the same as salicylic acid?
No. Salix alba, willow bark water, appears separately on the list and is the botanical source salicylic acid was originally isolated from, carrying its own natural salicylates. The isolated salicylic acid earlier on the list is the primary exfoliating ingredient; the willow bark water is a secondary, gentler contributor.
Does this cleanser contain tea tree oil?
Yes, melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil appears on the list. Tea tree is a common pairing with salicylic acid in Korean congestion-focused formulas, included here alongside the acid rather than as a substitute for it.
Is this suitable for daily use or occasional use only?
The mild surfactant base and the low position of salicylic acid on the list both support daily use for most skin types. Anyone new to salicylic acid products, or layering this with a leave-on BHA elsewhere, should watch for dryness and adjust frequency if the skin feels tight.
- Ships from
- California
Duties are prepaid. Nothing is owed at delivery. Returns are accepted for 30 days, by mail.
Orders ship from our California warehouse, dispatched within 2 business days, and arrive in 3 to 5 days. Shipping is free on orders of $100 or more.
We split shipments free, so one out-of-stock item never holds up the rest of your order.
Where this unit came from
- 1Seoul
Bought as Korean-market stock - 2Customs
Duty paid by us before it enters the US - 3California
Ships domestically, no international leg
We stock the version of a formula that is sold in Korea, not the release a brand prepares for another market under the same name.
Every unit keeps its original barcode and batch code intact, so the unit in your hands can be checked against the brand’s own records.
Import duties are paid by us before the parcel reaches you, so nothing is owed at the door, and returns run for 30 days.
Every claim on this page traces to the unit in the box, the barcode, the batch code and the price you can read for yourself.
Payment and security
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How to use
- Use the Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser as your first step, morning and evening, on a face already wet with lukewarm water.
- A coin-sized amount, worked into a lather between wet palms for twenty seconds, then massaged over the face in small circles.
- Rinse with lukewarm water and go straight to your toner while skin is still damp, then serum and moisturizer as usual.
- Twice a day is the ceiling. Do not use it on the same evening as a leave-on acid or a retinoid, and do not stretch the massage past a minute.
Worth knowing
- This formula carries an active acid, so pairing it with another exfoliant in the same routine is worth spacing out.
Reviews
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COSRX, Korean-market original
Salicylic acid daily cleanser, 150 ml.
Verify your unit when it arrives
Verify your unit when it arrives
Korean-market stock with the original barcode and batch code intact, exactly as it left Korea.
COSRX verifies units itself. Find the verification page on cosrx.com and enter the batch number and expiration date printed on your unit. Read them off the package rather than from us, which is the point.
Source: COSRX FAQ
On the unit itself
- The Korean-market barcode, unaltered from the retail package.
- The manufacturer’s batch code, exactly as the maker printed it.
정품Genuine article, Korean-market stock
What professionals say
What professionals say
What skin-care professionals say about the key actives in this formula, quoted from the medical sources linked beside each.
BHAs like salicylic acid get really deep into the pores, whereas the water-soluble ones don't go as deep.
Samantha Stein, PA-CDermatology physician assistant, Cleveland Clinic I think it's fair to say I've seen lots of patients use tea tree oil for a variety of skin issues. It's a natural remedy that is known to help.
Simon Hodes, MB ChBFamily physician, Cleveland Clinic
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