Gel or foam cleanser: which Korean second cleanser should you buy?

Published Oct 28, 2026 · Gatgooun

Written with AI assistance and reviewed by the Gatgooun editor.

This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This guide answers one question: for the water-based step of your routine, should you buy a gel cleanser or a foam cleanser? Below are two Korean face washes on Amazon US, one of each, with what the brands themselves list and a table you can scan in a few seconds.

We opened both brand pages and both Amazon listings on October 27, 2026. We don't list prices and we don't promise results.

Gel or foam: what's actually different

Both are water-based cleansers. In a Korean double cleanse they come second, after an oil or balm has loosened makeup, and on days without makeup they can be the only cleanser you use. Both of the picks below are meant for morning and night.

The difference you notice first is texture. A gel cleanser comes out clear and slippery and makes a light lather once you add water. A foam cleanser comes out as a cream and whips up into a denser, thicker foam. Some people like the gel because it feels quick and simple; others like a foam because the cushion of lather makes it easy to massage without rubbing.

The second difference is what each formula is built around, and here the labels help more than the words gel and foam do. One of these lists a BHA and tea tree oil; the other leans on hyaluronic acid, ceramide NP and deep sea water. If you already know which names you like or avoid, start there.

One thing both have in common is a low pH. COSRX gives its gel a pH of 5.31, plus or minus 1.00, and Round Lab gives its foam a range of 5.0 to 6.0. So low pH alone won't decide between them.

Two Korean face washes on Amazon US

COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser is the gel. The Amazon listing is the 150 ml tube, listed as sold by COSRX. COSRX names betaine salicylate, a BHA, and tea tree oil as its key ingredients, and the full list on its site starts with water and two cleansing agents. COSRX's directions: use it morning and night after removing makeup, start with wet hands and face, lather a small amount in your hands, massage it over your face while avoiding the eyes and mouth, then rinse with warm water.

Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleanser is the foam. The Amazon listing is the 150 ml tube, listed as sold by ROUNDLAB OFFICIAL. Round Lab describes the texture as foamy and creamy and the scent as unscented. It names three forms of hyaluronic acid, panthenol, allantoin and ceramide NP, plus deep sea water from around Ulleungdo, an island in the East Sea. On the label that last one appears as Sea Water, well after the cleansing agents. Round Lab's directions: add water to make a creamy foam, massage it over your face, then rinse with lukewarm water.

Which one to buy

The COSRX gel fits if you like a clear, slippery wash with a light lather, or if you specifically want a BHA and tea tree oil in your cleanser. The Round Lab foam fits if you prefer a thick, creamy lather, want a formula the brand calls unscented, or like the idea of hyaluronic acid and ceramide NP on the list of the product you rinse off.

If you double cleanse, either one works as step two after an oil or balm; our cleansing oil and balm guide covers step one. If you're still building a routine, our beginner's routine shows where cleansing fits with toner, serum and cream.

Whichever you pick, use a small amount, keep it out of your eyes, rinse well and stop using it if it stings. Read the full ingredient list on the brand's page before you buy if your skin reacts easily. In the morning, finish your routine with sunscreen; Gatgooun doesn't cover sunscreen picks.

Sources

• COSRX: Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
• Round Lab: 1025 Dokdo Cleanser
• Round Lab: Our story