A budget-friendly, highly foaming facial cleanser designed to mimic classic morning-refresh cleansers, featuring soft bursting cellulose beads and a strong cooling sensation.
The performance rating of 5.7/10 is due to a formulation that provides decent basic cleansing but offers limited long-term skincare benefits. The inclusion of sodium laureth sulfate and cocamidopropyl betaine ensures effective foaming and oil removal, while glycerin acts as a humectant to prevent immediate dryness. However, the beneficial active ingredients—such as sodium ascorbyl phosphate, tocopheryl acetate, retinyl palmitate, and botanical extracts like ginseng, cucumber, and ginger—are in a rinse-off product. Because they are washed down the drain quickly and likely present in very low concentrations, their therapeutic efficacy is minimal. Additionally, ingredients like menthol and menthyl lactate provide a cooling sensation that mimics freshness but do not actually improve skin health.
The safety rating of 4.3/10 is primarily held back by the presence of highly sensitizing ingredients. The formula contains methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone, which are potent contact allergens notorious for causing contact dermatitis, even in wash-off products. Furthermore, the inclusion of synthetic fragrance poses a risk of irritation for sensitive skin. Skin-sensitizing cooling agents like menthol and menthyl lactate can trigger irritation, particularly around the delicate eye area. Lastly, the primary cleansing agent, sodium laureth sulfate, can strip the skin barrier and may contain trace impurities from the manufacturing process, making this product unsuitable for reactive or compromised skin types.
The final rating of 4.9/10 reflects a subpar facial cleanser that prioritizes temporary sensory experiences over dermatological health. While it successfully cleanses the skin of dirt and sebum, it does so using potentially harsh surfactants and highly sensitizing preservatives. The inclusion of multiple vitamins and plant extracts serves more as a marketing appeal than a functional benefit, as they are quickly washed off. With better, gentler alternatives available on the market, this formulation is difficult to recommend, especially for individuals with sensitive, dry, or acne-prone skin.
This formulation is reminiscent of classic, drugstore ‘morning burst’ cleansers, designed to deliver an invigorating, sensory experience to wake up the skin. At its core, it relies on Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) combined with Cocamidopropyl Betaine to create a rich, satisfying lather that effectively cuts through heavy sebum, dirt, and daily impurities. While SLES is generally less irritating than its counterpart Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), it remains a relatively harsh, stripping surfactant that can disrupt the skin’s natural moisture barrier, leaving the skin feeling tight or dry. To deliver its signature ‘refreshing’ kick, the cleanser incorporates Menthol and Menthyl Lactate, which trigger cold receptors in the skin to produce a cooling, tingling sensation. While some users find this highly energizing in the morning, menthol is a well-documented skin sensitizer that can provoke redness, burning, and localized irritation, especially on the delicate facial skin. Furthermore, the inclusion of Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) as preservatives is a significant drawback. MCI/MI are potent contact allergens that are increasingly phased out of modern facial skincare due to their high rate of triggering allergic contact dermatitis. The visual highlight of this product is its ‘bursting beads,’ composed of cellulose and mannitol. Unlike old-school physical scrubs that used jagged walnut shells or environmentally damaging plastic microbeads, these cellulose beads are soft, water-soluble, and dissolve easily under gentle pressure, meaning they will not cause micro-tears in the skin. However, the skin-nourishing actives suspended within or alongside them—such as Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Ginseng, and Cucumber extract—are largely marketing gimmicks. They appear in very low concentrations (well below the 1% line of preservatives) and are washed down the drain far too quickly to offer any measurable physiological benefits. Ultimately, this cleanser is a basic, highly stripping formula that prioritizes sensory satisfaction over barrier health. While it may suffice for those with incredibly oily, resilient skin who crave that squeaky-clean, tingly feeling, it is far too aggressive and sensitizing for the vast majority of skin types.
🧪 Sodium laureth sulfate / 月桂醇聚醚硫酸酯钠
Purpose: Anionic surfactant that creates rich foam to cleanse oil and dirt.
Concerns: Can be harsh or stripping for sensitive or dry skin types.
Notes: A very common surfactant; usually balanced with milder agents to minimize irritation.
🧪 Cocamidopropyl betaine / 椰油酰胺丙基甜菜碱
Purpose: Amphoteric surfactant that boosts foam quality and enhances mildness.
Concerns: Low risk of contact allergies.
Notes: Commonly paired with SLES to reduce its harshness.
🧪 Water / 水
Purpose: Primary solvent and formula base.
Concerns: None.
Notes: Used to dissolve other ingredients and form the product body.
🧪 Glycerin / 甘油
Purpose: Humectant that attracts moisture to the skin.
Concerns: None.
Notes: Helps maintain skin hydration and prevents dryness after washing.
🧪 Propylene glycol / 丙二醇
Purpose: Humectant, solvent, and penetration enhancer.
Concerns: Can cause irritation or sensitization in very sensitive skin.
Notes: Helps keep the formula stable and hydrated.
🧪 Mannitol / 甘露糖醇
Purpose: Sugar alcohol used as a humectant and active ingredient carrier.
Concerns: None.
Notes: Often used in encapsulated beads to deliver active ingredients.
🧪 Sodium ascorbyl phosphate / 抗坏血酸磷酸酯钠
Purpose: Stable Vitamin C derivative, antioxidant, and skin-brightening agent.
Concerns: None.
Notes: Helps brighten skin tone, though benefits are limited in rinse-off products.
🧪 Tocopheryl acetate / 生育酚乙酸酯
Purpose: Vitamin E derivative, antioxidant, and skin conditioning agent.
Concerns: Very low risk of skin sensitivity.
Notes: Protects skin from oxidative damage and preserves product freshness.
🧪 Retinyl palmitate / 视黄醇棕榈酸酯
Purpose: Vitamin A derivative that supports skin renewal.
Concerns: May cause irritation in sensitive skin; can increase sun sensitivity.
Notes: Typically added in small amounts for mild conditioning in cleansers.
🧪 Panax ginseng root extract / 人参根提取物
Purpose: Antioxidant and skin-revitalizing extract.
Concerns: None.
Notes: Known for its skin-conditioning and anti-aging benefits.
🧪 Cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract / 黄瓜果提取物
Purpose: Soothing, hydrating, and cooling botanical extract.
Concerns: None.
Notes: Excellent for calming skin and reducing puffiness.
🧪 Zingiber officinale (ginger) root extract / 姜根提取物
Purpose: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory extract.
Concerns: May cause a warming sensation or mild irritation on highly sensitive skin.
Notes: Helps soothe the skin and defend against environmental stressors.
🧪 Citrus grandis (grapefruit) fruit extract / 葡萄柚果提取物
Purpose: Astringent, antioxidant, and scent enhancer.
Concerns: Citrus extracts can sometimes cause mild phototoxicity, though less concern in rinse-off formats.
Notes: Provides a refreshing, refreshing feel.
🧪 Fragrance / 香精
Purpose: Provides a pleasant scent to the product.
Concerns: Can trigger contact dermatitis or irritation in fragrance-sensitive individuals.
Notes: Masks the natural smell of raw chemical ingredients.
🧪 Menthol / 薄荷醇
Purpose: Provides an immediate cooling and refreshing sensation.
Concerns: Highly sensitizing; can irritate sensitive skin and eyes.
Notes: Gives a strong fresh sensation but should be avoided by very sensitive skin types.
🧪 Menthyl lactate / 薄荷醇乳酸酯
Purpose: Gentle, long-lasting cooling agent.
Concerns: Milder than menthol but can still sensitize reactive skin.
Notes: A derivative of menthol and lactic acid with reduced irritation potential.
🧪 Acrylates copolymer / 丙烯酸酯共聚物
Purpose: Thickener, suspending agent, and film-former.
Concerns: Environmental concerns as a microplastic.
Notes: Commonly used to suspend exfoliating beads or active capsules in gels.
🧪 Cellulose / 纤维素
Purpose: Thickener, absorbent, or gentle physical scrub biodegradable beads.
Concerns: None.
Notes: Natural plant-derived texturizer.
🧪 Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose / 羟丙基甲基纤维素
Purpose: Viscosity controller and stabilizer.
Concerns: None.
Notes: Improves product texture and stabilizes the overall formula.
🧪 Iron oxides / 氧化铁类
Purpose: Cosmetic colorants (pigments).
Concerns: None.
Notes: Mineral-based colorants used to color the cleanser or beads.
🧪 Titanium dioxide / 二氧化钛
Purpose: Opacifier or white pigment.
Concerns: Safe in liquid formulas; inhalation concerns only apply to loose powders.
Notes: Provides an opaque, white appearance.
🧪 Phenoxyethanol / 苯氧乙醇
Purpose: Broad-spectrum preservative.
Concerns: Safe up to 1% concentration; can cause mild irritation in rare cases.
Notes: A popular alternative to parabens for maintaining product hygiene.
🧪 Disodium EDTA / 乙二胺四乙酸二钠
Purpose: Chelating agent.
Concerns: None.
Notes: Binds to metal ions to prevent formula degradation and improve foaming performance.
🧪 Methylchloroisothiazolinone / 甲基氯异噻唑啉酮
Purpose: Preservative.
Concerns: Strong sensitizer and potential allergen.
Notes: Allowed only in rinse-off cosmetics at low levels due to allergy risks.
🧪 Methylisothiazolinone / 甲基异噻唑啉酮
Purpose: Preservative.
Concerns: High sensitization rate; widely restricted or banned in leave-on products.
Notes: Used in combination with Methylchloroisothiazolinone for broad preservative efficacy.
🧪 Sodium hydroxide / 氢氧化钠
Purpose: pH adjuster.
Concerns: Highly alkaline in raw form, but neutralized and safe in the finished formulation.
Notes: Used to bring the cleanser’s pH to a safe, skin-friendly level.