The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser Review
BeautyBrief™
Brand
The Ordinary
Product
Glucoside Foaming Cleanser
Claims check
If you want a minimal foaming wash, The Ordinary's pH and product testing support gentle cleansing, not treatment for skin disease.
Shopper fit
- Normal
- Combination
- Oily
- Sensitive
- Acne-Prone
Formula flags
- None identified
Shopper preferences
- Vegan
- Cruelty-Free
Key ingredients
| Decyl Glucoside | Provides everyday cleansing in the short formula. |
|---|---|
| Coco Glucoside | Supports cleansing and light foam. |
| Tocopherol | Adds supporting conditioning value in the rinse-off formula. |
| Phytic Acid | Supports the formula here and should not be read as an exfoliating treatment. |
Price tier
$ Budget
Value check
At the Budget tier, you get a short vegan and cruelty-free formula, not a makeup-removal specialist or exfoliating therapy.
Where to buy
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Bottom line
If you prefer a simple foaming cleanser, The Ordinary offers a fragrance-free formula with two cleansing surfactants. Its pH and testing support daily fit without proving medical skin repair. At the Budget tier, choose it for uncomplicated washing.
If you want your cleansing step to stay simple, The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser gives you a focused Budget option with a short fragrance-free formula and a published pH range of 5.0–6.0. Its strength is uncomplicated daily cleansing rather than treatment.
What it claims
The Ordinary describes Glucoside Foaming Cleanser as a gentle gel-like cleanser that removes dirt and environmental impurities while maintaining your skin’s moisture barrier. The current U.S. page also says continued use improves the look of clarity, texture, radiance, and suppleness and identifies the formula as clinically proven suitable for babies.[1]
The current page lists a pH of 5.0–6.0 and displays the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance.[1]
Claims vs. formula
Decyl glucoside and coco-glucoside give you the cleansing action in a short water-based formula without exfoliating treatment actives.
If you want a barrier-conscious wash, the mild glucoside system, published pH range, and short formula all support that use.
The radiance, texture, and suppleness language matters less as a treatment reason to buy. Your skin may look or feel better when you replace an overly harsh cleanser, but this rinse-off formula is not a corrective treatment for dullness or uneven texture.
Ingredients that matter
Decyl glucoside and coco-glucoside are the only two cleansing surfactants in the eight-ingredient formula. Tocopherol and phytic acid serve supporting roles, while xanthan gum thickens the formula. Neither supporting ingredient turns this wash into a leave-on exfoliating or anti-aging treatment.
The Ordinary publishes a finished-product pH of 5.0–6.0 and notes clinical suitability for babies and the National Eczema Association Seal. These are useful product-level distinctions, but they do not prove the wash treats eczema or removes every waterproof makeup formula.
Decyl Glucoside
Well-established nonionic cleansing surfactant used mainly in rinse-off formulas. The complete surfactant system determines cleansing strength and tolerability. Ingredient can cause contact allergy in sensitized people.
Read the IngredientBrief
Coco-Glucoside
Coco-Glucoside is a well-established nonionic cleansing surfactant. The complete surfactant system determines how gentle a cleanser feels, and alkyl-glucoside contact allergy is clinically documented in sensitized people.
Read the IngredientBrief
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a family of antioxidant and conditioning ingredients used in moisturizers, oils, balms, and broader antioxidant systems. The exact form and finished formula matter more than the vitamin…
Read the IngredientBriefSafety and regulatory context
The exact U.S. product page marks the formula vegan, cruelty-free, fragrance-free and accepted by the National Eczema Association.[1] Those labels help evaluate fit but do not guarantee tolerance for every baby or adult.
This cleanser contains benzyl alcohol as a preservative, not added parfum. If you need to remove tenacious waterproof cosmetics, a separate first cleanser may be a better match.
What to expect in the short term
You get a light gel cleanser with modest foam and a clean rinse rather than the dense lather of a stronger oily-skin wash.
If you wear heavy makeup or very water-resistant sunscreen, use a dedicated first cleanse rather than expecting this simple gel to do everything.
What to expect over time
The repeat-use value is consistency: you get daily cleansing without adding unnecessary treatment overlap. If your skin looks softer, more supple, or clearer over time, that is better understood as the benefit of comfortable cleansing than as a targeted corrective effect.
At the Budget tier, you are paying for a short fragrance-free formula, a published pH range, and straightforward daily cleansing.
Who it fits
This makes the most sense if your skin is normal, combination, oily, sensitive, or acne-prone and you want a gentle fragrance-free foaming cleanser without exfoliating actives.
If your skin is very dry and strongly prefers cream or lotion cleansers, a richer format may feel better to you.
Compare before you buy
Choose Cetaphil Gentle Foaming Cleanser when you want a ready-made foam with more conditioning support.
Read the BeautyBrief
Choose Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser when you want another fragrance-free option with a long-standing sensitive-skin focus.
Read the BeautyBriefFinal Assessment
If you want a short, fragrance-free cleanser for everyday dirt and oil, The Ordinary Glucoside offers a gentle-foam format with a published pH. Its barrier-conscious claims do not make it a medical treatment, and heavy makeup removal is not the main selling point. At the Budget tier, its value is simplicity and everyday use.
Where to buy
Choose a retailer to view current pricing and availability.
We may earn a commission through these links at no additional cost to you.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Sources
The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser. Official current U.S. product ingredients, usage and supported label claims; accessed October 14, 2026.
