Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser Review

BeautyBrief™

Brand

Beauty of Joseon

Product

Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser

Claims check

You get a gentle daily cleansing system with glycerin and plum water, while the brand's limited 51-person test does not guarantee sensitive-skin tolerance or acne treatment.

Shopper fit

  • Dry
  • Normal
  • Combination
  • Oily
  • Sensitive
  • Acne-Prone

Formula flags

  • None identified

Shopper preferences

  • Cruelty-Free
  • Hypoallergenic

Key ingredients

Cocamidopropyl HydroxysultaineHelps lift daily oil and residue while giving you a light foaming cleanse.
Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateWorks with other surfactants to help you rinse away everyday buildup.
GlycerinAdds water-binding support to help your skin feel comfortable after rinsing.
Prunus Mume Fruit WaterSupplies the plum-water base but does not make your cleanser a leave-on hydrating treatment.
Phaseolus Radiatus Seed ExtractAdds botanical conditioning to your rinse-off wash, not a proven acne-treatment effect.

Price tier

$ Budget

Value check

At the Budget tier, you get a fragrance-free daily gel cleanser with brand-reported sensitivity testing, not a dedicated makeup remover or acne medicine.

Where to buy

We may earn a commission through these links at no additional cost to you. This does not affect our BeautyBrief.

Bottom line

If you prefer a lightweight daily gel cleanser, you get a straightforward formula with glycerin, plum water and gentle foaming agents. The brand reports no sensitization in a small four-week test, but your skin may respond differently and makeup removal needs a separate step. At the Budget tier, choose it for routine cleansing rather than treatment.

What is Shopper Fit?

Shopper Fit shows who The Beauty Briefing finds the product is reasonably suited for after reviewing the complete formula or product design, product format, expected performance, directions, tolerability, usability, and available evidence.

Depending on the product category, Shopper Fit may reflect factors such as skin type, hair or scalp characteristics, product needs, routine compatibility, sensitivity, experience level, or practical use considerations.

Shopper Fit is BB's editorial product-fit assessment, not a copy of the brand's marketing. It is not a diagnosis, a guarantee of results or tolerance, or a claim that the product is suitable for everyone.

What are Shopper Preferences?

Shopper Preferences are product attributes The Beauty Briefing has enough evidence to treat as established for the exact product. A brand statement, badge, or retailer claim alone is not enough.

Vegan
BB found sufficient documentation to verify the vegan claim within the documented product scope.
Cruelty-Free
BB found sufficient documentation to verify the cruelty-free claim within the scope of the evidence reviewed.
Non-Comedogenic
BB found sufficient product-specific evidence or documentation to support the non-comedogenic claim. A brand claim by itself does not qualify.
Dermatologist-Tested
BB verified documentation showing the exact product was tested with dermatologist involvement. This does not mean dermatologist-recommended.
Ophthalmologist-Tested
BB verified documentation showing the exact product was tested with ophthalmologist involvement.
Hypoallergenic
BB found sufficient product-specific evidence or documentation to support the hypoallergenic claim. It does not guarantee that no shopper will react.
None Found
BB did not find sufficient evidence to verify any of the controlled Shopper Preferences for the exact product.

Brand marketing tells BB what to investigate. BeautyBrief tells the shopper what BB has established.

What are Formula Flags?

Formula Flags identify characteristics of a product's formula that materially affect shopper fit, tolerability, routine compatibility, or use. A flag does not mean an ingredient is bad or that the product is unsafe. It highlights something worth knowing before you buy.

Fragrance
Added fragrance or parfum that materially affects shopper fit or tolerability.
Essential oils
Essential oils that are relevant to fragrance exposure, sensitivity, or use.
Drying alcohols
Volatile alcohols at a level that materially affects feel, dryness, or tolerability.
Retinoids
Retinoid actives that affect routine compatibility, tolerability, or use.
Exfoliating acids
Exfoliating acids such as AHAs, BHAs, or PHAs at a functionally relevant level.
Comedogenic concerns
Formula characteristics that warrant additional consideration for breakout-prone shoppers.
Sulfates
Sulfate cleansing agents that materially affect cleansing strength, skin or hair feel, or shopper fit.
Silicones
Silicones that materially affect texture, finish, or shopper fit.
Added color
Added colorants that materially affect the finished formula or shopper use.
Other
Another formula characteristic materially affects shopper fit or use.
None identified
No defined Formula Flags materially affect shopper fit or use.

Formula Flags are informational. They are not a list of ingredients everyone should avoid.

If you want a lightweight daily cleanser without added perfume or an acne-treatment active, Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser offers a straightforward Budget option. Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine and sodium cocoyl isethionate provide the cleansing system, with glycerin and plum water contributing to the moisture-focused formula.

The key limitation is what this wash is designed to do. It removes everyday residue, but Beauty of Joseon explicitly says this water-based cleanser is not a standalone makeup remover. The brand also reports a small sensitive-skin test; that does not guarantee how your own skin will respond.

Beauty Briefing Verdict 2026 09 20T201649.130

What it claims

Beauty of Joseon describes this as a slightly acidic, pH-balanced gel cleanser for daily use, highlighting plum fruit water and mung bean extract for a refreshed, comfortable after-feel. The official product page positions it for all skin types and says it supports moisture while washing.[1]

The brand reports no sensitization reactions in a four-week test involving 51 participants. You can treat that as limited brand-reported finished-product tolerance evidence, not proof that a particular skin condition will improve or that every sensitive-skin user will tolerate the cleanser. The brand also labels the product Cruelty-Free, which supports the brand-declared preference rather than independent certification.[1]

A Beauty of Joseon article featured on this product page describes the cleanser as hypoallergenic. That is the brand’s description, not a guarantee that you cannot have an individual reaction.[1]

Claims vs. formula

You get everyday cleansing from cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine and sodium cocoyl isethionate. Their role is to lift surface oil, sweat and daily residue so you can rinse them away; neither is a disclosed acne medication or dedicated exfoliating treatment.

Plum fruit water appears second in the ingredient list, and glycerin adds water-binding support. Mung bean extract is farther down the formula and contributes botanical conditioning. These ingredients support the cleanser’s moisture-focused design, but you should not expect a rinse-off product to replace a leave-on moisturizer.

No perfume, aromatic essential oil, acne-drug active or deliberate exfoliating-acid system is listed in the current official INCI. Citric acid appears as a formulation ingredient; its presence alone does not establish that you will get a clinically meaningful peel or exfoliating treatment.

Beauty of Joseon’s four-week test reported no sensitization reactions among 51 participants, but the published summary does not disclose a comparison group or detailed protocol. You have a useful brand-reported tolerance claim, not a guarantee against irritation for every shopper.[1]

Ingredients that matter

If you prefer a light gel-to-foam wash, the combination matters more than either botanical name. Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine and sodium cocoyl isethionate are the cleansing partners, while glycerin helps support a comfortable feel as you rinse. Plum water is prominent in the base; mung bean extract appears later and is not evidence of an independent treatment effect.

You are choosing an uncomplicated rinse-off cleanser, not an acne treatment, exfoliating peel or stand-alone makeup remover. That makes its lack of listed perfume and dedicated treatment actives relevant to your routine, but it does not eliminate individual ingredient sensitivities.

Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine

Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine

Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine is a well-established cleansing and foam-supporting surfactant used mainly in rinse-off formulas. The complete surfactant system determines cleansing strength and tolerability.

Read the IngredientBrief
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate is a well-established cleansing surfactant often used in syndet bars and gentle washes. Comparative testing supports a relatively mild profile, but the complete surfactant system determines real-world…

Read the IngredientBrief
Close-up of glycerin dropper and test tube with glycerin.

Glycerin

If your skin feels dry or tight, glycerin helps your skin hold moisture. You don't need a high percentage or a separate serum when your moisturizer already works well.

Read the IngredientBrief

Safety and regulatory context

The brand’s hypoallergenic description and its reported no-sensitization result in 51 participants do not mean that reactions are impossible. If you have a history of reacting to cleansers or botanical ingredients, your own tolerance remains the deciding factor.[1]

Beauty of Joseon states that this water-based wash is not designed to remove makeup on its own. If you wear makeup or stubborn sunscreen, use an appropriate first cleanser, then follow with Green Plum if that double-cleansing routine fits your skin.[1]

What to expect in the short term

Beauty of Joseon directs you to wet your hands, gently massage the gel onto your face and rinse with lukewarm water. You can expect a light daily cleansing step designed to remove ordinary residue while keeping moisture comfort in mind.[1]

If you use long-wear makeup or resistant sunscreen, follow the brand’s advice to cleanse with an oil or balm first instead of assuming the gel does both jobs.

What to expect over time

With regular use, you are choosing consistent cleansing rather than an acne medication, peel or lasting hydration treatment. Glycerin and the botanical ingredients support the formula design, but the brand’s small four-week tolerance test does not establish long-term treatment benefits.

Who it fits

This cleanser makes sense if your skin is dry, normal, combination, oily, sensitive-leaning or acne-prone and you prefer a daily gel without listed perfume or dedicated acne actives. The brand’s limited sensitization test adds context, not a guarantee that it will suit your skin.

If you want one product to remove heavy makeup or provide an acne-treatment active, another cleansing approach is a clearer fit.

Compare before you buy

At the Budget tier, you are paying for a gentle-feeling daily cleansing format rather than specialized treatment. The brand’s report of no sensitization reactions in 51 participants is more relevant to your choice than assuming that plum water or mung bean extract transforms a rinse-off cleanser into skincare treatment.

For makeup removal, Beauty of Joseon recommends its Ginseng Cleansing Oil or Radiance Cleansing Balm as a first step before this gel. If you want a medicated acne cleanser, compare products with labeled treatment actives rather than expecting Green Plum to fill that role.[1]

Final Assessment

If you want a straightforward daily gel cleanser without listed perfume or acne medication, Beauty of Joseon offers a foaming base with glycerin and plum water. The brand’s limited sensitive-skin test supports its positioning without guaranteeing your tolerance, and the wash is not intended as a stand-alone makeup remover. At the Budget tier, the value is an uncomplicated cleansing step rather than treatment-level results.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Sources

  1. Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser. Official U.S. product page: ingredient list, use directions, Cruelty-Free designation and brand-reported tolerance test.

    Return to citation.

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