Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm Review
BeautyBrief™
Brand
Beauty of Joseon
Product
Radiance Cleansing Balm
Claims check
You get an emollient-and-emulsifier balm designed to remove makeup and sunscreen with a brand-reported 51-person irritation test, but no proven long-term brightening from its rice extracts.
Shopper fit
- Dry
- Normal
- Combination
- Sensitive
Formula flags
- None identified
Shopper preferences
- Cruelty-Free
Key ingredients
| Cetyl Ethylhexanoate | Forms part of the emollient base that helps dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and oily residue. |
|---|---|
| PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate | Helps the oil-rich balm emulsify with water so dissolved residue can rinse away cleanly. |
| Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil | An emollient in this rinse-off balm, not a clinically established brightening treatment. |
| Glycerin | Contributes water-binding context to a product whose primary role is cleansing. |
Price tier
$ Budget
Value check
At the Budget tier, you pay for a fragrance-free balm-to-milk first cleanser and product-specific tolerance testing rather than treatment benefits.
Where to buy
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Bottom line
If you often wear sunscreen or long-wear makeup, Radiance Cleansing Balm offers useful Budget cleansing value. If one gentle cleanser removes your routine, a separate balm may be unnecessary.
If you regularly wear sunscreen or long-wear makeup, Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm offers a fragrance-free first cleanse built on cetyl ethylhexanoate, caprylic/capric triglyceride and rinse-away emulsifiers. It melts from a solid balm into an oil and then a milky rinse to lift oily residue.
The strongest buying reason is practical makeup and sunscreen removal. Its rice-and-grain marketing is secondary, and the 51-person product patch test addresses tolerance rather than lasting skin benefits.
What it claims
Beauty of Joseon says Radiance Cleansing Balm dissolves waterproof makeup, sunscreen and excess surface oil while leaving skin soft rather than stripped. The official U.S. page describes it as fragrance-free and cruelty-free and reports non-irritating results from a 24-hour Human Repeated Insult Patch Test conducted on 51 people.[1]
That test provides an irritation-related endpoint, not evidence that the balm treats acne, repairs the moisture barrier or visibly brightens skin. The current 100 mL listing is sold out, which does not establish discontinuation.
Claims vs. formula
Cetyl ethylhexanoate and caprylic/capric triglyceride create the oily emollient base that loosens sunscreen and makeup. PEG-20 glyceryl triisostearate and PEG-10 isostearate help this base emulsify with water for a milky rinse.
Research on mild cleansers emphasizes that the complete emollient-and-cleansing system influences skin comfort; an oil or rice extract alone cannot prove the performance of a finished balm.[2]
Rice bran oil, rice seed water and grain extracts add conditioning context. The brief rinse-off contact time does not establish that these materials produce a long-term brightening or anti-aging effect.
Ingredients that matter
The emollient base does the heavy lifting in loosening oily residue; the emulsifiers let that residue disperse when you add water. Glycerin and rice bran oil support a softer after-feel but are secondary to makeup removal in a product you rinse off.
Unlike a leave-on exfoliating or brightening treatment, this cleansing balm does not include a dedicated acne medication or a clinical study showing pigmentation correction.
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
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is a common emollient and occlusive that adds softness, slip, and moisture support to skincare formulas. Its value depends on the complete product, not the ingredient name alone.
Read the IngredientBriefSafety and regulatory context
Beauty of Joseon’s official cruelty-free claim is consistent with Cruelty-Free Kitty’s independent testing-policy assessment. The product is not labeled with exact-product vegan verification in the sources reviewed, so vegan remains unselected.[3]
The reported patch test is helpful for shopper context but cannot guarantee zero eye-area irritation or sensitivity. Wash gently and avoid excessive rubbing.
What to expect in the short term
You massage the solid balm over dry skin, where it becomes an oil that loosens makeup and sunscreen. Water transforms it into a milky rinse. A second water-based cleanse is optional depending on your routine and how completely it removes residue.
What to expect over time
The continued benefit is consistent first-step cleansing rather than cumulative wrinkle or pigmentation improvement. If one gentle cleanser already removes your sunscreen and makeup, adding another product is not inherently necessary.
Who it fits
This is relevant if your skin is normal, dry, combination or sensitive and you want a fragrance-free balm to remove daily sunscreen or long-wear makeup. Oily skin may also use an emulsifying first cleanse; balm texture alone does not predict clogged pores.
Compare before you buy
Choose the Budget balm if you regularly remove water-resistant products and prefer a solid format. A liquid cleansing oil performs a similar job with a different feel, while a single gel cleanser is simpler for low-residue routines.
Final Assessment
Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm provides practical Budget value for removing sunscreen and makeup with an effective-looking emollient-and-emulsifier system plus a 51-person irritation test. Its rice extracts are a supporting feature rather than documented brightening treatment, so purchase it for a useful first-cleanse job instead of adding it automatically.
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
- Beauty of Joseon, Radiance Cleansing Balm: official INCI, product claim and 51-person test. Read source. Accessed October 15, 2026.
- Ananthapadmanabhan et al., Cleansing without compromise, Dermatologic Therapy (2004). Read source. Accessed October 15, 2026.
- Cruelty-Free Kitty, Beauty of Joseon company cruelty-free assessment. Read source. Accessed October 15, 2026.
