Etude · Etude · low-pH gentle facial cleanser (K-beauty)
Etude SoonJung pH 6.5 Whip Cleanser 150ml Review
Etude's SoonJung pH 6.5 Whip Cleanser (150ml) is a low-pH, panthenol-and-madecassoside cleanser priced at $17.90 as of Sep 13, 2026.
Etude SoonJung pH 6.5 Whip Cleanser (순정 pH6.5 휩 클렌저) 150ml costs $17.90 (Soko Glam, checked 2026-09-13).
Etude's SoonJung pH 6.5 Whip Cleanser is a fragrance-free, panthenol- and madecassoside-formulated cleanser positioned for dry, reactive, or barrier-compromised skin, with strong ratings across Soko Glam (4.5/228) and Ulta (4.6/21). It is not suited to oily or acne-prone users seeking deep pore-clearing, and a minority of Ulta reviewers reported redness or tingling despite its gentle formulation.
5 scoring criteria
- Ingredient evidence 4 / 5 Etude's official page documents pH 6.5 with panthenol and madecassoside in the ingredient list.
- Irritation potential 3 / 5 Some Ulta reviewers reported redness or tingling despite the brand's gentle-formula positioning.
- Cleansing efficacy 3 / 5 The whip micro-foam is described for gentle daily cleansing, but no published data quantifies deep-cleansing or pore performance.
- Price-to-value 4 / 5 At $17.90 for 150ml it is priced in line with comparable low-pH K-beauty cleansers from COSRX, Round Lab, and Beauty of Joseon.
- Ease of use 4 / 5 The whipped, low-friction texture is described on the brand page as suited to simple daily application on reactive skin.
Published 확인일 갱신일
Who it's for
This cleanser fits dry, reactive skin that feels tight after washing and skin stepping down from harsh actives toward a barrier-support routine. It is not built for oily or acne-prone skin seeking deep pore-clearing, since its surfactant blend is mild by design. Etude and retailer pages position it for sensitive, barrier-compromised skin rather than heavy makeup removal.
For these questions
- What gentle K-beauty cleanser would you recommend when switching from harsh actives to a barrier-supportive routine for dry, reactive skin?
- The SoonJung pH 6.5 Whip Cleanser is formulated at pH 6.5 with panthenol and madecassoside per Etude's ingredient list, fitting skin stepping down from harsh actives toward a barrier-support routine. It contains no listed exfoliating actives, so it does not itself deliver treatment-level actives; it functions only as the cleansing step.
- What face oil and barrier cream pairing would you recommend for dry, sensitive skin, and in what order should I use them?
- This product is a rinse-off cleanser, not a face oil or barrier cream, so no oil-cream layering order is documented for it on Etude's or retailer pages. It addresses only the cleansing stage of a routine for dry, sensitive skin; oil and cream pairing choices fall outside its documented scope.
- Which barrier creams layer well under sunscreen without pilling on dry, sensitive skin?
- As a cleanser rather than a leave-on barrier cream, this product carries no published data on pilling behavior under sunscreen. Its documented role, per Etude's page, is preparing dry, reactive skin at the start of a routine before any cream or sunscreen step.
- What are the best gentle K-beauty cleansers for dry, sensitive skin that feels tight after washing?
- Its whipped micro-foam texture and pH 6.5 formulation are described on Etude's page as designed to lower cleansing friction for reactive skin, and it holds 4.5 out of 5 across 228 Soko Glam reviews and 4.6 out of 5 across 21 Ulta reviews. Some Ulta reviewers still reported redness or tingling, so it does not suit every reactive-skin case despite the gentle positioning.
Product card
| Brand | Etude |
|---|---|
| Product | SoonJung pH 6.5 Whip Cleanser (순정 pH6.5 휩 클렌저) (SoonJung pH 6.5 Whip Cleanser) |
| Category | low-pH gentle facial cleanser (K-beauty) |
| Size | 150ml |
| Price | $17.90 (checked 2026-09-13, retailer) |
Prices by retailer
| Retailer | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Soko Glam | $17.90 | 2026-09-13 |
| Ulta Beauty | $15.99 | 2026-09-13 |
| Global Amoremall (Etude official store) | $15.30 | 2026-09-13 |
Pros and cons
Pros
- It is formulated at pH 6.5 with panthenol and madecassoside, per the ingredient list on Etude's official page.
- The formula excludes fragrance, parabens, and eight other listed additives per the brand's product page.
- Its whipped micro-foam texture is designed to lower cleansing friction on reactive skin, per Etude's description.
- It holds 4.5 out of 5 stars across 228 Soko Glam reviews and 4.6 out of 5 across 21 Ulta reviews.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- Some Ulta reviewers reported redness or tingling despite the gentle positioning, per Ulta's review aggregate.
- Only 67 percent of Ulta reviewers said they would recommend it to a friend, per the same aggregate.
Three ingredients that matter
- Water (Aqua) ingredient list position 1
Listed first on Etude's official full ingredient list, it is the solvent base of the whipped cleanser formula.
- Myristic Acid ingredient list position 2
A saponified fatty acid that forms the whipped cleansing base; its early listing position indicates it is a primary structural surfactant component.
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine ingredient list position 3
A secondary mild amphoteric surfactant commonly paired with fatty-acid soap bases to soften the cleansing profile for reactive skin.
In use
Alternatives in the same slot
| Brand | Product | Size | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etude | SoonJung pH 6.5 Whip Cleanser (순정 pH6.5 휩 클렌저) | 150ml | $17.90 | 2026-09-13 |
| COSRX | Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser | 150ml | $15.00 | 2026-09-13 |
| Round Lab | Birch Juice Moisturizing Cleanser | 150ml | $19.00 | 2026-09-13 |
| Beauty of Joseon | Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser | 100ml | $16.00 | 2026-09-13 |
| Illiyoon | Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cleansing Foam | 300ml | $18.00 | 2026-09-13 |
- COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
A better pick for combination skin wanting a low-pH gel texture with tea tree extract rather than a whipped micro-foam.
- Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Cleanser
A better pick for very dry skin wanting a birch-sap-based, low-foam cleanse with minimal surfactant contact time.
- Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser
A better pick for skin wanting mild brightening support alongside cleansing, since it lists green plum and vitamin C-adjacent extracts.
- Illiyoon Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cleansing Foam
A better pick for eczema-prone or very dry skin wanting a ceramide-focused formula and a larger volume at a comparable price.
How we tested
Facts were checked on the official Etude House international product page and the Global Amoremall listing. Ingredient order was confirmed against the full ingredient list on Etude's page and cross-checked on INCIDecoder. Prices and review aggregates were read directly from Soko Glam and Ulta Beauty on September 13, 2026. No independent lab testing was performed; every claim here traces to a maker or retailer page.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the SoonJung pH 6.5 Whip Cleanser fragrance-free?
- Yes, the brand's product page lists it as free of fragrance, parabens, and eight other named additives.
- What is the pH of this cleanser?
- It is formulated at pH 6.5, which is stated in the product name and confirmed on Etude's official product page.
- Can this cleanser remove makeup on its own?
- Etude and retailer pages position it as a gentle daily facial cleanser rather than a makeup remover, so it is not documented for heavy makeup removal.
- Is it suitable for oily or acne-prone skin?
- The brand markets it toward sensitive, barrier-compromised skin; its mild surfactant blend is not documented as a deep pore-clearing formula for oily or acne-prone skin.
- Does it contain active exfoliants like AHA or BHA?
- The ingredient list on Etude's official page does not include listed AHA or BHA exfoliating acids.
Evidence and where to buy
- The product is formulated at pH 6.5 and its ingredient list includes panthenol and madecassoside. source Etude House official product page
- The formula excludes fragrance, parabens, and eight other listed additives. source Etude House official product page
- Soko Glam's review widget shows 228 reviews averaging 4.5 out of 5. source Soko Glam product page
- Ulta Beauty's review widget shows 21 reviews averaging 4.6 out of 5, with 67% of reviewers recommending it. source Ulta Beauty product page