Etude House SoonJung pH 6.5 Whip Cleanser for skin with dark spots

Glycerin
Panthenol
Madecassoside
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for skin with dark spots; a few cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Suitable for your normal skin, this cleanser effectively addresses pigmentation concerns with ingredients like Glycerin and Panthenol providing hydration and soothing benefits. Madecassoside further supports anti-inflammatory actions, complementing your skin's needs.
- The formula is highly compatible with normal skin due to Panthenol and Madecassoside, which offer humectant and anti-inflammatory properties, respectively.
- This product is safe for your normal skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like Panthenol and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to minimize irritation risk.
How to apply
- You can use this cleanser AM and PM every single day. Start slowly 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in your morning routine or the second step in your evening routine. Follow it with toner and moisturizer.
- Massage a small amount of cleanser gently onto your face using circular motions. Rinse well with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- For the best results, apply your cleanser directly to wet skin to help wash away dirt. Make sure your face is clean before you begin.
- Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes. Always do a quick patch test before using the product for the very first time.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly recommended for those with sensitive, acne-prone, and oily skin due to its gentle, non-stripping formula that effectively calms redness and irritation. Users with dry skin or those who wear heavy makeup may find it slightly drying or not sufficient for complete makeup removal without a preliminary cleanse.
Highlights
Gentle and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't strip my skin at all”
- “face feels clean but not tight”
- “very mild but effective”
Pleasant whipped texture Often Mentioned
- “foam is super fluffy and soft”
- “feels like washing with a cloud”
- “pump creates a rich lather”
Soothing for sensitive Often Mentioned
- “calmed my redness significantly”
- “safe for fungal acne”
Minimal, safe ingredients Sometimes Noted
- “love the short ingredient list”
- “no fragrance or parabens”
- “didn't clog my pores”
Drying for dry Sometimes Noted
- “left my skin feeling tight”
- “too drying for winter use”
- “need moisturizer immediately after”
Weak cleansing power Sometimes Noted
- “struggled to remove waterproof sunscreen”
- “won't take off heavy makeup”
- “requires an oil cleanser first”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “gave me cystic acne”
- “tiny bumps appeared after use”
- “irritated my skin barrier”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smells faintly like plastic”
- “weird chemical odor”
- “scent is off-putting”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, sokoglam.com, skinsort.com, ohlolly.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Etude House SoonJung Whip Cleanser a great fit for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser is a great fit because it uses ingredients like glycerin and panthenol to hydrate and soothe your skin, while madecassoside helps calm irritation and manage pigmentation. These gentle, skin-friendly components work together to care for your skin without harshness.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Glycerin, Panthenol, and Madecassoside make this cleanser a great fit by providing deep hydration, soothing irritation, and helping to calm the skin. These ingredients work together to support skin recovery and reduce the appearance of dark spots safely.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
What does Glycerin do for skin with dark spots?
Glycerin helps keep dry skin hydrated and supports a healthy skin barrier, which makes skin feel soft and smooth. While it does not directly fade dark spots on its own, it is often added to spot-fading products to keep the skin comfortable while other ingredients work.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017
What does Panthenol do for skin with dark spots?
Panthenol helps moisturize dry skin and calms irritation, but it is not known to directly fade dark spots. To effectively target dark spots, this skin type needs brightening ingredients like niacinamide or vitamin C.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser is used both morning and evening as the first step after any makeup removal. It helps keep skin calm while washing, fitting right into a daily routine designed to address dark spots without harshness.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first on your damp skin, rinsing it off, and then following up with your retinol product once your face is completely dry. Using a gentle cleanser helps keep your skin calm while you use retinol, which is unlikely to cause extra irritation when your cleansing step avoids harsh ingredients.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Using a gentle cleanser daily helps wash away dirt while keeping your skin calm and hydrated.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts for skin with dark spots, as it is free of harsh ingredients and uses soothing components to keep irritation low. Some reviewers do mention mild breakouts, but the gentle formula is designed to cleanse without harming your skin barrier.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to be gentle when using it around the eyes because that skin is much thinner than the rest of the body. The soothing ingredients in this formula help keep irritation low while cleaning safely.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008Treatment with an asiaticoside-containing cream applied twice daily for 12 weeks significantly improved periorbital wrinkles in 65% of 27 female volunteers compared to a vehicle control cream.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2008Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Topical application of green tea extract encapsulated chitosan microparticles improved skin elasticity, melanin index, and facial wrinkles compared to a placebo in female volunteers without causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Propanediol, Lauryl Glucoside, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Madecassoside, Butylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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