K-SECRET SEOUl 1988 Cleansing Foam for skin with dark spots
Myristic Acid
Glycerin
Average
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for skin with dark spots; other cleansers fit it 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
- Offers moderate cleansing for your normal skin due to myristic acid and salicylic acid, which help decongest pores and gently exfoliate, but it does not specifically target pigmentation concerns.
- Centella Asiatica Extract and Bifida Lysate Ferment provide general soothing benefits, though they are not specialized for addressing your primary goal of pigmentation.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and poses no irritation risks.
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
★4.9Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, this creamy cleansing foam is highly rated for its gentle yet effective cleansing, removing impurities and makeup without stripping the skin. Users frequently appreciate its hydrating finish and the soothing properties of its Pine Cica and Probiotics formula, which benefits sensitive and acne-prone skin. A small number of users with very dry skin noted potential tightness, suggesting evening use.
Highlights
Effective cleansing Often Mentioned
- “cleanses beautifully”
- “removes makeup”
- “rich dense foam”
Gentle & non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “doesn't strip skin”
- “moist finish”
- “hydrating feel”
Pleasant texture Sometimes Noted
- “creamy paste”
- “lathers well”
- “soft foam”
Soothing ingredients Sometimes Noted
- “calms irritation”
- “Pine Cica complex”
- “good for acne”
Fragrance-free Rarely Noted
- “scentless”
- “no chemical smell”
- “no fragrance”
Not extraordinary Rarely Noted
- “nothing special”
- “average cleanser”
- “not holy grail”
Potential dryness Rarely Noted
- “avoid morning use”
- “slightly drying”
- “tightness for dry skin”
Residue Rarely Noted
- “leaves slight film”
- “residue left behind”
- “hard to rinse”
Sensitivity issues Rarely Noted
- “acidic irritation”
- “tingling sensation”
- “redness”
Uncertain deep clean Rarely Noted
- “unsure on deep dirt”
- “maybe too gentle”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, stylekorean.com, yesstyle.com, kiyoko.com, hwahae.co.kr, and more
Questions and answers
How well does K-SECRET SEOUl 1988 Cleansing Foam work for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser works for skin with dark spots, though other products fit it better because it does not specifically target pigmentation concerns. It helps decongest pores and gently exfoliate, and a cleanser for this skin needs to address pigmentation concerns with high-quality ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Salicylic acid and myristic acid help decongest pores and gently exfoliate, while centella asiatica extract and bifida lysate ferment provide soothing benefits, though this cleanser does not specifically target dark spots. A cleanser for skin with dark spots needs ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to effectively address pigmentation while cleansing safely.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
What does Water do for skin with dark spots?
Water is unlikely to directly reduce dark spots on its own, but staying properly hydrated helps maintain overall skin health and supports the skin barrier. To effectively target dark spots, your skincare routine also needs specialized antioxidant substances and brightening ingredients like niacinamide.
What does Myristic Acid do for skin with dark spots?
Myristic acid helps calm angry or irritated areas and may support skin recovery from inflammation. However, for stubborn dark spots, skin of this type needs brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide to help fade discoloration and even out your skin tone.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser goes as the first step in the morning and as the second step in the evening after removing makeup. It gently cleans and freshens normal skin without irritation, though skin with dark spots also needs targeted brightening ingredients to fade discoloration.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying it before your retinol step to wash your face. It helps gently exfoliate and decongest pores while keeping your skin calm, but a dark spot routine for this skin also needs specialized brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide to effectively fade dark spots.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily as part of your morning and evening routine. It gently removes dirt and oil, though skin with dark spots also needs targeted brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide to help fade dark spots.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for skin with dark spots because it contains salicylic acid to help gently clear out pores, and it has a very low likelihood of causing dryness or sensitivity. Skin with dark spots working to clear breakouts and even out tone needs a targeted cleanser with brightening ingredients and melanin-inhibiting agents.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the very thin skin directly around your eyes to prevent irritation. The cleanser is safe for normal skin and poses no irritation risks, though the eyelid is among the thinnest regions on the body.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Cosmetic 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, 2016Topical application of Bifida Ferment Lysate strengthens the skin barrier function by upregulating barrier and antimicrobial peptide genes, exhibiting strong antioxidant properties, and decreasing inflammatory cytokine secretion in vitro.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023A 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, 2001
Why other cleansers fit skin with dark spots better
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Transgenic cucumber expressing poly-γ-glutamic acid synthesis genes increased water content by 6-14%, reduced water loss by 11-12%, decreased facial wrinkles and roughness by 19.58% and 24.97%, decreased skin melanin by 5.27%, and improved facial elasticity in human skin and zebrafish compared to controls.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Coco-Betaine, Lauric Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Chloride, Salicylic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Phosphate Starch, Ethylhexylglycerin, Bifida Lysate Ferment, Synthetic Beeswax, Disodium Edta, Pinus Densiflora Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Thuja Orientalis 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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