Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser for skin with dark spots
Prunus Mume Fruit Water
Mung Bean Seed Extract
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Glycerin
Average
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- 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 benefits for pigmentation due to the presence of Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and Houttuynia Cordata Extract, which provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support for your normal skin.
- The cleansing action from Prunus Mume Fruit Water and Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract is excellent for pore cleansing, and glycerin provides humectant action, further supporting your normal skin.
- The product is safe for your normal skin with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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 2.5k+ reviewsThis low-pH gel cleanser is praised for its gentle impurity and light makeup removal, suitable for sensitive, oily, and combination skin. Most users report a hydrated, fresh finish. Based on a very large amount of data, this should be definitely taken into account. A minority with dry or dehydrated skin experience tightness, especially in colder months.
Highlights
Gentle and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “cleansed my face gently without making my skin feel irritated”
- “doesn't strip the skin of its moisture”
- “so gentle on my sensitive skin”
Pleasant gel texture Often Mentioned
- “light gel with a slight lather”
- “bouncy gel texture”
- “foam is remarkable and firm”
Effective cleansing Sometimes Noted
- “removes sunscreen well”
- “cleanses the skin well”
- “pores look smaller and cleaner”
Soothing ingredients Sometimes Noted
- “calms irritation”
- “helped my skin back to being clear”
- “ingredients are good and gentle”
Drying for dry skin Sometimes Noted
- “little bit too stripping for dry skin”
- “felt a slight dryness and tightness”
- “not hydrating enough for winter”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused horrible comedonal acne”
- “itchy and red after use”
- “broke me out really bad”
Scent dislike Rarely Noted
- “smell is not sure”
- “dish soap smell”
- “scent is a bit odd”
Weak lather Rarely Noted
- “need to use quite a lot for it to lather”
- “doesn't foam up well enough”
- “hard to get a good lather”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, stylevana.com, yesstyle.com, amazon.com, stylekorean.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does the Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser work for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser works moderately well for skin with dark spots, offering gentle pore cleaning and antioxidant support while keeping the skin calm. However, a product for this skin needs high-quality brightening ingredients like niacinamide and barrier-repairing components to truly fade dark spots and keep the skin balanced.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser works well because it includes green tea extract and houttuynia cordata extract, which help calm the skin and provide antioxidant support. To better address dark spots, a product of this type needs brightening ingredients like niacinamide and barrier-repairing ceramides.
What does Plum Fruit Water do for skin with dark spots?
Plum Fruit Water is unlikely to directly fade dark spots on its own, as it mostly helps keep skin hydrated and fresh. Skin with dark spots needs targeted brightening ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, or botanical extracts to help even out skin tone.
What does Mung Bean Seed Extract do for skin with dark spots?
Mung Bean Seed Extract helps fade dark spots and uneven skin tone by slowing down the enzyme that creates excess pigment. It also provides antioxidant protection that supports a clearer, brighter look with a very low risk of irritation.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser fits in the morning routine right before a hydrating toner and in the evening routine after a makeup remover. A cleanser for dark spots also needs targeted brightening ingredients and antioxidant support to truly help even out skin tone.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine before applying retinol, as it is safe and unlikely to cause irritation. To properly address dark spots while using retinol, this skin type needs targeted brightening ingredients and antioxidants like vitamin C or niacinamide.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It is gentle on your skin and helps clean pores effectively while providing mild antioxidant support.
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 has a safe formula without harsh ingredients, though breakouts are a rare complaint. To better help with dark spots, a cleanser of this type needs extra brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide alongside gentle plant extracts.
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 avoid the thin skin around your eyes since the eyelids are among the thinnest areas of the body and need specialized care. This product is generally safe and unlikely to cause irritation, though skin with dark spots works best with cleansers that feature targeted brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009Enzymatic alpha glucosylation of EGCG yielded EGCG-G1, which enhanced epidermal penetration, decreased melanogenesis through down-regulation of 13 genes including MITF, stimulated skin Lactobacillus growth, and decreased hyperpigmented spots while increasing skin brightness and homogeneity compared to EGCG and vitamin C across a large panel of phototypes.
Molecules, 2024An 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, 2019A 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, 2017Prunus mume ripened seed extract protects against ultraviolet-induced skin aging in mice and human HaCaT cells by increasing SIRT1 and collagen levels while decreasing MMP-1, MMP-13, and ROS generation compared to untreated ultraviolet-exposed controls.
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2021The novel compound FA-1 isolated from Prunus mume protects human bronchial epithelial cells and keratinocytes from cigarette smoke extract-induced DNA damage and apoptosis by reducing oxidative stress and augmenting ALDH isozymes and DNA repair proteins.
Scientific Reports, 2018Mung bean sprout aqueous extracts demonstrated excellent antioxidant properties with DPPH radical scavenging rates above 85% and chelation abilities approaching 80%, alongside demonstrated safety in red blood cell, CAM, and human skin patch tests.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014A combination of five-colored plants (mung bean, white truffle, black truffle, chrysanthemum, and Lycium barbarum) at 0.5% concentration improved fibroblast wound healing by 59.89%, reduced cellular senescence markers by 76.32%, and increased epidermal thickness and collagen levels in an ex vivo skin model compared to a negative control.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2025Phenolic extracts and compounds from mung bean hull protected HaCaT and HSF cells against H2O2-induced damage and aging, with the ethyl acetate extract, isovitexin, and vitexin providing the greatest protection by modulating oxidative stress and autophagy.
The Science of the Total Environment, 2022Sodium cocoyl isethionate micelles are too large to penetrate stratum corneum aqueous pores, resulting in significant steric hindrance that prevents skin barrier perturbation and explains its skin mildness.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007The 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, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
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, 2002
Ingredients
Water, Prunus Mume Fruit Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Phaseolus Radiatus Seed Extract, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Rice Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Blueberry Fruit Extract, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Coconut Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Isethionate, Citric Acid, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Punica Granatum Extract, Clitoria Ternatea Flower Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Sodium Citrate, Disodium Edta
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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