Five Key Ingredients of SKIN MATTERS Korean Cleanser

  1. Rice grains and a rice stalk, source of rice extract

    01Botanical care

    Rice Extract

    What it is
    • Rice extract (Oryza sativa)
    • Long used in East Asian and Indian skincare
    Role in the cleanser
    • Skin conditioning for a smooth, fresh feel
    • “Brightening” means fresh and clear, not lightening
    For Indian skin
    • Helps with the dull look dust, pollution and humidity leave by evening
  2. Centella asiatica leaves

    02Botanical care

    Centella Asiatica Extract

    What it is
    • Gotu kola, also called mandukaparni or cica
    • A herb from India and East Asia
    Role in the cleanser
    • Included for its calming feel
    • Short contact time, so not a treatment
    For Indian skin
    • Helps with the flushed, prickly feel of heat, sweat and sun
  3. Hyaluronic acid droplets

    03Hydration-minded

    Hyaluronic Acid (as Sodium Hyaluronate)

    What it is
    • Sodium hyaluronate
    • The salt form of a molecule your skin makes to hold water
    Role in the cleanser
    • Binds water while you wash
    • Skin does not feel dry or tight after
    For Indian skin
    • Light and oil-free
    • Works in humid weather and in dry AC
  4. Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) droplets

    04Provitamin B5

    Panthenol

    What it is
    • Provitamin B5
    • A humectant: attracts and holds water
    Role in the cleanser
    • Helps skin hold water during and after the wash
    • Gives a soothing feel
    For Indian skin
    • Adds water without adding oil
    • Suits humid outdoors and dry AC
  5. Ceramide NP, a skin barrier ingredient

    05Barrier-focused

    Ceramide NP

    What it is
    • A lipid found naturally in your skin
    • Part of the barrier that keeps water in and irritants out
    Role in the cleanser
    • Offsets some of the lipids washing removes
    • Leaves skin supple, not squeaky
    • Support, not repair
    For Indian skin
    • Heat, sweat and daily sunscreen mean 2+ washes a day
    • Gentleness adds up

How It Actually Cleans

Surfactants lift oil, sunscreen and dirt so water can rinse them away. Every face wash has them. Ours uses four mild ones.

Cleansing agentTypeWhat it does
Sodium Lauroyl SarcosinateAmino-acid-based (anionic)Main cleanser. Soft foam, lifts oil.
Cocamidopropyl BetaineAmphotericCo-cleanser. Creamier foam, milder blend.
Coco-GlucosideSugar-based (non-ionic)Mild cleanser made from fatty alcohols and glucose.
Decyl GlucosideSugar-based (non-ionic)Mild cleanser. Supports foam and the gentle feel.

Why four, not one

  • A blend is gentler than one strong cleanser
  • Sulfate-free: no drying SLS or SLES
  • Not cleanser-free: four mild ones do the job
  • Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate is not a sulfate

What to expect

  • A soft, low-to-moderate foam
  • A clean rinse. Skin feels soft, not squeaky

Heavy or water-resistant sunscreen or makeup? Remove it first, or cleanse twice.

All 19 Ingredients

IngredientWhat it isWhy it is here
AquaDistilled waterThe base of the gel. It dissolves and carries everything else.
PanthenolProvitamin B5, a humectantHolds water and gives a soothing feel during and after cleansing.
Centella Asiatica ExtractExtract of the gotu kola (cica) herbSkin conditioning. Included to help skin feel calm.
Oryza Sativa (Rice) ExtractExtract of riceSkin conditioning. Supports a smooth, fresh feel.
GlycerinA humectant, one of the most widely used in skincareDraws water to the skin’s surface so the cleanse does not leave skin dry.
Sodium HyaluronateThe salt form of hyaluronic acid, a humectantBinds water at the surface and helps prevent a tight feel after washing.
AllantoinA skin-conditioning and soothing agentHelps skin feel soft and comfortable.
BetaineA humectant (trimethylglycine). Not the same as cocamidopropyl betaineHelps skin hold water and helps make the cleansing blend milder.
Sodium PCAThe sodium salt of PCA, part of the skin’s own natural moisturising factorA humectant. Tops up the water-binding substances that washing can rinse away.
Ceramide NPA lipid of the kind found naturally in the skin barrierSkin conditioning. A barrier-minded addition to a cleanser.
Disodium EDTAA chelating agentBinds metal ions in the formula so the gel stays stable and the preservative works as it should.
Sodium Lauroyl SarcosinateAmino-acid-based surfactantThe main cleansing agent. Lifts oil and dirt, gives a soft foam.
Cocamidopropyl BetaineAmphoteric surfactantCo-cleanser. Boosts foam and makes the blend milder.
Coco-GlucosideSugar-based non-ionic surfactantMild co-cleanser.
Decyl GlucosideSugar-based non-ionic surfactantMild co-cleanser. Supports foam.
PEG-150 DistearateA thickener used in cleansersGives the formula its gel texture, so it stays in your palm and spreads evenly.
PhenoxyethanolA preservativeStops bacteria, yeast and mould from growing in a water-based product.
Sodium HydroxideA pH adjusterUsed in a very small amount to set the finished gel at pH 5.5. It is neutralised in the formula.
TocopherolVitamin E, an antioxidantProtects the formula from oxidation and conditions skin.

What We Left Out, and Why

No Parabens

  • Can irritate skin or trigger allergies

No Sulfates

  • SLS and SLES cause that tight, squeaky feel

No Silicones

  • No slippery film left on skin

No Synthetic Fragrance

  • A common trigger for irritation

What Happens When pH Moves

Too acidic · below about 4

  • Can sting and irritate
  • Strong acids are treatments, not daily washes
  • Lower is not automatically gentler

Skin’s own range · about 4.5 to 6

  • Barrier-building enzymes work best
  • Dead cells shed in an orderly way
  • Skin’s friendly microbes thrive

pH 5.5 sits here

Too alkaline · above 7 (soap: 9–10)

  • More of skin’s own fats wash away
  • Feels tight and dry after washing
  • Shedding speeds up
  • Unwanted bacteria prefer it
  • Can stay raised for an hour or more

Patch Test First.

How to patch test

  1. Apply a little to your inner forearm or behind your ear
  2. Leave it for a minute, then rinse

No reaction? Use it on your face. Any reaction? Do not.

Full step-by-step guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Because foam comes from surfactants, and sulfates are only one kind. The four mild cleansing agents in this formula produce a soft foam of their own. Expect less lather than a typical sulfate face wash. Less lather does not mean less clean.

Less than they would in a moisturiser, and we will not pretend otherwise. In a cleanser their role is to make the wash itself gentler on skin and to leave it feeling soft and hydrated afterwards. For lasting hydration, follow with a moisturiser.

No. There are no exfoliating acids, no retinoids and no benzoyl peroxide in the formula. It is a plain, gentle cleanser, which makes it easy to pair with whatever active products you already use.

Yes, it is suitable for acne-prone skin, as well as normal, combination and oily skin. It is a cosmetic cleanser, not an acne treatment. If you are being treated for acne, keep following your dermatologist’s advice.

The formula has no synthetic fragrance, and no fragrance ingredient appears in the ingredient list. The gel has a faint natural scent from its ingredients.

No colourant appears in the ingredient list.

Because the first ingredient is water. Water-based products without a preservative can grow bacteria and mould, and you would be putting that on your face. Phenoxyethanol keeps the product safe through its shelf life.

The exact formula is the one thing a brand keeps confidential. What we can do is list every ingredient, explain each one, and tell you plainly that this is a rinse-off product with supporting ingredients, not a high-strength treatment.

Yes. It is made for morning and evening use. Wet your face, massage in a small amount, rinse well and pat dry.

Check the “use before” date printed on the tube. Best before 24 months from the date of manufacture. Store it closed, away from direct sunlight and heat.

The formula contains no retinoids and no salicylic acid. We are a skincare brand and cannot give medical advice, so please show the ingredient list to your doctor if you have any doubt.

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