Avene Cleanance Cleansing Gel Dupes & Cheaper Alternatives
From 32 Reddit threads · Updated October 30, 2026
Zinc cleanser Redditors use for oily, acne-prone skin; studies remain inconclusive on zinc. The catch: leaves skin tight and dry after washing. Here's what Redditors reach for instead.
The short answer
Best Overall AlternativeHG-level gel cleanser for oily skin; removes oil without a stripped finish · $9.10 · 100 ml
Best Cheaper AlternativeMinimalist, fragrance-free formula for reactive skin · $9.97 · 236.6 ml vs $23.00 for the original
Best for AcneOil-control cleanser with genuine HG status · $11.20 · 150 ml
#1
Best Overall Alternative
- Size: 100 ml
- Price per ml: $0.09/ml (original $0.06/ml)
The why
A foaming gel cleanser built around glycerin, Prunus Mume Fruit Water, and mild surfactants for morning washes or second cleansing. Oily and combination skin tend to love the clean finish; dry, tret-irritated skin can find it stripping.
One minus
Can leave dry or tret-treated skin tight and astringent
Good forSensitive Skin
“So I went back to my BOJ green plum refreshing cleanser”
— Reddit, r/koreanskincare
The original, at a glance
- Why people love it
- Acne-routine cleanser with zinc gluconate
- Price
- $23.00 · 399.2 ml · $0.06/ml
#2
Best Cheaper Alternative
- Size: 236.6 ml
- Price per ml: $0.04/ml (original $0.06/ml)
The why
This minimalist cleanser uses glycerin, coco-glucoside, and sodium cocoyl glycinate to remove daily grime without actives or fragrance. It fits stripped-back routines around tretinoin and reactive skin, but dry or rosacea-prone users frequently report tightness, redness, and barrier irritation.
One minus
Often leaves dry skin tight, flaky, or stripped
Good forSensitive Skin
#3
Best for Acne
Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser
COSRX·Cleanser
See alternativesOil-control cleanser with genuine HG status
- Size: 150 ml
- Price per ml: $0.07/ml (original $0.06/ml)
The why
A rinse-off salicylic acid cleanser with willow bark water, tea tree oil, and lemon peel oil, aimed at oily, clogged skin. It works best a few nights weekly; dry or sensitized faces may find it stripping and irritating.
One minus
Can leave skin dry, grey, or stripped
Other alternatives worth a look
Low-pH 5.5 formula for mild daily cleansing · 99 recs
Gel TextureLightweight
Non-foaming, low-stripping daily cleanse · 83 recs
Dry SkinCream Texture
Barrier-friendly daily cleanser; no tight after-feel · 51 recs
AcneRosacea
Non-foaming cream texture for dry skin · 415 recs
Dry SkinCream Texture
Browse more
Reddit's best cleansers by concern or skin type
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