Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm Dupes & Cheaper Alternatives
From 80 Reddit threads · Updated October 31, 2026
Unscented cleansing balm melts sunscreen and makeup cleanly; occasional breakouts. The catch: breaks out some acne-prone users. Here's what Redditors reach for instead.
The short answer
Best Cheaper AlternativeFast emulsification; rinses clean without residue · $7.89 · 240 ml vs $12.35 for the original
Best for AcneEmulsifies exceptionally well and rinses clean · $15.50 · 100 ml
#1
Best Overall Alternative
The why
A 10–15-minute, targeted nose treatment that softens sebaceous-filament buildup before wiping or gentle scraping. It suits oily, congested areas and tretinoin routines; results are temporary, and over-scraping or leaving it on too long can irritate.
One minus
Results fade within days to about a week
Good forOily Skin, Sensitive Skin, Dry Skin
Both recommended for Acne.
“You wet some tissue with it, put that over the area ans leave 10mins and then wash off (use a washcloth) cleans out so much gunk.”
— Reddit, r/koreanskincare
The original, at a glance
- Why people love it
- Unscented, fragrance-free first cleanse
- Price
- $12.35 · 100 ml · $0.12/ml
#2
Best Cheaper Alternative
- Size: 240 ml
- Price per ml: $0.03/ml (original $0.12/ml)
The why
A thin mineral-oil cleanser that emulsifies quickly, removing waterproof makeup, mascara, and sunscreen without a lingering film. Best for makeup-wearing, sunscreen-heavy nights and people who hate balm textures. Acne-prone skin can develop closed comedones or feel stripped.
One minus
Closed comedones and breakouts are a recurring complaint
Good forSensitive Skin
Both recommended for Texture / Pores; discussed alongside Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm in 10 threads.
“Softymo speedy cleansing oil ..very light takes off everything heavy sunscreens makeup very quickly ..doesnt irritate my skin on active acne or angry skin days…emulsifies completly ..also only cleansing oil that helped me with reducing getting closed comedones ..”
— Reddit, r/AsianBeauty
#3
Best for Acne
Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original
Banila Co·Cleansing Balm
See alternativesEmulsifies exceptionally well and rinses clean
- Size: 100 ml
- Price per ml: $0.15/ml (original $0.12/ml)
The why
A solid balm first-cleanse for melting makeup and water-resistant sunscreen without scrubbing hard. It suits dry or dehydrated skin that likes a creamy oil finish. Fragrance and a breakout history make it risky for sensitive or acne-prone faces.
One minus
Fragrance is noticeable and bothers dry, sensitive eyes
Good forSensitive Skin, Dry Skin
Both recommended for Texture / Pores; discussed alongside Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm in 9 threads.
“Never clogged my pores and no issues with it in the same routine as tret or az”
— Reddit, r/tretinoin
#4
Best for Texture / Pores
The why
A gritty walnut-shell and corn-meal scrub for people chasing immediate smoothness and a genuinely abrasive feel. It can work occasionally on resilient skin, but frequent use commonly aggravates redness, acne, and a damaged moisture barrier.
One minus
Walnut shell feels like gravel or glass shards
Both recommended for Texture / Pores.
Other alternatives worth a look
Holy-grail balm for sensitive rosacea skin · 13 recs
GentleK-Beauty
Smoothly emulsifies makeup away in one pass · 45 recs
Gentle
Clean emulsification without an oily rinse-off film · 12 recs
Combination SkinK-Beauty
Melts waterproof mascara without cloudy eyes · 21 recs
Combination SkinCream Texture
Removes mineral SPF, tinted sunscreen, and makeup without provoking redness · 8 recs
Oily SkinGentle
Cleanly removes eye makeup, SPF, and base makeup · 8 recs
Oily SkinCombination Skin
Budget-friendly alternative to pricier cleansing balms · 18 recs
Combination SkinCruelty-Free
Removes water-resistant SPF and light makeup in one step · 19 recs
Almond Oil
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