Round Lab is the Korean brand behind the 1025 Dokdo Toner, which we compared against Anua's best-seller in our Anua Heartleaf vs Round Lab Dokdo toner comparison. The Dokdo Cleanser is the wash-off partner to that toner. DermFND dates its launch to 2019. It's a creamy foaming cleanser in a 150 mL (5.07 fl oz) tube, built around deep sea water that the brand sources off Korea's Ulleungdo island, plus glycerin, panthenol, allantoin and a long list of soothing plant extracts.
It has quietly become one of the most-bought K-beauty cleansers in the U.S. At the time of writing, the official ROUND LAB store listing on Amazon showed a 4.6-out-of-5 average from about 5,700 ratings, and a "10K+ bought in past month" badge. Prices change often, and DermFND lists it at around $17.
Why the pH matters
Most foaming cleansers that produce thick, cushiony lather use a classic soap system: fatty acids such as myristic and stearic acid neutralized with potassium hydroxide. That chemistry is naturally alkaline, which is why many foams leave skin feeling "squeaky clean" and then tight an hour later. DermFND points out that the Dokdo Cleanser uses exactly that soap system, but Round Lab buffers the finished product back down to roughly pH 5.5, close to skin's own pH. Round Lab itself lists the range as 5.0 to 6.0. DermFND calls this "rare" for a soap-based foam, and says it's the main reason the cleanser rinses off without the tight feeling. Neither figure is from an independent lab measurement we could find, so treat the exact number as the brand's and DermFND's.
What reviewers keep praising
Gentle, with no post-wash tightness. This is the cleanser's reputation, and the sources agree. Mirai Skin's Bar Alezrah used it morning and night for four weeks on combination, occasionally sensitive skin and wrote that her skin never once felt tight or dry after washing. When she switched to a stronger cleanser for a day in week three, she felt the difference immediately. DermFND describes skin as "clean but comfortable" after the first use. Picky's community reviews (4.6 out of 5 across about 350 reviews) repeat the same theme.
Calmer skin over time. Mirai Skin reported that light redness on her cheeks settled over the four weeks. She credits the cleanser not irritating her skin twice a day, rather than any treatment effect, and felt her other products worked better on un-stripped skin.
A good second cleanser and morning wash. Both DermFND and Mirai Skin position it as the water-based step after an oil cleanser at night, and as a stand-alone morning wash. DermFND also flags it as fungal-acne safe, because the formula has no oils, esters or polysorbates.
Good value. DermFND estimates a tube lasts three to four months of twice-daily use, or roughly $4 to $5 a month, and says comparable fragrance-free, low-pH Korean cleansers usually cost $20 to $30.
What reviewers liked
- No tight, stripped feeling after rinsing (Mirai Skin, DermFND)
- Low pH of about 5.5 on a foaming soap base (DermFND; brand says 5.0 to 6.0)
- Fragrance-free, alcohol-free and sulfate-free per DermFND
- Works as a morning wash or second cleanser
- Inexpensive tube that lasts months
What reviewers flagged
- Not enough on its own for heavy makeup or waterproof sunscreen
- Still a soap-based foam; very dry or eczema-prone skin may want a cream cleanser
- Lighter lather than sulfate cleansers; some find it almost too gentle
- Ingredient lists vary by source (see below)
- Soft tube creases easily
What reviewers flagged
It won't remove heavy makeup alone. Mirai Skin tried it as a single evening cleanser and noticed some residue after full makeup. DermFND says the same: for long-wear makeup or heavy mineral sunscreen, use an oil cleanser first. If you need that first step, our Banila Co Clean It Zero vs Anua Heartleaf cleansing oil comparison covers two popular options.
Gentle enough to make you wonder. Mirai Skin's first impression was that it was so mild she questioned whether her face was really clean. The lather is softer and thinner than sulfate-based foams. Several Picky reviewers describe it as creamy and low-foaming, and one called it "hard to wash off."
Not for every dry skin. DermFND notes it's still a soap-based cleanser. Very dry, eczema-prone or reactive skin may still prefer a non-foaming cream or milk cleanser.
Check the ingredient list on your tube. DermFND's ingredient list is fragrance-free with no essential oils. Mirai Skin's 2026 review, however, says the manufacturer's current list includes chamomile flower oil and advises anyone avoiding plant oils to check the label. We couldn't resolve which list matches the tubes currently shipping on Amazon, so if you react to botanical oils, read the box before using it.
Packaging. A Picky reviewer who otherwise loved it said the soft tube "wrinkles super easy." It's a minor point, but it comes up.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
Based on the sources, it suits normal, combination, oily and most sensitive skin types who like a foaming wash but hate the tight feeling afterwards. It also suits anyone moving away from a harsher cleanser, and anyone who double cleanses and needs a gentle second step. It's a weaker fit if you want one product to remove full makeup, or if your skin is very dry or eczema-prone and does better with non-foaming cleansers. If you already use a hydrating serum such as the Torriden DIVE-IN, a gentle cleanser like this one helps keep it from working against a stripped barrier.
What owners say
The official Amazon listing's 4.6-star average across about 5,700 ratings is high for a cleanser, and the "10K+ bought in past month" badge shows how mainstream it has become. DermFND's community summary lists the common praise as "rich foam without stripping," comfortable non-tight skin and good value. The common complaints are that it can still feel too cleansing for very dry skin, that it isn't a strong first-step cleanser, and the plastic tube.
FAQ
What is its pH? Round Lab lists 5.0 to 6.0; DermFND reports about 5.5. We didn't find an independent lab test.
Can it remove sunscreen? DermFND says it handles most lightweight Korean hybrid sunscreens on their own if you skip makeup. Use an oil cleanser first for mineral SPF or long-wear makeup.
Is it good for acne-prone skin? It's a gentle cleanser, not an acne treatment. DermFND lists it as fungal-acne safe and low-irritation, but it won't replace targeted treatments.
How long does a tube last? About three to four months with twice-daily use, according to DermFND.
Our take, based on the roundup
The sources tell a consistent story. The Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleanser does what it's famous for: it gives you a creamy foam without the stripped, squeaky skin that usually comes with it, thanks to a soap base buffered to a skin-friendly pH. It's inexpensive, lasts a long time and fits easily into a double-cleanse routine. Its limits are honest ones. It's a second cleanser, not a makeup remover, and very dry skin may still want something creamier. If you react to botanical oils, double-check the ingredient list on your box. The 8.6 aggregate score is our own synthesis of the sources below, not a lab measurement.
Sources
- DermFND — ingredient, pH and formula analysis of the Dokdo Cleanser (last verified May 2026)
- Mirai Skin — Bar Alezrah's four-week, twice-daily review (March 8, 2026; Korean-language page; Mirai Skin is a K-beauty retailer that sells the product)
- Picky — K-beauty community ratings and reviews (4.6 / 5, about 350 reviews; checked October 12, 2026)
- Amazon listing — official ROUND LAB Store: rating, review count, sales badge and price (checked October 12, 2026)