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The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser.

The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser
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Cleansers
About this product

A gentle foaming cleanser with glucoside and a minimal formula designed to cleanse without stripping, suitable for all skin types.

Full ingredients

Aqua (Water), Decyl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Phytic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin

More from The Ordinary 88 products · Guru Score 84% →

Guru Score

70%

Mixed

9 experts · Strong agreement

What the gurus are saying

This foaming cleanser earns consistent praise for delivering a satisfying lather without the dryness most foaming cleansers bring, thanks to its simple five-to-eight-ingredient formula and balanced pH. Gurus note it removes makeup, sunscreen, and daily grime while leaving skin hydrated rather than tight, making it a standout for oily and combination skin and a reliable second cleanser after an oil-based one. A few find it effective but unremarkable, and one notes it struggles alone on heavy makeup, though pairing it with a makeup remover solves that.
Synthesized from 9 expert reviews · most recent take October 2025

What they liked

  • Foams without stripping or drying
  • Works well for oily and combination skin
  • Affordable for the amount of product

What they flagged

  • Can feel drying on very dry skin
  • Won't remove heavy makeup alone

Type

CleansersFoam & mousse

Key actives

Vitamin E

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
~Nay
"I don't love them"
All 4 takes from No BS Beauty
The Only Products From The Ordinary I've Repurchased - And I've Tried Them All!
"I think the foamy cleanser is slightly drying."
I've Tried Every Product From The Ordinary & These are the Skincare I'm Still Using Years Later
"I don't love them"
Budget-Friendly Alternatives To Expensive Skincare Products - The Ordinary Dupes - Frugal Friday
"They came out with a couple new cleansers this year and I didn't love either one of them the Glucoside Foaming Cleanser and the glycol flosso lipids gentle I didn't love any of the new cleansers"
The Ordinary Sale Picks ✔ I've Tried Everything From The Ordinary and These Are Their Best Products
"They also have their glycolipid cream and their Glucoside Foaming Cleanser and I didn't really love either one of these. I found these to be too drying. I mean they're not terrible products but for my skin that's super dry I just found this to be too drying."
~Mixed
"The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser is not stripping or irritating, which is what I want now that the weather is cooler. It's what I'd call a nice cleanser, you sud it up in your hands if they're wet or use water if you use it as a first cleanse and then massage it in. It's [...] very good at what it does, but it doesn't make my heart sing. It's just a workhorse, it gets the job done, but doesn't spark joy."
~Yay
"If you are looking for a simple effective and affordable cleanser, this is one of the best. When I use this on myself it's nice, it's gentle, it's foaming, it's still hydrating but it breaks down dirt and gunk and sunscreen really well. The glucoside foam in here is also very very gentle and it's really only got like five ingredients and no fragrance. I can actually use this as a body cleanser as well. This has very quickly replaced many of my other cleansers as a favorite."
Top Pick: simple effective affordable cleanser
All 3 takes from Cassandra Bankson
Why The Ordinary Never Goes On Sale… How To Shop The Slowvember Sale Like A Medical Esthetician
"You should use it with a makeup remover if you have like heavy makeup. This is so good and it's so cheap. I wish they had launched this sooner because it's so simple but so effective. This is probably my favorite favorite cleanser from The Ordinary right now. [...] Get your hands on the Glucoside Foaming Cleanser if you have oily or combination skin or if you just hate the squealing cleanser like me. I love this."
Best of The Ordinary - Esthetician Favorites
"If you are looking for a simple effective and affordable cleanser, this is one of the best. When I use this on myself it's nice, it's gentle, it's foaming, it's still hydrating but it breaks down dirt and gunk and sunscreen really well. The glucoside foam in here is also very very gentle and it's really only got like five ingredients and no fragrance. I can actually use this as a body cleanser as well. This has very quickly replaced many of my other cleansers as a favorite."
The Ordinary SECRETLY Launched A NEW CLEANSER That I Actually Like… Glucoside Cleanser Review
"This is definitely way better than the squalane cleanser for my oily acne prone skin. It's a very gentle foaming cleanser without being overly stripping. It doesn't sting or burn my eyes, and when I wash it off my skin doesn't feel stripped, it kind of feels a little bit buttery. It's perfect for someone who is trying to build a routine or just wants a very basic cleanser."
~Yay
"This is by far and away the most gentle of the foaming cleansers on the market and this is really important for someone like me that has super oily and acne prone skin. We want a cleanser that's going to remove some of that excess oil but we don't want something that's going to leave us tight, stripped and dried. This ticks that box. In fact it ticks every box. It's calming, it's soothing, it's hydrating but also removes the excess oil. It's like a miracle workout."
Top Pick: gentle foaming cleanser
All 5 takes from Mad About Skin
EXCLUSIVE: The Ordinary Sale 2023 - What Im Buying
"I adore this because it does give a light foaming action but it's not stripping or drying. Often people avoid foaming cleansers because they feel it will strip their skin but they like that foaming sensation, well, you can have it all with this product. This will give a light foaming action which is very very satisfying but it leaves behind hydration rather than removing it. It's super affordable, it works for all skin types, and this is the sort of product that I always have on hand."
BEST DRUGSTORE SKINCARE 2024 - My Top Skincare 2024
"Unlike other foaming cleansers though, this doesn't strip it doesn't dry, and so it's genuinely applicable for all skin types. I think this is the sort of staple that everyone could benefit from including in their skincare routine. [...] It's that perfect hybrid between a cream and a foaming cleanser that just gets it all done. I paid like £10 for what is a huge amount of product, so very drugstore very affordable."
THE ORDINARY ARE BACK - Full New Products Review ( The Ordinary Review 2024 )
"This is by far and away the most gentle of the foaming cleansers on the market and this is really important for someone like me that has super oily and acne prone skin. We want a cleanser that's going to remove some of that excess oil but we don't want something that's going to leave us tight, stripped and dried. This ticks that box. In fact it ticks every box. It's calming, it's soothing, it's hydrating but also removes the excess oil. It's like a miracle workout."
TOP 10 SKINCARE EMPTIES 2023 - Best Skincare I Finished and 3 Skincare Fails
"I say finally, for the cleansers at least. This is 10 out of 10. It's like a more affordable version of the Allies of Skin one. It's not quite as luxurious feeling, but it gets the job done in the same way. Amazing. Very light foaming, so nothing that's going to strip and dry. It's hydrating. It's got a nice foaming quality to it. All around, I was just really impressed. This is one of their more recent launches, and it's so good. It's so affordable. This is getting 10 out of 10 as well."
NEXT LEVEL CLEANSERS - Get The Best Skin (Prevent Blackheads)
"It's gentle enough to be used on dry sensitive skin but it works really well on skin like mine which is super oily and acne prone. It's a truly universal cleanser and it has a great blend of ingredients that are going to be effective but gentle, and I think that's like the Holy Grail when it comes to cleansing. Previously, [...] the more effective a cleanser was, the more stripping it was on the skin, and we thought we had to find a balance between that. You don't need to compromise."
~Yay
"In fact, this was tested on babies from 3 to 18 months, no tears, no redness. This was also tested against some other very well-known formulas for children and it came out as just being more gentle on the skin. I just naturally reach for it when my skin feels like it's got a lot of heaviness just sitting on top. I find this to be a great second cleanser after an oil-based cleanser. This would especially make normal to oily skin happy."
All 2 takes from Gothamista
The Ordinary 2023 New Products Review
"In fact, this was tested on babies from 3 to 18 months, no tears, no redness. This was also tested against some other very well-known formulas for children and it came out as just being more gentle on the skin. I just naturally reach for it when my skin feels like it's got a lot of heaviness just sitting on top. I find this to be a great second cleanser after an oil-based cleanser. This would especially make normal to oily skin happy."
2022 Skincare Faves!
"Really, finally, finally a second cleanser that I can use in The Ordinary range. [...] What really makes this unique to me is its sheer simplicity. It is the most simple, basic formula with only eight ingredients. [...] The pH ranges between five and six, which is perfection. It really maintains the health of your skin barrier. Your skin does not feel dry after rinsing this off, but it is a more satisfying cleanse. The texture is a clear gel and a little bit goes a long way."
~Nay
"I didn't buy the Ordinary's Glucoside Foaming Cleanser because I just don't think it sounds right for my skin type."
~Mixed
"It's very boring, and you all know I like boring skincare, I like bland, basic, no-nonsense. It works, it gets the job done. But if you're sitting there thinking to yourself, oh my gosh, this new cleanser, is it going to be like this wonderful experience, I think you'll be let down a bit. It's just very, it gets the job done, but it's not anything to write home about. I was not able to use it by itself to remove eyeshadow and mascara."
~Mixed
"I've washed my face using The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser."
~Yay
"I love using the Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser for my morning routine. It's perfect to give that light cleanse to the skin, it doesn't strip your skin barrier, it keeps your skin's pH balanced, and it's perfect for all skin types as well. [...] That one is also great for summertime. [...] I really love this one for my morning routine."
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RAPID RESULTS! THE ORDINARY ANTI-AGING SKINCARE ROUTINE USING THE NEW RETINAL 0.2% EMULSION
"The foaming cleanser is perfect for the summer months. Out of all of them, this is by far my favorite, my second favorite would be the foaming cleanser."
11 SUMMER SKINCARE MUST HAVES 2023 | THESE ARE MY GO TO'S FOR MY COMBINATION SKIN | OVER 30
"I really love the ordinary foaming cleanser. It has that gel texture because I find that these cleanse my skin a lot better when my skin is at its oiliest and when I'm using sunscreens that are thicker like water resistant sunscreens. This is a very gentle formula that is quite moisturizing, it doesn't strip my skin whatsoever, and it never feels tight. My skin just feels like my skin and that's what I like in a cleanser."
9 BEST FACIAL CLEANSERS 2023 | GREAT FOR ALL SKIN TYPES!
"The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser is one of their newest cleansers I really like it because if you are someone that does have combination oily skin this is going to be one of your favorites as this is your true gel foaming cleanser but with that being said this was designed for all skin types."
MY MORNING ANTI-AGING SKINCARE ROUTINE - A.M. SUMMER SKINCARE ROUTINE USING VITAMIN C
"I love using the Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser for my morning routine. It's perfect to give that light cleanse to the skin, it doesn't strip your skin barrier, it keeps your skin's pH balanced, and it's perfect for all skin types as well. [...] That one is also great for summertime. [...] I really love this one for my morning routine."
BEAUTY EMPTIES 2023 | PRODUCT'S I'VE USED UP.. WILL I REPURCHASE?
"The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser [...] was one of my go-tos during the summer months because it's very foamy, it really lathers nicely, and it gives that nice cleanse without stripping the skin without creating that dryness and tightness. [...] This is really good for those that have oily combination skin, but even if you have normal or dry skin I still feel like you're going to like this because it doesn't strip and dry out the skin and it keeps your skin nice and comfortable."
THE ORDINARY'S 6 NEW PRODUCTS EXPLAINED | HOW & WHEN TO USE EACH PRODUCT FOR MAXIMUM RESULTS!
"This cleanser was exceptional during the dead of winter. Not once did my skin feel tight or stripped, it kept it comfortable and moisturized. If you have dry skin, you're going to love this. If you have sensitive skin, anytime I accidentally got this in my eyes, my eyes never burned once, so it really is super gentle. This has a gel water texture, and all you need is a dime size amount."
TOP 7 BEST FACIAL CLEANSERS FOR ALL SKIN TYPES | SUMMER 2024 - GENTLE AND NON STRIPPING!
"It lathers quite nicely and your skin feels incredible after you've rinsed it all off. I really do like to use this in my morning routine and also as that second cleanse at night time. It's perfect for all skin types, never breaks me out, and is suitable for sensitive skin. If you accidentally get this in your eyes, it never burns my eyes, and there's a lot of cleansers that will. It's very gentle, fragrance-free, and super affordable. You're getting 150 mls of product."
THE ORDINARY'S BEST PRODUCTS FOR OILY/COMBO & ACNE PRONE SKIN!
"This cleanses your skin so nicely without stripping your skin without making your skin feel tight. This keeps your skin comfortable and balanced and moisturized, and this is actually one of the best foaming cleansers I have ever used. I personally prefer to use a cleansing balm to remove my makeup and sunscreen and then go in with a second cleanse with this afterwards, and this just ensures that your skin is super clean before you go in with your skincare products."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it is often in a formula to keep the other ingredients stable rather than as the active itself. It pairs well with vitamin C, though on its own the evidence for visible change is limited.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Frequently asked.

What is The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser?

A gentle foaming cleanser with glucoside and a minimal formula designed to cleanse without stripping, suitable for all skin types.

Is The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser worth it?

The gurus are split. 4 of the 9 gurus give it their stamp of approval while 2 would skip it, which lands it in the middle at a Guru Score of 70%.

What is The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser's Guru Score?

The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser holds a Guru Score of 70%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 9 expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.

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