Glucoside Foaming Cleanser
A gentle foaming cleanser that removes dirt and impurities while respecting the skin barrier.
A good low-drama foaming cleanser for people who want a fresher cleanse without the harsh stripped feeling many foaming cleansers can cause.
A foaming cleanser with only 8 ingredients, including two gentle glucoside surfactants, is almost unheard of at this price point. Most mass-market foaming cleansers are loaded with sulfates and fragrance. This is The Ordinary doing what they do — stripping the formula down to what actually works.
Morning and/or evening cleanse. First step in any routine. If double-cleansing, use as the water-based second cleanse after an oil cleanser.
Oily and combination skin types who want a clean feeling without an aggressive strip. Beginners who want a simple, low-ingredient cleanser without having to decode a 30-item INCI list.
If your skin is very dry and you use this morning and night — even gentle foaming cleansers can contribute to a stripped feeling for very dehydrated skin. A cream cleanser in the evening might serve dry skin better.
This is gentle enough to continue during barrier flare-ups in most cases. If skin is very raw or reactive, consider switching to a non-foaming cream or micellar cleanser temporarily.
- Any hydrating serum immediately after — cleansers remove water-soluble impurities but don't add moisture
- A toner or essence for additional hydration prep
- An oil cleanser before it if wearing SPF or makeup (double cleanse approach)
Best For
- Oily skin
- Combination skin
- Beginners
- Simple routines
- People who like foaming cleansers
How to Use
Use morning and/or evening on damp skin, then rinse well.
Key Ingredients
Cleanses skin and hair by lifting away oil, dirt, and impurities. Forms a stable, mild foam. Much gentler than sulfate-based surfactants — does not strip the skin's natural lipids or significantly disrupt barrier function at standard concentrations.
Provides mild, effective cleansing with a slightly more luxurious foam texture than decyl glucoside alone. Well tolerated by sensitive skin with minimal disruption to the skin barrier.
Protects the skin from oxidative stress (free radical damage), stabilizes other active ingredients in formulas, and provides mild moisturizing and barrier-supportive properties.
Chelates (binds and removes) metal ions that can trigger oxidation and pigmentation processes. Has mild exfoliating properties and inhibits tyrosinase (melanin production enzyme), making it a gentle brightening support ingredient. Also acts as a preservative booster in cleansers.
Ingredients to Note
May be a concern for some skin types. Tap to learn more.
Full Ingredient List
About This Product
The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser uses two glucoside surfactants — decyl glucoside and coco glucoside — as its cleansing base. Glucosides are plant-derived, non-ionic surfactants known for being significantly milder than traditional sulfate-based cleansers. The formula adds tocopherol (vitamin E) and phytic acid for antioxidant and gentle tone-support benefits. At 8 ingredients total, it's one of the most minimal foaming cleansers available.