Foam cleanser for dehydrated oily skin: HEEDA Jirisan Charcoal

As I entered my 30s, I have really felt my skin gradually changing into a dehydrated oily type. My T-zone has serious concerns with oil, buildup, and pores, while the dryness underneath has become worse and worse, so deep cleansing would leave my skin feeling painfully tight, almost as if it were cracking. On the other hand, when I used only very gentle low-pH foams, the cleansing power felt a little lacking, as though sunscreen or fine residue were still left behind.

While wandering around in search of a foam cleanser that would clear out my pores while keeping my skin hydrated and free of tightness afterward, I finally found one that I absolutely love!

A low-pH foam cleanser with Jirisan charcoal and hyaluronic acid

That product is the HEEDA Jirisan Charcoal Hyaluronic Acid Low-pH Foam Cleanser, which combines the excellent pore-cleansing power of Jirisan charcoal with the hydrating benefits of seven types of hyaluronic acid.

Sleek tube packaging and key ingredients

• Volume and price: 150ml; available for around ₩14,500 with a discount coupon, down from the regular price of ₩18,900
• Key ingredients: 5,000ppm Jirisan charcoal, 7 types of hyaluronic acid, and patented Aqua Ceramide (CERAGEL™)
• Texture and feel: A dense, smooth deep-gray cream formula containing charcoal
• Skin types: Dry skin that feels very tight after cleansing, dehydrated oily skin, and skin seeking gentle pore care

The packaging comes in a chic, clean black tube, so it gives the bathroom a stylish yet tidy feel. At a generous 150ml, it is also an easy size to use every morning and evening as part of a daily routine.

One reason this product stood out to me was its ingredient combination. I usually had the impression that charcoal cleansers offered strong cleansing power but left skin stiff and irritated afterward. HEEDA says it has captured both cleansing and hydration by pairing 5,000ppm Jirisan charcoal with seven types of hyaluronic acid and patented Aqua Ceramide.

What were the foam and cleansing process like?

When I squeezed out an appropriate amount into my palm, I was impressed by the smooth, subtly gray, bouncy cream texture that made the Jirisan charcoal feel apparent.

Soft, dense foam

Add a little water and roll it between your hands a few times, and fine, abundant foam builds up even without a foam net. It is not made of irritating, rough particles; instead, it feels like soft whipped cream, so there was barely any friction against my skin as I massaged it over my face. It felt so comfortable.

Second cleansing and a morning cleanse on its own

On days when I wear makeup, I usually use a cleansing balm for my first cleanse, then use the HEEDA Jirisan Charcoal Foam Cleanser as my second cleanse. The more I massage it in, the more it feels as if the charcoal foam is sweeping up sebum, oil, and residue from every corner of my pores. When I use it alone in the morning, it also clears away just the shiny oil that surfaced overnight, creating a smooth base for my skin.

Hydration without tightness after cleansing

The most surprising part was the feeling of hydration immediately after cleansing! Normally, a cleanser with good pore-cleansing power makes my skin feel painfully tight and turn red as soon as I towel off, but perhaps because this has a low-pH formula, it left none of that stiffness or tightness. Thanks to the seven types of hyaluronic acid, it felt as though a thin hydrating veil remained on the surface of my skin, so I could let go of my worries about dryness underneath.

How I used it personally

• Use it as a second cleanse: On days when you wear sunscreen or base makeup, try it after cleansing oil or cleansing balm. It leaves pore residue feeling thoroughly cleared away.
• Morning cleanse on its own: Because it is a low-pH product, you can use it alone in the morning for a gentle cleanse without disrupting your skin's oil-moisture balance.
• T-zone pore massage tip: After applying the foam around the nose and forehead, where blackheads and sebum are concentrated, gently massage in circles for 20–30 seconds for a noticeably cleaner skin texture.

If you want both pore cleansing and hydration

The HEEDA Jirisan Charcoal Foam Cleanser delivered all three: refreshing pore-cleansing power, hydrating moisture without tightness after washing, and a gentle low-pH base. I think it would be especially well suited to dehydrated oily and dry skin types that want to thoroughly cleanse sunscreen or buildup from pores but have worried about severe tightness or irritation after cleansing.

Product information at a glance

• Product name: HEEDA Jirisan Charcoal Hyaluronic Acid Low-pH Foam Cleanser (150ml)
• Key ingredients: 5,000ppm Jirisan charcoal, 7 types of hyaluronic acid, patented Aqua Ceramide (CERAGEL™)
• Key features: Thorough sunscreen cleansing, a hydrating low-pH cleanse without skin irritation, and dense, abundant foam
• Recommended for: Dehydrated oily skin, dry skin, and skin needing pore and sebum care