Looking for a cleanser that feels like a spa treatment but actually respects your skin barrier? The korres greek yoghurt foaming cream cleanser caught my attention precisely because it promises something most cleansers fail at: thorough cleansing without that stripped, tight feeling. This mediterranean superfood cream cleanser built its reputation on combining probiotic rich real greek yoghurt with marine botanicals, creating what Korres calls a “nourishing foam” experience. After weeks of testing this face wash on my combination skin (and sneaking it onto my partner’s dry skin routine for comparison), I’m ready to break down whether this protein-rich superfood cleanser is worth the hype or just another overpriced tube taking up counter space.
Key Ingredients in Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser: What Makes It Work?
THE CLEANSING CREW
Instead of one brutal surfactant beating the hell out of your face, this uses a mix of gentler ones that team up to get your makeup and sunscreen off without leaving you feeling like you just power-washed your skin.
- Coco-Betaine & Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate: These two are tag-teaming the main cleaning action. Sodium cocoyl isethionate is coconut-based and so much kinder than those awful sulfates that strip everything. Coco-betaine backs it up by making the foam creamier and actually cutting down on irritation. Your skin flora stays chill instead of freaking out.
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine: More foam-boosting action that makes everything feel cushiony and soft instead of harsh. It’s got this conditioning thing going on so you don’t get that tight, awful feeling after rinsing.
- Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate & Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate: Yeah the names sound scary as hell, but they’re actually super mild. They’re just backup dancers helping everything work across different skin types without causing drama.
LACTIC ACID
Okay real talk, this does two things but let’s be honest about what’s realistic for a rinse-off product. First, it keeps the pH at a level your skin likes (around 5.5) so you’re not screwing up your acid mantle. That part actually works since pH matters during the cleansing process itself. Second, the exfoliation thing? Ehhh, it’s on your face for like 30 seconds before you rinse it off. Any dead skin cell removal is super minimal at best. Don’t expect the same brightening you’d get from a leave-on AHA product. It’s more about keeping the cleanser gentle and pH-balanced than actual exfoliation benefits.
Related: Do Exfoliating Cleansers Work?
THE YOGURT SQUAD
I’m talking about Lactis Proteinum/Whey Protein, Yogurt, Yogurt Powder, Lactose, and Lactobacillus. So the probiotic rich real greek yoghurt angle is… complicated. The whey protein and amino acids can condition your skin during the washing process – that part’s legit since they create a protective film while you’re massaging it in. But probiotics in a rinse-off cleanser? That’s where I’m skeptical. You’re literally washing the Lactobacillus down the drain after 30 seconds. Just saying…
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that banishes shine, pimples, and blackheads? Download your FREE “Best Skincare Routine For Oily Skin” cheatsheet to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):
The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
- Aqua/Water/Eau: It’s water. The base of everything. Can’t have a cleanser without it.
- Glycerin: This is pretty high up in the list so there’s a solid amount. It’s a humectant that grabs moisture and pulls it into your skin, which stops that horrible tight feeling after you wash your face.
- Cetearyl Alcohol: Don’t panic about the alcohol part-this is a fatty alcohol that’s actually moisturizing. It’s what makes the texture thick and creamy instead of runny and sad.
- Zea Mays (Corn) Starch: This is what makes the cream turn into foam when you add water. Also soaks up some oil and gives you that soft, slightly powdery feeling after rinsing.
- Sodium Chloride: Regular table salt basically. Helps with the texture and thickness.
- Hydrogenated Castor Oil: A thickener that makes the cleanser feel rich and substantial. Helps it spread smoothly instead of being all watery.
- Magnesium Aluminum Silicate: Another texture thing. Keeps everything suspended evenly in the formula so it doesn’t separate.
- Sclerotium Gum: Natural thickener from mushroom fermentation (sounds weird but it works). Keeps that creamy consistency.
- Chlorella Vulgaris Extract: Green algae packed with amino acids and antioxidants. Soothing and conditioning so you don’t feel totally stripped after washing.
- Laminaria Digitata Extract: This is kelp, a marine algae extract loaded with minerals. Hydrating and soothing, fits the whole Mediterranean ocean vibe Korres is going for.
- Saccharide Isomerate: Plant-based moisturizer that literally sticks to your skin cells even after you rinse. There’s research showing it keeps hydrating for like 3 days, which is pretty nuts for something you wash off.
- Hydrolyzed Rice Protein: Makes your skin feel silky and adds a bit of strengthening. Lightweight but you can feel it doing something.
- Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract: Amaranth seed extract with antioxidants and natural squalene. Part of the whole superfood marketing but it does condition your skin.
- Lonicera Caprifolium & Lonicera Japonica Flower Extracts: Both are honeysuckle extracts working as natural preservatives. They’ve got some soothing benefits too and help the formula stay fresh without loading up on synthetic preservatives.
- Citric Acid: pH adjuster. Makes sure the formula stays at that skin-friendly acidic level.
- Glyceryl Laurate: Emollient that softens skin and also has some antimicrobial properties, so it helps with preservation too.
- Maltodextrin: Helps with texture and absorbs moisture. Also stabilizes some of the plant extracts in here.
- Lactose: Milk sugar from the yogurt complex. Acts as a humectant and ties into the whole probiotic thing.
- Maris Aqua/Sea Water/Eau de Mer: Literally sea water with trace minerals. Mediterranean theme but the minerals are actually good for your skin.
- Pentylene Glycol: Gentler preservative booster that also helps with moisture. Less irritating than a lot of traditional preservatives.
- Phenethyl Alcohol: Another milder preservative alternative that doesn’t piss off sensitive skin as much as harsher options.
- Sodium Phytate: Chelating agent that grabs onto metal ions and keeps the formula stable. Also boosts the preservative system.
- CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide: Just makes it look white and creamy. It’s not doing any sun protection here, purely cosmetic.
- Phenoxyethanol: Standard preservative that keeps bacteria and mold from growing. Pretty well-tolerated by most people.
- Sodium Benzoate: Works with phenoxyethanol to preserve everything. You need preservatives in anything with water or it’ll grow nasty stuff.
- Parfum/Fragrance: The scent. It’s light and yogurt-like but if you’re sensitive to fragrance this might bug you.
Texture
This is honestly one of the best parts. It squeezes out as this thick, creamy texture that lathers really well once you add water and start massaging it in. It comes out looking like cream but transforms into this lovely, dense foam while you’re working it into your skin. It’s not those pathetic thin bubbles that disappear in two seconds. This foam has actual body to it. I use about a dime-sized amount (honestly even less sometimes, like pea-sized) and it’s enough for my whole face. Spreads super easily without dragging and rinses off clean without leaving any weird film behind.
Fragrance
The smell is actually really nice: mild and kind of lovely, definitely not artificial or chemical-smelling. It’s got this fresh, slightly yogurt-like scent that’s kind of unique, unlike anything I’ve smelled in other cleansers. It’s noticeable when you’re putting it on and has this uplifting quality that makes it nice to use in the morning when you’re trying to wake up. But it doesn’t stick around after you rinse, which I appreciate. Since there’s fragrance in the ingredient list though, if you’re super sensitive to scents this might not work for you.
How To Use It
Wet your face with lukewarm water first. This is important because I tried it once without wetting my skin properly and it didn’t work as well. Squeeze out a dime-sized amount (or even pea-sized, you really don’t need much) into your palm and massage it gently onto your damp skin in circular motions. Let it do its cream-to-foam transformation thing. Don’t scrub like you’re trying to sand your face off-the surfactants do the actual work. I focus on areas where makeup and sunscreen like to hide out, like around my nose, hairline, and jawline. Rinse really well with lukewarm water and pat dry. I use it morning and night, sometimes as a second cleanse if I’ve been wearing heavier makeup.
Packaging
It comes in a squeezable tube with a flip-top cap. Super practical and way more hygienic than dipping your fingers into a jar. You’ve got good control over how much product comes out, which matters when you need so little. The tube is white opaque plastic that protects the formula from light, which is good for those probiotic ingredients. It’s not the fanciest packaging I’ve ever seen, but it works perfectly and it’s easy to throw in my travel bag.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Okay so this cleanser actually does what it says: gets your face clean without being a dick about it. It takes off my daily sunscreen and light makeup pretty well, though I gotta be real, if I’m wearing heavier stuff I still double cleanse. It’s not gonna remove a full face of makeup on its own. Some days it handles it, other days not so much. I use it more as a second cleanse after an oil cleanser or as my morning wash.
The whole not-stripping thing? That’s legit. My combination skin doesn’t feel tight or angry after using it, and when I had my partner with dry skin try it, no complaints about flaking or that desperate “WHERE’S MY MOISTURIZER” panic. It actually leaves your skin feeling soft, which is kind of rare for a foaming cleanser.
The dewy skin claim though? Yeah, that’s pushing it. It doesn’t make me glow or anything magical like that. But it also doesn’t strip away all my natural oils, so my serums and moisturizers can actually do their jobs instead of spending all their energy fixing damage. What I really liked was how it handled different situations.
When my t-zone’s an oil slick, it controls it without nuking my cheeks. During hormonal breakout hell, it cleans without making existing pimples more pissed off. And when winter turned my face into a flaky disaster, it didn’t make things worse. That versatility is honestly pretty rare.
What I Like About Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser
- Doesn’t strip my skin: My face feels soft after washing instead of tight and pissed off. Finding a foaming cleanser that doesn’t wreck your skin barrier is actually pretty rare.
- The texture is chef’s kiss: That cream-to-foam thing is so satisfying. Washing my face actually feels like I’m treating myself instead of just checking off a chore.
- Smells really good: Fresh and kind of yogurt-y without being fake or overwhelming. I actually look forward to using it in the morning.
- Handles my combo skin: My oily t-zone and dry cheeks are both happy, which almost never happens. Most cleansers pick a side.
- Lasts forever: I use like a pea-sized blob and I’ve had this tube for months. Makes the price sting less.
What I DON’T Like About Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser
- Makeup removal is meh: Doesn’t get everything off if I’m wearing heavy stuff. I still need to double cleanse on full-face days, so don’t expect miracles.
- Kinda pricey: Way more than drugstore cleansers.
- Has fragrance: I like the scent but if you’re super sensitive to smells or want totally unscented stuff, this won’t work for you.
Who Should Use This?
Perfect for sensitive skin that gets red and angry with other cleansers. I’ve noticed it keeps my skin calm even during reactive phases. Dry and dry/combination skin types will love this because it doesn’t strip moisture. My combination skin with both oily and dry patches gets balanced cleansing without either area feeling neglected.
If you’ve got mature skin and you’re tired of cleansers that dry your face out, this is worth trying. Even my acne-prone phases tolerate it well. It doesn’t aggravate breakouts. If you’re into the probiotic skincare thing or love Mediterranean beauty products, this fits perfectly. But seriously, if you have extremely reactive skin, grab a sample first before committing to the full size.
Does Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| The best-selling, Mediterranean superfood cream cleanser formulated with pre and probiotic rich real Greek Yoghurt, that leaves skin pure and nourished in one cleanse. | True. Note how it only claims it has these ingredients, not that these ingredients do the job. |
| Removes makeup. | True, although it struggled with waterproof makeup. |
| Locks in hydration. | It keeps skin hydrated during the cleansing process, that’s all. |
| Deep cleans pores. | No. You need salicylic acid for that. |
| Tones complexion. | This means nothing. |
| Reduces redness. | No, cleansers can’t do this. |
Price & Availability
$29.00/£21.00 at Face The Future, Look Fantastic, Revolve, and Ulta
The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
If foaming cleansers usually leave your face feeling like the Sahara desert, yeah give this a shot. The korres greek yoghurt foaming cream cleanser proves that foam doesn’t have to equal stripped and miserable. It works across my different skin concerns, the texture feels indulgent enough that I actually look forward to using it, and it respects my skin barrier while actually getting me clean. Is it gonna change your life? Nah. But it’s a genuinely solid cleanser that does its job without causing problems and honestly in a market flooded with stuff that’s either way too harsh or so gentle it doesn’t actually clean anything, that’s valuable.
Aqua/Water/Eau, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sclerotium Gum, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Laurate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Lactis Proteinum/Whey Protein/ Protéine Du Lait, Lactobacillus, Lactose, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Maltodextrin, Maris Aqua/Sea Water/Eau De Mer, Pentylene Glycol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Polymnia Sonchifolia Root Juice, Saccharide Isomerate, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Sodium Phytate, Ci 77891/Titanium Dioxide, Yogurt, Yogurt Powder, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum/Fragrance.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
