My face squeaked for three days. Not in a scary way — in a “I just washed a dinner plate” way. That’s the first thing you notice about the Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Cleanser.
I’ve tested every viral K-beauty cleanser that’s crossed my feed since 2020. This one’s different — it’s the one my dehydrated, city-pollution face didn’t want to hate. The squeak disappears after 10 seconds, by the way. That’s the trick.
It’s a 150ml tube of gel-to-foam cleanser, around $16 at Olive Young. The claim that sold me: “deep cleansing without stripping.” I’ve heard that lie before. This time it mostly held up.
Low-pH formula
Sits around 5.5 — close to your skin’s natural pH, so your acid mantle doesn’t scream at you.
Micro-foam technology
The foam is dense. Not airy like a latte — more like shaving cream, which means it actually clings to your face instead of dripping down your neck.
Rinse-clean finish
No film. No residue. Your face feels like skin, not like a slip-n-slide.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
It’s not a 10-ingredient wonder. The whole point is minimalism — 1025 refers to the water depth around Dokdo island. The hero ingredients are simple and they work quietly.
- Panthenol: Calms redness and helps your barrier recover overnight
- Betaine: Draws moisture in while you wash, so you don’t dry out mid-rinse
- Sea water: Trace minerals that help balance oil production
- Sodium hyaluronate: Light hydration — not the heavy stuff, just enough to keep the stretch away
Photo: Igor Rand / Unsplash
First wash: the texture is a slippery gel that turns into that dense foam I mentioned. Rinses off in 8 seconds flat. My skin felt calm — not tight, not greasy. Just neutral. That’s rare.
Week 3 hit and something weird happened: my nose pores looked smaller. Not dramatically, but enough that I stared at myself in the car mirror at a red light like a weirdo. The surprise? My morning oil slick was less. Not gone — but I stopped blotting by noon.
Photo: Marius Muresan / Unsplash
After 30 days: less congestion on my chin, zero breakouts, and my skin stayed hydrated through a week of cold weather. My blackheads on my nose? Still there. Sorry, not a miracle worker.
Photo: Laura Chouette / Unsplash
It’s not a luxury experience. It’s a “get the job done without wrecking your face” cleanser — and honestly, that’s exactly what I needed.