The tube belongs to a hydration line. It shares the sky-blue cap and clean white label of Maxclinic's Pro Hyaluron toner and gel cream, and it lists eleven hyaluronic acids, sparkling water and a probiotic complex on the front. Turn it over, though, and the ingredient list begins with water, glycerin, myristic acid, stearic acid, lauric acid and potassium hydroxide. Those four ingredients after glycerin are the recipe for a potassium soap, the base of the classic Korean foaming cleanser. The Pro Hyaluron Cleansing Foam is, at heart, a rich soap-based wash, and understanding that tells you most of what you need to know about who it suits.
Maxclinic launched in Korea around 2017 and cleansers have always been its strongest category, from the oil-to-foam products that made it famous to several foam and gel washes. The Pro Hyaluron line is its hydration range, and this foam is designed as the line's daily wash. The branding promises a moisturising, non-drying cleanse. The formula delivers a thorough cleanse with some effort put into softening it.
The soap chemistry is simple. When fatty acids such as myristic, stearic and lauric acid are neutralised with potassium hydroxide, they form potassium soaps, which produce the dense, creamy, almost marshmallow-like lather that Korean foam cleansers are known for. Coco-betaine, a mild amphoteric surfactant, is added to boost and soften the foam, and glyceryl stearate, palmitic acid and arachidic acid help give it body. It is an effective cleansing system that removes oil, sweat and light sunscreen easily. The trade-off is that soap foams are alkaline, typically with a pH well above the skin's natural range, and research on cleansers has consistently linked soap bases to greater barrier lipid loss and more post-wash tightness than milder synthetic surfactants.
Maxclinic has clearly tried to counterbalance that. Glycerin sits second on the list, ahead of all the soap-forming acids, which is a generous amount for a foam cleanser and does meaningfully soften the rinse. Sodium PCA, one of the skin's own natural moisturising factors, appears just after the coco-betaine, and panthenol and beta-glucan follow later. These are the ingredients that make the difference between a harsh soap and a reasonably comfortable one. The hyaluronic acids, meanwhile, are mostly in the second half of the list and, in a product rinsed off within a minute, are there more for the name than for any lasting effect. The probiotic ferment lysates and gluconolactone are similarly low and short-lived on the skin. Notably, the published ingredient list available for verification does not name a carbonated or sparkling water, despite the label claim.
In use, it is very pleasant for the right skin type. A pea-sized amount whips into an abundant, thick lather with a few drops of water, spreads easily over the face and rinses cleanly. Oily areas feel fresh, matte and thoroughly clean, and for people who enjoy that squeaky-clean sensation, it is satisfying. The fragrance is clean and soapy and disappears after rinsing.
On normal to dry skin, the story is less positive. Within a few minutes of rinsing, many people will feel tightness, particularly in winter or in dry climates, and repeated twice-daily use can leave the barrier feeling stressed. That is not a flaw in the manufacturing; it is simply what soap-based cleansers tend to do, even with a good humectant cushion. Sensitive, rosacea-prone and eczema-prone skin will generally do better with a low-pH syndet cleanser. The fatty-acid base, particularly lauric and myristic acid, also rules it out for anyone managing fungal acne.
There are practical points too. It is not an effective makeup remover on its own; foundation, long-wear makeup and water-resistant sunscreen need an oil or balm cleanser first. It is best used with short contact, around thirty seconds of massage, and followed promptly by a hydrating toner to help restore a comfortable feel. Using it once a day, in the evening as a second cleanse, and switching to a water rinse or gentle gel in the morning is a sensible compromise for combination skin.
Price is difficult to verify. The foam is sold mainly through Korean exporters and regional retailers, with widely varying listings, and a reliable US price could not be confirmed at the time of writing. In European markets it sits at a budget-friendly level typical of Korean foam cleansers. A 120ml tube lasts roughly two months with twice-daily use, which keeps the cost per wash low wherever it is bought.
In a routine, the foam fits best as a second cleanse for oily or combination skin, after an oil cleanser in the evening. It should be followed by hydrating layers, toner, serum and moisturiser, and it pairs particularly well with the line's own fragrance-free Pro Hyaluron Toner, which helps offset the soap base's drying tendency.
The final judgement is mixed but clear. This is an effective, pleasant soap-based foam cleanser with a thoughtful glycerin and sodium PCA cushion, and oily skin that likes a rich lather and a thorough clean will enjoy it. Its hydration-line branding, however, oversells how gentle it is. Anyone with dry, sensitive or reactive skin should read the ingredient list before the label.
