It pairs a BHA and kaolin deep-cleansing core with an unusual conditioning cast, seventeen amino acids, rice bran, two ceramides, cholesterol, and even a touch of retinal, in a fragrance-free foam. That mix of genuine pore-clearing and barrier-conditioning in a budget wash is its niche.
A genuinely deep-cleansing fragrance-free foam that pairs BHA and kaolin clay with an unusual conditioning cast of amino acids, rice bran, ceramides, and cholesterol, all at a budget price. It clears oil and congestion without leaving oily skin stripped, though its soap-based base and acid focus make it a poorer fit for dry or sensitive skin.
Drawing on Dong-A's pharmaceutical backing and a growing pool of Korean-retailer reviews, this take pairs that feedback with a read of the foam's BHA-clay-and-ceramide cleansing formula. How drying or comfortable it feels hinges on skin type and how often you use it, which reviews rarely separate.
The case for it
Cautions: fungal-acne triggers.
What would change this: A declared concentration would move this to a firmer reading of the dose.
Same rule for everyone. “Good choice” is the verdict on 9,564 of 45,024 concern verdicts across the catalog; rule R2r decided 408 of them. Unchanged since September 5, 2026, engine 5.1.1.
Brand or formulator? Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →
The studies behind the evidence row
The case for it
Cautions: fungal-acne triggers.
What would change this: A declared concentration would move this to a firmer reading of the dose.
Same rule for everyone. “Good choice” is the verdict on 9,564 of 45,024 concern verdicts across the catalog; rule R2r decided 408 of them. Unchanged since September 5, 2026, engine 5.1.1.
Brand or formulator? Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →
The studies behind the evidence row
The case for it
Cautions: fungal-acne triggers.
What would change this: The same active in a leave-on form would be judged on its evidence rather than its contact time.
Same rule for everyone. “Supporting role” is the verdict on 8,197 of 45,024 concern verdicts across the catalog; rule R6 decided 2,017 of them. Unchanged since September 5, 2026, engine 5.1.1.
Brand or formulator? Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →
The studies behind the evidence row
The case for it
What would change this: The same active in a leave-on form would be judged on its evidence rather than its contact time.
Same rule for everyone. “Supporting role” is the verdict on 8,197 of 45,024 concern verdicts across the catalog; rule R6 decided 2,017 of them. Unchanged since September 5, 2026, engine 5.1.1.
Brand or formulator? Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →
The studies behind the evidence row
The case for it
What would change this: The same active in a leave-on form would be judged on its evidence rather than its contact time.
Same rule for everyone. “Supporting role” is the verdict on 8,197 of 45,024 concern verdicts across the catalog; rule R6 decided 2,017 of them. Unchanged since September 5, 2026, engine 5.1.1.
Brand or formulator? Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →
The studies behind the evidence row
Does the jobDoes what a cleanser is for: puts something back, surfactant mildness. Not measured from the label: pH match to skin.
A verdict is DermApproved’s assessment of how well a product’s ingredients fit a concern — never a claim about what the product treats. Evidence dots and collected reviews sit beside it and are never blended in. Rules 0.5.1 · evidence table ev-2026.09-r228 · how we decide
Deep-pore cleansers have a reputation, often deserved, for treating your face like a greasy pan: scour it clean and leave it squeaky. The squeak feels like proof, but it is usually just a stripped barrier, and on oily, acne-prone skin that backfires, triggering more oil and irritation. Fation's Nosca9 Deep Pore Cleansing Foam is interesting because it tries to have it both ways, pairing a genuine pore-clearing core with an unusually generous conditioning cast, and for the most part it manages the balance better than its price would suggest.
The deep-cleaning side is real. Salicylic acid sits high in the formula to dissolve the oil clogging pores, and kaolin clay adsorbs excess sebum and lifts impurities, the two working together to decongest oily skin and chip away at blackheads over time. Because it is a rinse-off, the BHA acts as a daily pore-decongesting boost rather than a leave-on exfoliant, but combined with the clay it gives the foam a legitimately purifying character. The surfactant base is soap-style, built on stearic, lauric, and myristic acids saponified with potassium hydroxide, which is what produces that dense, satisfying, genuinely cleansing foam.
Where it diverges from a typical deep-cleaning foam is everything else in the list. Fation folds in seventeen amino acids, rice bran water and powder, two ceramides (NP and AP), cholesterol, phosphatidylcholine, a clutch of ferments, and even a small amount of retinal. Most of these are conditioning and barrier-supporting, included to offset the stripping potential of the clay and soap base. The practical effect is that the foam rinses to a fresh, decongested finish rather than a tight, parched one, which is exactly the balance the marketing promises and many cheap deep cleansers fail to deliver. It is also fragrance-free, removing a common irritant.
In use, oily and combination skin tends to get along with it well: the foam is cushiony, the cleanse feels thorough, and skin comes away clean but comfortable. Over a few weeks of consistent use, pores look clearer and texture smooths. It works as a morning wash or the water-based second step of a nighttime double cleanse after an oil remover. The retinal, sitting low in the formula, is a minor smoothing extra rather than a real treatment, given the short contact time of a cleanser.
The main caveats follow from the base. A soap-based foaming system cleans deeply but is inherently more stripping than amino-acid surfactants, and while the conditioning cast offsets much of that, dry and sensitive skin may still find daily use too much, better served by a few-times-a-week schedule on oilier areas followed by rich hydration, or by a gentler cleanser entirely. The BHA and retinal mean reactive skin should patch test, and it is not fungal-acne-safe, so anyone managing malassezia should scan the oils and ferments. This is, fundamentally, a cleanser for oily skin, and it does not pretend otherwise.
The brand context adds reassurance. Fation is young, founded in 2018, but it is the consumer arm of Dong-A Pharmaceutical, a Korean health-science company with over 90 years of history, and that pharmaceutical rigor shows in the thoughtful balancing of a deep-cleaning base with barrier-conditioning actives. It is more clinically credible than its age implies, even if this specific product lacks a long independent track record.
It is worth weighing it against the brand's own gentler options, since the right cleanser depends on your skin's state. This deep-pore foam is the one for oily, congested skin that genuinely needs a thorough degreasing, but on a day when your skin feels stripped or sensitized, the gentler amino-acid cleansers in the broader Fation and Nosca9 lineup are the smarter call. Many people benefit from owning both and choosing by how their skin feels: the deep foam when oil and blackheads dominate, a milder wash when the barrier needs a break. Used with that bit of judgment rather than reflexively every day, the foam delivers its real strength, a satisfying, genuinely decongesting clean, without the over-stripping that a soap-based wash can cause if leaned on too hard. It rewards being the right tool for the right day rather than the only tool in the drawer.
Summed up, it is a strong-value deep-cleansing foam for oily and combination skin that wants real pore-clearing without the stripped aftermath. Go in understanding that it is a soap-based, oil-focused cleanser, that the amino acids and ceramides keep it from being harsh rather than making it gentle enough for dry skin, and that dry or sensitive types should use it sparingly, and it delivers a thorough, comfortable, fragrance-free clean for very little money. The conditioning cast is what separates it from the pack of cheap deep cleansers, and for the oily skin it targets, that balance of genuine decongesting and barrier respect is exactly what makes it worth keeping on the shelf.
The hero actives that drive this product's performance.
| Ingredient | Function | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Salicylic Acid (BHA) | The oil-soluble BHA sits high in the formula to dissolve pore-clogging sebum during the wash; in a cleanser its contact time is short, so it works as a daily pore-decongesting boost rather than a leave-on exfoliant, aimed at the blackheads and congestion this foam targets. | Established mechanism for Rough Texture · established mechanism |
| Kaolin Clay | A gentle clay that adsorbs excess oil and helps lift impurities from pores, giving the foam its deep-cleansing character; milder than stronger clays, it purifies without the tightness a heavy clay wash can leave on the skin. | Not yet assessed |
| 17 Amino Acids & Rice Bran | A blend of seventeen amino acids plus rice bran provides skin-replenishing, conditioning support; in a deep-cleansing foam they offset the clay and BHA, helping the wash leave skin smooth and conditioned rather than stripped after a thorough cleanse. | Not yet assessed |
| Ceramide NP & AP with Cholesterol | Two ceramides plus cholesterol top up barrier lipids the cleansing step can disturb; their presence is why a deep-pore foam with clay and BHA still aims to leave the barrier supported rather than degreased and tight. | Not yet assessed |
Ingredient standings describe the active at treatment-level doses and vehicles; this product's own condition grades weigh its actual formula.
Water, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Stearate SE, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Cetyl Palmitate, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium Polyacrylate, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coffea Arabica Seed Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Castanea Crenata Shell Extract, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Betaine, Phosphatidylcholine, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Kaolin, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Ceramide AP, Retinal, Propanediol, Oryza Sativa Powder, Glycine, Lactobacillus/Panax Ginseng Root Ferment Filtrate, Lactobacillus/Rice Ferment, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Saccharomyces/Potato Extract Ferment Filtrate, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine
cleanser
AM & PM
Use as a daily cleanser or the second step of a nighttime double cleanse after an oil remover. Lather in the hands, massage briefly over oily, congested areas, and rinse with lukewarm water before the rest of your routine.
Skin feels clean and less oily from the first wash; clearer pores and smoother texture build over 3-6 weeks of consistent use.
The foam's deep-cleaning rests on a soap-based surfactant system, fatty acids (stearic, lauric, myristic) saponified with potassium hydroxide, which produces a dense lather and effective oil removal but is inherently more alkaline and stripping than amino-acid surfactants. Salicylic acid is a well-evidenced beta-hydroxy acid that dissolves pore-clogging sebum, though its exfoliating effect is limited in a rinse-off, and kaolin is a documented mild clay adsorbent for excess oil. What distinguishes the formula is the conditioning load: two ceramides (NP, AP) plus cholesterol address barrier lipids the cleanse can disturb, phosphatidylcholine and rice bran add lipids and conditioning, and a blend of seventeen amino acids plus ferments contributes skin-replenishing and humectant support, all working to offset the soap base's stripping tendency. The small amount of retinal, low in the list, has minimal effect given the short contact time. The botanical extracts, persimmon leaf, grape, green tea, coffee, and others, add antioxidant character of modest strength. The fair reading is that the deep-cleaning and conditioning are both genuine, with the soap base the main reason it suits oily over dry skin, and the conditioning cast the reason it is gentler than most soap-based deep cleansers.
Deep-cleansing foams with BHA and clay are a reasonable choice for oily, congested, acne-prone skin, and pairing them with barrier lipids and amino acids reflects a sensible attempt to limit the over-stripping that soap-based cleansers can cause. Clinically, the main considerations are that soap-based surfactants are more drying than amino-acid types, so dry, sensitive, or compromised skin should use such a cleanser sparingly, and that the BHA and trace retinal warrant caution and patch testing for reactive skin. For oily skin, it is a fine deep-cleansing step, best paired with hydrating follow-up products and daily sunscreen. As always, a cleanser is a supporting player in an acne routine rather than a standalone treatment, and the Dong-A pharmaceutical backing lends reasonable confidence to the formulation.
Squeeze a small amount into wet hands, work it into a dense foam, then massage gently over damp skin, focusing on oily, congested areas, and rinse with lukewarm water. Use it as a morning cleanser or as the second, water-based step of a nighttime double cleanse after an oil remover. Drier skin should limit it to a few times a week and follow with rich hydration. Pair the morning routine with sunscreen, and patch test first if your skin is reactive to BHA or retinoids.
On value, this foam is excellent. A fragrance-free deep-cleansing foam with BHA, kaolin, two ceramides, cholesterol, and a seventeen-amino-acid conditioning blend at a low price, often discounted further, is more thoughtfully built than most cheap deep cleansers. The 150ml tube lasts a couple of months, and there is no larger size needed. Prices vary across Korean retailers, so comparing helps. The main thing shaping its value is fit, since it suits oily and combination skin best; for that audience, it is a lot of well-balanced deep-cleansing foam for very little money.
Oily and combination skin wanting an affordable deep-cleansing foam that clears oil and congestion without the stripped aftermath, thanks to its amino-acid and ceramide conditioning. It suits anyone after a thorough, fragrance-free pore-clearing wash that still respects the barrier.
Dry, sensitive, or compromised skin should use it sparingly or choose a gentler amino-acid cleanser, since the soap-based formula is more stripping. Those very reactive to BHA or retinoids should patch test, and fungal-acne sufferers should check the oils and ferments against their triggers.
Ready to try Fation Nosca9 Deep Pore Cleansing Foam?
Buy at Amazon ♥A creamy paste that whips into a dense, cushiony foam and rinses clean with a fresh, decongested feel.
Fragrance-free, with only a faint natural base smell.
A squeeze tube in the brand's clinical-looking styling, practical and travel-friendly.
From the first wash the dense foam feels cushiony and rinses to a fresh, clean finish; oily skin should feel decongested rather than tight, with no scent and no sting on tolerant skin.
About 2-3 months with once or twice daily use from the 150ml tube.
All Year
The Deep Pore Cleansing Foam sits in Fation's Nosca9 line for troubled, oily skin, developed by Dong-A Pharmaceutical. It targets blackheads and congestion with BHA and clay while folding in the brand's signature ceramide-and-amino-acid conditioning to avoid stripping the skin.
Fation is a derma-focused Korean skincare brand created by Dong-A Pharmaceutical, a 90-year-old health-science company, and launched in 2018. Though young as a brand, its formulas draw on the parent company's pharmaceutical research, and the Nosca9 line is positioned clinically for troubled, sensitive skin.
A deep-pore cleanser has to leave your skin squeaky to prove it worked.
Squeaky usually means stripped; this foam pairs its clay and BHA with amino acids and ceramides precisely so it can deep-clean while leaving skin conditioned, and a fresh-but-comfortable finish is the goal, not a tight one.
It combines salicylic acid (BHA) to dissolve pore-clogging oil with kaolin clay to adsorb excess sebum and lift impurities. Because it rinses off, the BHA works as a daily pore-decongesting boost rather than a leave-on exfoliant, suiting oily, congested skin.
It uses a soap-based foaming system, which cleans deeply but can feel drying for some, so it is balanced with seventeen amino acids, rice bran, ceramides, and cholesterol to condition and support the barrier. Oily skin usually finds it comfortable; dry skin may prefer it a few times a week.
A small amount of retinal sits low in the formula for a mild smoothing and pore-refining touch. Its effect in a rinse-off is limited, so it is a minor extra rather than a treatment, but those very sensitive to retinoids should still be aware it is present.
No, it is formulated without fragrance or essential oils, with only a faint natural base smell. That makes it a sensible deep-cleansing option for those avoiding fragrance, though the BHA means reactive skin should still patch test.
It is aimed at oily and combination skin; the soap-based, BHA-and-clay formula can be much for dry or sensitive skin daily. Drier types can use it a few times a week on oilier areas and follow with rich, hydrating steps.
Recurring themes our editors read across retailer reviews of this product — summaries in our words, not quotations, and not a substitute for your own patch test.
Deep-cleans without over-drying
Helps with oil and blackheads
Fragrance-free
Affordable and lasts
Soap-based foam can be drying for some
Not for very dry skin daily
Contains retinal, so introduce carefully
Verified answers from our questions library — the nuance a product page cannot carry.
