Holika Holika Cleansing
Holika Holika's cleansing range covers 70+ products across four main lines: the Soda Pore Cleansing system (deep cleansing oil and foam), the Soda Tok Tok Clear Pores line, the Daily Fresh series (Tang Yuzu, Green Tea, Olive formulas), and the Leson Skin Redness Calming Sika line for sensitive skin. The range spans cleansing oils, foams, bubble foams, and cleansing tissues, covering every skin type from oily and congestion-prone skin that needs deep pore work to sensitive and redness-prone skin that needs a gentle, calming cleanse. Korean-formulated cleansers built around functional ingredients.
By Skinsli editorial Updated
Buying guide
Holika Holika Cleansers: Lines, Formats, and How to Choose
Holika Holika's cleansing collection spans four product lines and multiple formats, covering 70+ in-stock options. The Soda Pore Cleansing system uses sodium bicarbonate to address congested and oily skin. The Soda Tok Tok line extends the pore-clearing concept with a bubble foam format. The Daily Fresh series brings ingredient-led cleansers in Tang Yuzu, Green Tea, and Olive variants for everyday use. The Leson Sika line takes a different direction, targeting redness and sensitive skin with a calming formula. This guide explains the differences, helps you match a line to your skin type, and covers double-cleansing with the oil and foam together.
Soda Pore Cleansing: The Deep-Clean Line
The Soda Pore Cleansing system is built around sodium bicarbonate, which in cleansing formulas contributes to a mild pH adjustment that can help break down surface sebum and dissolve the debris that accumulates in pores. The system has two products designed to work together: the Deep Cleansing Oil and the Deep Cleansing Foam.
The oil cleanser goes first. Applied to dry skin, it dissolves makeup residue, sunscreen, and surface oil - all of which are oil-based and require an oil cleanser to fully remove. Emulsified with water and rinsed, it lifts these substances from the skin surface without requiring friction. The Deep Cleansing Foam follows as the second-cleanse step, using the foam's water-based formula to remove the remaining water-soluble residue and the oil cleanser emulsion. Together, these two products form the oil-and-foam double cleanse that is standard practice in Korean skincare routines.
Soda Tok Tok Clear Pores Line
The Soda Tok Tok Clear Pores line includes both a Deep Cleansing Foam (150 ml) and a Deep Cleansing Oil (150 ml). The Tok Tok naming connects to the Korean onomatopoeia for a tapping or gentle knocking sensation, which refers to the bubbly or airy texture of some formulas in this line. The Soda Tok Tok Pore Cleansing Bubble Foam is a particularly light-textured variant that lathers into a dense foam for a gentle, cushioned cleanse.
The Soda Tok Tok line is suited to oily and combination skin that wants pore-focused cleansing without stripping. The foam and oil formats cover the same double-cleanse structure as the original Soda Pore Cleansing line, and at 150 ml, both are practical sizes for regular daily use at home or as a mid-size travel option.
Daily Fresh: Ingredient-Led Everyday Cleansers
The Daily Fresh series takes an ingredient-forward approach to cleanser formulation. Three variants are in stock: Tang Yuzu Cleansing Foam, Fresh Green Tea Cleansing Foam, and Moist Olive Cleansing Tissue. Each is designed for daily use with a lighter cleansing action than the pore-focused Soda lines.
Tang Yuzu uses yuzu citrus extract, which is associated with a brightening and light antioxidant effect alongside a fresh scent that makes the cleanser pleasant to use in a morning routine. Fresh Green Tea uses green tea extract for antioxidant and mild oil-control benefits, which suits oily and combination skin as a daily AM cleanser. The Moist Olive variant comes as a cleansing tissue (60 sheets), suited to sensitive or dry skin that wants gentle oil-based cleansing with an emollient feel - olive oil is rich in fatty acids that condition the skin during cleansing rather than stripping it.
Leson Skin Redness Calming Sika Cleansing Foam
The Leson Skin Redness Calming Sika Cleansing Foam (150 ml) is formulated for sensitive and redness-prone skin. Sika (also spelled cica) refers to Centella asiatica, a Korean botanical with documented soothing and barrier-repair properties that has become one of the defining ingredients in K-beauty products for sensitive skin. The foam format delivers this calming ingredient in a gentle cleanse step that avoids disrupting the skin barrier.
For skin that experiences redness from cleansing - a common sign that the cleanser is too stripping or the skin barrier is compromised - the Sika foam is a practical choice. The calming properties of Centella help reduce the post-cleanse flush. Use it for the second cleanse step after an oil cleanser, or as a standalone cleanser if your skin is too sensitive for a double cleanse every day.
How to Use a Cleansing Oil Correctly
The key to a cleansing oil is to apply it to completely dry skin and hands. Water deactivates the emulsification process before it should happen. Apply the oil with dry fingertips, massage in circular motions over the face for 30 to 60 seconds - this is when the oil is dissolving makeup, sunscreen, and sebum. Then wet your fingertips slightly and massage again; the oil will turn milky (emulsify) as it combines with the water and becomes rinsable. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
If there is any oil film left after rinsing, follow immediately with a foam cleanser. The foam second step is not optional when using a cleansing oil - leaving oil residue on the skin can contribute to congestion, particularly in the T-zone.
Double Cleansing with Holika Holika Products
Double cleansing is the two-step cleansing method central to Korean skincare routines: an oil-based first step to dissolve oil-soluble debris, followed by a water-based second step to cleanse away the rest. The Holika Holika Soda Pore Cleansing system is designed specifically as a paired set for this purpose.
Step one: Soda Pore Cleansing Deep Cleansing Oil on dry skin. Massage for 30 to 60 seconds, emulsify with water, rinse. Step two: Soda Pore Cleansing Deep Cleansing Foam on damp skin. Lather, massage for 30 seconds, rinse with lukewarm water. This two-step sequence removes everything from sunscreen and makeup to excess sebum and environmental residue. The result is a clean canvas that allows the rest of your skincare routine to absorb effectively.
Choosing a Cleanser by Skin Type
For oily and congestion-prone skin: the Soda Pore Cleansing system (oil + foam) or the Soda Tok Tok Clear Pores Foam are the most appropriate choices. Both focus on thorough pore cleansing without harsh ingredients. For combination skin: the Green Tea Daily Fresh Foam for AM and the Soda Pore Foam or Tok Tok Foam for PM is a practical approach. For dry skin: the Moist Olive Cleansing Tissue or the Avocado-aligned formulas give an emollient cleanse that does not strip the skin's natural oils. For sensitive and redness-prone skin: the Leson Sika Cleansing Foam is the most targeted option in the range and should be used as the primary cleanser or second-cleanse step.
Moist Olive Cleansing Tissue: When and How to Use
The Moist Olive Cleansing Tissue (60 sheets) is an oil-based cleansing wipe that differs from standard micellar water cotton pads in that it uses an olive oil emulsion to dissolve and lift makeup and sunscreen. The olive oil base is emollient and conditions the skin during removal rather than stripping it, which makes these tissues more skin-friendly than alcohol-based or surfactant-heavy micellar wipes.
Use the tissues as a first-cleanse step - they serve the same role as a cleansing oil but in a more convenient format. After wiping, follow with your regular foam or gel cleanser as the second step to remove the oily residue the tissue leaves behind. These are also practical for travel, gym bags, or situations where a full two-step cleanse is not possible and a quick but thorough cleanse is needed.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to use both the Holika Holika Soda Pore Cleansing Oil and Foam together?
They are designed as a paired double-cleanse system, but each works independently too. The oil cleanser is best for removing makeup, sunscreen, and heavy sebum - areas where water-based cleansers are not effective alone. The foam cleanser handles the second step to remove remaining residue. If you do not wear makeup or sunscreen, a foam alone may be sufficient. For a full cleanse, the oil + foam sequence is the most thorough approach.
Can the Holika Holika Sika Cleansing Foam help with redness from cleansing?
The Leson Skin Redness Calming Sika Cleansing Foam is formulated to reduce post-cleanse redness. Centella asiatica (Sika) has documented soothing and anti-inflammatory properties that help calm the skin during and after cleansing. If your current cleanser causes visible redness or tightness after use, it is likely too stripping for your skin - switching to the Sika foam as the second-cleanse step is a practical first change to try.
Which Holika Holika Daily Fresh cleanser is best for a morning cleanse?
The Tang Yuzu or Green Tea Daily Fresh Cleansing Foams are both practical morning cleansers. Tang Yuzu has a brightening and fresh character suited to starting the day with a light cleanse. Green Tea adds mild antioxidant benefit and suits oily skin that wants oil management from the first step. In the morning, you typically only need a gentle foam cleanse because your skin has not accumulated heavy makeup or sunscreen overnight.
What is the difference between the Moist Olive Cleansing Tissue and a cleansing oil?
The Moist Olive Cleansing Tissue uses an olive oil emulsion in a pre-saturated wipe format. A cleansing oil is poured into the hand and massaged directly onto the face. Both dissolve oil-based debris; the tissue is more convenient and portable, while the bottle cleanser gives more control over the amount used and the massage technique. The tissue is a good first-cleanse option when convenience is the priority. Both should be followed by a foam cleanser as the second step.
Do I need to apply the Soda Pore Deep Cleansing Oil to dry or wet skin?
Dry skin and dry hands. Applying to wet skin or with wet hands causes the oil to emulsify immediately, which reduces its ability to dissolve makeup and sebum before the rinse step. Apply a small amount to dry fingertips, massage over the dry face for 30 to 60 seconds, then wet your fingertips and massage again to emulsify. The oil turns milky and becomes rinsable. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water, then follow with the foam cleanser.
What makes the Soda Tok Tok Pore Cleansing Bubble Foam different from the regular foam?
The Bubble Foam has a lighter, airier texture that creates a denser foam layer. This cushioned foam provides a gentle cleansing experience with less friction on the skin surface, which suits skin that finds regular foams slightly rough. The cleansing action is comparable; the difference is in the feel and density of the lather. Bubble foams are a popular format in Korean skincare for sensitive or texture-sensitive skin that still wants a thorough foam cleanse.
How many cleansing products does Holika Holika have on skinsli?
The current cleansing assortment from Holika Holika on skinsli includes 70+ products across the Soda Pore Cleansing, Soda Tok Tok, Daily Fresh, and Leson Sika lines, spanning oils, foams, bubble foams, and cleansing tissues. This is one of the most extensive cleansing ranges from any single K-beauty brand on the site.
Can I use the Holika Holika Daily Fresh Green Tea Cleansing Foam every day?
Yes, it is formulated for daily use. The Daily Fresh series is designed for everyday morning or evening cleansing with a light action that does not over-strip the skin. Green tea extract gives antioxidant benefit alongside the cleanse, and the 150 ml size supports daily use over several months. If you use it as both morning and evening cleanser, the bottle will last approximately three to four months.
Does the Holika Holika Soda Pore Cleansing system actually help with pores?
The sodium bicarbonate in the Soda formulas helps dissolve the sebum and debris that accumulate in pores. Regular daily use of the deep cleansing oil and foam system can prevent the buildup that makes pores appear larger and more visible. The soda formula does not physically shrink pores - pore size is largely genetic - but keeping pores clear of buildup makes them appear smaller and less prominent over time. Consistent use is more effective than occasional intensive use.
Does Holika Holika make a cleanser suitable for sensitive skin?
Yes. The Leson Skin Redness Calming Sika Cleansing Foam is specifically formulated for sensitive and redness-prone skin, using Centella asiatica for its calming and barrier-repair properties. The Moist Olive Cleansing Tissue is also gentle due to its olive oil base, which conditions the skin during cleansing. For very sensitive skin, use the Sika foam as the primary or second-cleanse step and avoid the more intensive Soda Pore formulas unless your skin tolerance allows.