Bioré The Face is a five-option pump cleanser range built around dense, ready-made foam. Smooth Clear is the pore-focused choice, Deep Moist emphasizes moisturizers, Moist balances dryness and sebum concerns, Oil Control addresses a slick feel, and Acne Care is the separately regulated Japanese quasi-drug option.
| Key information | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand / manufacturer | Bioré / Kao |
| Format | Ready-to-use pump foam facial cleanser |
| Size | 200mL per bottle |
| Shopify choices | Smooth Clear, Deep Moist, Acne Care, Moist, Oil Control |
| Current Japan-store price | ¥650 for Smooth Clear; ¥620 for each other option, checked September 17, 2026. Prices can change. |
| Made in | Japan |
| Direct-use notes | None supplied; this guide is based on verified product information, not personal testing. |
Shop the Bioré The Face five-option product page. The listing represents one selected 200mL bottle, not a five-bottle set. At the time of this review, all five choices were active and together had 83 units recorded in Shopify inventory.
Bioré The Face comparison at a glance
| Type | Official positioning | Scent | Regulatory category in Japan | Who may prefer it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smooth Clear | Designed around cleansing keratin plugs and pore-area buildup | Soft bergamot soap | Cosmetic | Shoppers prioritizing a pore-focused formula |
| Deep Moist | Includes glycerin and sodium hyaluronate as moisturizers | Gentle white soap | Cosmetic | Shoppers whose main concern is a dry-feeling finish |
| Acne Care | Contains two declared active ingredients and is sold as a Japanese quasi-drug | Green soap | Quasi-drug | Shoppers specifically seeking the medicated option in this Japanese range |
| Moist | Framed for the combination of dryness and sebum concerns | Floral soap | Cosmetic | Shoppers who do not identify with either extreme |
| Oil Control | Designed around cleansing old keratin and oxidized sebum | Orange soap | Cosmetic | Shoppers who dislike a slick or greasy after-feel |
The names are useful shortcuts, but they are not skin diagnoses. “Moist” and “Oil Control,” for example, describe how Kao organizes the range rather than guaranteeing a particular result for every person. Fragrance is present in all five published formulas, so the fragrance names also matter if scent is an important buying factor.
What makes The Face different from a regular face wash?
The practical distinction is the pump. A conventional cleansing paste or gel normally needs water and hand-lathering before it reaches the face. The Face dispenses as foam, reducing that preparation step. Kao directs users to apply the foam with a light pressing motion rather than rubbing aggressively. This format may be convenient at a sink, during a rushed morning, or for someone who finds it difficult to build an even lather from a tube cleanser.
Convenience does not automatically mean stronger cleansing or better suitability. The five formulas are not identical, and the correct comparison is between the individual ingredient lists and official positioning. The range also differs from SENKA Perfect Whip, which includes tube and pump formats depending on the version. For a broader format comparison, see our Japanese foaming versus gel cleanser guide.
1. Smooth Clear: the pore-focused option
Smooth Clear is the yellow-accented choice. Kao describes it around the removal of keratin plugs and pore-area buildup and specifically identifies tromethamine as a cleansing ingredient. That makes it the most directly pore-oriented product in the five-option lineup. It should not be read as a promise to change pore size, permanently clear pores, or treat a skin condition.
The official ingredient list is: Water, PG, BG, Tromethamine, PEG-150, Glycerin, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Decyl Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, and Fragrance.
Compared with the other four options, Smooth Clear has the most visibly different published formula. It does not follow the lauric-acid and myristic-acid base shared by Deep Moist, Moist, and Oil Control. Its listed scent is soft bergamot soap. Choose it because you prefer this formula concept and scent—not because the word “clear” guarantees a universal outcome.
2. Deep Moist: the moisturizer-emphasized option
Deep Moist is the pink-accented option and the clearest match when the range is being narrowed by dry-feeling skin. Kao highlights glycerin and sodium hyaluronate as moisturizing ingredients. Because this is still a rinse-off cleanser, those ingredients should be understood within a cleansing formula rather than treated as substitutes for a leave-on lotion or cream.
The official ingredient list is: Water, Glycerin, PG, Lauric Acid, PEG-150, Laureth-6 Carboxylic Acid, Myristic Acid, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Potassium Hydroxide, Arginine, Decyl Glucoside, Laureth-4 Carboxylic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Polyquaternium-39, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, and Fragrance.
Deep Moist and Moist have closely related published lists, but Deep Moist adds sodium hyaluronate. That is a concrete formula distinction; it does not establish that every user will experience a more comfortable finish. The scent is described as gentle white soap, which may be a more important practical difference for fragrance-conscious shoppers.
3. Acne Care: the Japanese quasi-drug option
Acne Care is the green-accented bottle and the only Japanese quasi-drug in this group. Its declared active ingredients are isopropylmethylphenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizate. The regulatory category and active-ingredient labeling distinguish it from the four cosmetic cleansers, but this article does not present it as medical treatment or predict an individual result.
Kao also states that the product has undergone non-comedogenic testing while making the required practical caveat: that does not mean comedones will not occur for everyone. The listed scent is green soap.
The official active ingredients are Isopropylmethylphenol and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate. The other ingredients are: Water, Concentrated Glycerin, Lauryl Hydroxysulfobetaine Solution, PG, Potassium Hydroxide Solution (A), Lauric Acid, PEG 6000, POE Lauryl Ether Acetate, Myristic Acid, Alkyl Glycoside, Alkyl Acrylate Copolymer Emulsion-1, Arginine, Acrylamide/Acrylic Acid/Dimethyldiallylammonium Chloride Copolymer Solution, Palmitic Acid, Glyceryl Ethylhexyl Ether, Alkyl-1,3-Dimethylbutyl Ether, Edetate, Phenoxyethanol, and Fragrance.
Ingredient terminology for a Japanese quasi-drug does not always map one-to-one onto the INCI-style presentation used for ordinary cosmetics. Retaining the manufacturer’s published categories helps avoid implying that the formulas are directly interchangeable.
4. Moist: the middle-ground option
Moist is the blue-accented cleanser. Kao positions it around the combination of dryness and sebum concerns, which makes it the range’s broadest middle-ground choice. Its ingredient list closely resembles Deep Moist, but it does not include sodium hyaluronate in the current published formula. Its fragrance is floral soap.
The official ingredient list is: Water, Glycerin, PG, Lauric Acid, PEG-150, Laureth-6 Carboxylic Acid, Myristic Acid, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Potassium Hydroxide, Arginine, Decyl Glucoside, Laureth-4 Carboxylic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Polyquaternium-39, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, and Fragrance.
Moist is reasonable to shortlist when Deep Moist sounds too specifically dry-skin-oriented and Oil Control sounds too specifically sebum-oriented. That is a selection framework, not evidence that the product will normalize oil or moisture levels. If your face reacts easily to fragranced rinse-off products, the ingredient list and a cautious first use matter more than the color coding.
5. Oil Control: the sebum-focused option
Oil Control is the purple-accented bottle. Kao describes it around cleansing old keratin and oxidized sebum, so it is the straightforward choice for shoppers primarily concerned about a slick feel. The wording concerns rinse-off cleansing; it should not be expanded into claims about changing sebum production or treating acne.
The official ingredient list is: Water, Glycerin, PG, Lauric Acid, PEG-150, Laureth-6 Carboxylic Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Arginine, Decyl Glucoside, Laureth-4 Carboxylic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Acrylates Copolymer, Polyquaternium-39, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, and Fragrance.
Oil Control and Moist share the same published ingredient list in the current Kao pages, although their official positioning and fragrances differ. Oil Control is orange soap scented, while Moist is floral soap scented. This is a useful reminder that product selection cannot be inferred from a single ingredient alone.
Ingredient comparison: what actually changes?
| Comparison point | Smooth Clear | Deep Moist | Acne Care | Moist | Oil Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glycerin listed | Yes | Yes | Yes, as concentrated glycerin | Yes | Yes |
| Sodium hyaluronate listed | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Tromethamine listed | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Declared active ingredients | Not applicable | Not applicable | Isopropylmethylphenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizate | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Fragrance listed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Published formula relationship | Distinct from the other four | Close to Moist, with sodium hyaluronate added | Quasi-drug list presented under active/other ingredients | Same published list as Oil Control | Same published list as Moist |
These comparisons are based on the current Japanese manufacturer pages checked on September 17, 2026. Formulas and packaging can change. The package in hand should take priority if its ingredient declaration differs from an older online list. This is especially relevant because Kao says The Face packaging has been changing progressively since spring 2025, so shoppers may see different outer designs during the transition.
How to choose among the five
| Your priority | Start with | Why | What to check before ordering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pore-area buildup | Smooth Clear | The official concept specifically centers on keratin plugs and names tromethamine as a cleansing ingredient | Bergamot-soap fragrance and the distinct ingredient list |
| Dry-feeling finish | Deep Moist | Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate are highlighted as moisturizers | White-soap fragrance and whether a rinse-off moisturizer concept fits your routine |
| The medicated Japanese option | Acne Care | It is the only quasi-drug and has two declared active ingredients | Its category is market-specific and it is not a substitute for professional care |
| Mixed dryness and sebum concerns | Moist | Kao positions it as the middle-ground variant | Floral-soap fragrance and its close formula relationship with Oil Control |
| A slick or greasy feel | Oil Control | The official concept centers on old keratin and oxidized sebum cleansing | Orange-soap fragrance and the fact that it shares its published list with Moist |
If two options still seem equally suitable, scent and regulatory format are sensible tie-breakers. Smooth Clear, Deep Moist, Moist, and Oil Control are cosmetics in Japan. Acne Care is the quasi-drug. A quasi-drug label does not automatically make it universally stronger, gentler, or more appropriate.
How to use Bioré The Face
Kao’s common directions are straightforward. Lightly wet the face. Dispense approximately four to five pumps into the hand, then gently press and spread the foam over the skin. Rinse thoroughly. The pump is designed to create the foam before application, so there is no separate hand-lathering step.
Avoid placing the pump directly under running water. When using a refill, match it to the corresponding The Face product rather than mixing variants. Keeping the bottle upright and the pump area clean also helps preserve the intended dispensing behavior. Follow the package instructions if they differ from general online guidance.
More product is not necessarily better. The manufacturer’s pump guidance is a reference point, while face size and dispensing condition can affect the amount of foam delivered. Stop use and seek appropriate advice if irritation occurs. Avoid contact with the eyes, and rinse promptly if contact happens.
Hot, humid, and sweaty conditions
Humidity can change how skin feels without changing what a cleanser is. Someone who notices more surface oil in summer may be drawn to Oil Control or Smooth Clear, while frequent air-conditioning may make Deep Moist or Moist sound more suitable. Neither weather nor sweat creates a guarantee that one variant will outperform another.
After heavy sweating, cleansing frequency matters as much as the variant name. Repeated washing can feel uncomfortable for some people, so use the package directions and adjust the broader routine cautiously. This article does not claim independent sweat-resistance or climate testing; The Face is a rinse-off cleanser, not a product designed to remain on the skin.
Packaging, option selection, and current store details
The Shopify page groups five choices under one product. Select the intended name before adding it to the cart. A listing photo showing the full lineup does not mean the order contains five bottles. Each option is a single 200mL bottle, and the current product images include both front and information-panel views for each type.
On September 17, 2026, Smooth Clear was listed at ¥650, while Deep Moist, Acne Care, Moist, and Oil Control were each listed at ¥620. Those are current Japanese-yen store prices, not permanent manufacturer prices, and they may change with inventory or catalog updates. The recorded stock was 20 Smooth Clear, 5 Deep Moist, 20 Acne Care, 19 Moist, and 19 Oil Control.
Getting Bioré The Face outside Japan
International shoppers should identify the exact option, size, and package language rather than relying only on bottle color. The range is made for the Japanese market, and the Acne Care quasi-drug classification does not automatically carry the same meaning in another country. Local cosmetic or medicated-product rules may categorize it differently.
Compare the delivered package with the product page because both older and newer package designs may circulate during Kao’s transition. Keep the ingredient panel until you know the product suits your routine. Shipping availability, taxes, and import handling depend on the destination and checkout conditions; this guide does not provide a fixed foreign-currency price.
First-hand use notes
Final verdict
Bioré The Face is easiest to understand as one foam format with five separate selection paths. Smooth Clear is the formula outlier and pore-focused option. Deep Moist adds sodium hyaluronate to a formula closely related to Moist. Moist and Oil Control share a published ingredient list but differ in positioning and fragrance. Acne Care stands apart as the Japanese quasi-drug.
For most shoppers, the most reliable choice comes from three checks: official positioning, the full ingredient list, and scent. The pump format is the shared convenience; it does not make the five formulas interchangeable. Review the selected option on the active Bioré The Face product page before ordering, especially while package designs are changing.