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Written by Grove Collaborative

We tried it: OSEA Ocean Cleanser.

Last Updated: December 31, 2021


OSEA is a vegan plant-based skincare company. Grove writer, Livan Samudio, tested out their Ocean Cleanser — see what he had to say about it.

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OSEA is a skincare company that was established in 1996 by a family of women. They are based in southern California, and they pride themselves in selling skincare products that include ingredients from the sea. According to their website, OSEA stands for Ocean, Sun, Earth, and Atmosphere, which are what they believe to be the core elements of wellness and also sources of inspiration for their products. OSEA’s products are vegan, gluten-free, and contain plant-based ingredients.


When it comes to skincare, I’m not the most experienced but I recently started getting more involved and learning about what products are good for my skin type. I wouldn’t say my skin is insanely dry or excessively oily, but I’d say I’m a combination of both. I get occasional acne spots in my t-zone and cheeks, but I’m thankful to not have to deal with excessive breakouts. I don’t use tons of products and I haven’t tried too many cleansers, but I was very excited to try out the OSEA Ocean Cleanser because it’s a natural product made from the sea. Here’s a little more about the cleanser and its ingredients.

What is OSEA's Ocean Cleanser?

OSEA’s Ocean Cleanser is a facial cleaner made with ingredients like lactic acid, vitamin E, and jojoba oil. The cleanser smells very refreshing and is very smooth to the touch.


This cleanser is intended for those with normal or combination skin, and it can be used as a light exfoliating facial cleanser or also as a shaving gel. If your skin is more oily, try OSEA’s Ocean Cleansing Mudd.


Is OSEA Ocean Cleanser meant only for women?

This natural formula is pH-balanced to remove excess oil and impurities from your skin while supporting a moisture barrier, making it a go-to facial cleansing option that isn’t too harsh.


Its softening properties mean it’s also great to use as a shaving gel — for all genders — on either the face or body.

What ingredients are in the OSEA Ocean Cleanser?

Each application of OSEA Ocean Cleanser delivers the ocean’s benefits, leaving your skin refreshed and radiant.


This non-foaming formula includes a soothing combo of essential oils such as lime, cypress, juniper, and jasmine. It is also packed with hydrating organic seaweed.

OSEA Ocean Cleanser: How does it work as a facial cleanser?

The cleanser is very smooth to the touch and glides on smoothly when applying to your face too. It has a citrus-like smell to it and is light pistachio green color.


Like I mentioned previously, I’d recently gotten into learning about skincare and products, so I had not used a cleanser that’s comparable to the OSEA Ocean Cleanser. Before trying the product I used Clean & Clear’s Morning Burst Facial Cleanser. I liked that it exfoliated with the little bursting beads but it just felt cheap and would sometimes leave my skin too dry or feeling chemically. The natural ingredients in OSEA’s Ocean Cleanser made me excited to start a switch to natural skincare and clean beauty products.


When using the Ocean Cleanser … as a cleanser … I followed these steps.


  1. Use a makeup remover (I love this makeup remover towel) to clear any excess makeup or dirt prior to using cleanser.
  2. Apply water to the face to dampen skin.
  3. Get a few pumps of the cleanser into your hands.
  4. Spread evenly across the face in circles to ensure you are exfoliating and removing impurities and/or makeup. Note: Cleanser will not foam as it is free of harsh synthetic surfactants.
  5. Rinse face with warm water.
  6. Optional: Follow up with prefered toner and moisturizer of your choice.

I followed this process in the morning and evening for a week until it became part of my daily routine. I would definitely recommend using this cleanser two times a day (morning and night) for the best results.

Before and after pics

Before using the cleanser:

After using the cleanser:

For these pictures, I used a makeup remover before the cleanser to see how it did removing all the leftover makeup as well as dirt and impurities. As you can tell, it did a great job overall at cleaning my skin and removing most of my leftover makeup without leaving my skin feeling dry. The product feels very hydrating on the skin and left me feeling very refreshed after using it.


After using this product for a week straight, I definitely started to notice a difference. I had less small breakouts around my cheeks and my skin was less dry. After using the cleanser, my face felt smooth and refreshed longer versus feeling dry and chemically.

OSEA Ocean Cleanser: How does it work as a shaving gel?

Previously I had used the BullDog Shaving Gel—it was a smooth yet thick product and left my skin feeling smooth after shaving. It had a nice smell but I genuinely preferred the smell and the feel of the OSEA Ocean Cleanser right out of the bottle.


To use the OSEA Ocean Cleanser as a shaving gel, I followed these steps.


  1. Apply water to where you want to shave to dampen the skin.
  2. Get a few pumps of the cleanser into your hands.
  3. Rub in and lather the areas where you want to shave with the cleanser.
  4. Slowly use your razor to glide over the areas that you are shaving.
  5. Rinse the skin
  6. Follow up with a moisturizer of your choice.

As a shaving cream, the cleanser was slightly different than expected. I had been used to products that either foam or bubble a lot (or even just a little). With the OSEA Ocean Cleanser, it was very smooth at application but didn’t foam or bubble at all.


If I were to continue to use it as a shaving gel, personally, I would use it as a cleanser first to soften your face and then use it again as a shaving gel. When I use the cleanser as a cleanser, it softens and exfoliates my face making the hairs on my face soft and easier to shave with a shaver. I’ll keep experimenting to see how this one product can do multiple things for me and my skincare routine.

Are you ready to try Ocean Cleansing Mudd?


This exfoliating, oil-balancing cleanser deeply purifies and thoroughly decongests oily and blemished skin. A potent blend of USDA Certified Organic Algae and Cypress oil removes surface impurities and visibly balances blemishes. Tea Tree, Peppermint, and Wild Mint provide a cooling sensation and leave skin feeling refreshed, energized, and clarified.

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My final thoughts

Overall, I really like this product. It has multiple functions (i.e., cleanser and shaving gel) but I truly prefered it as a facial cleanser. I will definitely continue to use it for that purpose in my skincare routine. It is light and smooth and does a great job at cleansing my face, leaving me feeling refreshed and my skin moisturized.


According to Jenefer Palmer, Founder of OSEA, "OSEA was born of the idea that the ocean should be part of everyone’s life—and the conviction that it already is.”

Shop Grove for more natural skin care products from OSEA.

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