REVIEW | SULWHASOO CONCENTRATED GINSENG PRODUCTS & FIRST CARE ACTIVATING SERUM

Hello!

Sulwhasoo is no stranger in the Korean skincare scene and has been around since 1932. Guided by a holistic approach to skincare, Sulwhasoo uses traditional herbs such as Korean ginseng and combines it with modern science to produce its skincare products.

I purchased the Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Serum and received some travel sized products from the same Concentrated Ginseng line as well as the ever famous First Care Activating Serum.

Read on to see my thoughts on these products!

Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Foam

I start off by using this cleanser to wash away any impurities on my face. Although it calls itself a cleansing foam, the texture is a water-gel texture which builds up into a soft, mild foam. I really like this cleanser as it leaves my face feeling clean and moisturised without any tightness or dryness. This claims to be suitable for all skin types, and my sensitive skin definitely enjoys it. A little goes a long way with this product as I find that half a pea sized amount of product is sufficient to thoroughly cleanse my face. Would recommend this!

Ingredients list: WATER / AQUA / EAU, POTASSIUM COCOYL GLYCINATE, DISODIUM COCOAMPHODIACETATE, COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE, ACRYLATES/BEHENETH-25 METHACRYLATE COPOLYMER, PEG-200 HYDROGENATED GLYCERYL PALMATE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, 1, 2-HEXANEDIOL, SODIUM METHYL COCOYL TAURATE, CAPRYLYL/CAPRYL GLUCOSIDE, PEG-7 GLYCERYL COCOATE, ISOSTEARIC ACID, POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, FRAGRANCE / PARFUM, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, LIMONENE, DISODIUM EDTA, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, SODIUM BENZOATE, TETRASODIUM EDTA, COIX LACRYMA-JOBI MA-YUEN SEED EXTRACT, CITRUS UNSHIU PEEL EXTRACT, CASTANEA CRENATA (CHESTNUT) SHELL EXTRACT, LINALOOL, SPIRODELA POLYRHIZA EXTRACT, DIOSCOREA JAPONICA ROOT EXTRACT, DEXTRIN, THEOBROMA CACAO (COCOA) EXTRACT, RUBUS IDAEUS (RASPBERRY) FRUIT EXTRACT, ULMUS DAVIDIANA ROOT EXTRACT, SALICORNIA HERBACEA EXTRACT, MORUS ALBA LEAF EXTRACT, ANGELICA KEISKEI EXTRACT, CITRIC ACID, TOCOPHEROL

You can get this on Sulwhasoo's Official Store on Shopee | Sasa on Shopee | Sulwhasoo's Official Store on Lazada | Sasa on Lazada | Amazon | YesStyle

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum

This is the all-legendary first step serum and Sulwhasoo claims that 1 bottle is sold every 10 seconds. Formulated with the Sulwhasoo Master Complex, it has the power of ripened ginseng and claims to restore skin condition after cleansing, renew skin, as well as defend against 10 signs of  aging. While this is called a serum, this is actually a pre-serum, and it is meant to be used right after cleansing the face and before toner.

It claims to be suitable for all skin types but I find that it absorbs into the skin really quick but leaves feeling a bit dry and tight if applied by itself - this is likely because of the high alcohol content in the product. I tried this with different types of toners and essences and find that it works equally well with watery toners as well as more viscous toners. I did not find that it did anything for my skin but I have heard many people rave about this product so the results may differ between people.

Ingredients: WATER / AQUA / EAU, ALCOHOL DENAT., BUTYLENE GLYCOL, BETAINE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, BIS-PEG-18 METHYL ETHER DIMETHYL SILANE, GLYCERYL POLYMETHACRYLATE, PROPANEDIOL, CARBOMER, PPG-13-DECYLTETRADECETH-24, TROMETHAMINE, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS ROOT EXTRACT, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, FRAGRANCE / PARFUM, ADENOSINE, LIMONENE, DEXTRIN, THEOBROMA CACAO (COCOA) EXTRACT, METHYL TRIMETHICONE, DISODIUM EDTA, XANTHAN GUM, CELLULOSE GUM, CARRAGEENAN, HONEY / MEL / MIEL, MADECASSOSIDE, REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA ROOT EXTRACT, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, DIPOTASSIUM GLYCYRRHIZATE, 3-O-ETHYL ASCORBIC ACID, TAURINE, OPHIOPOGON JAPONICUS ROOT EXTRACT, PAEONIA LACTIFLORA ROOT EXTRACT, LILIUM CANDIDUM BULB EXTRACT, LINALOOL, POLYGONATUM ODORATUM RHIZOME EXTRACT, BIOSACCHARIDE GUM-1, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, PANAX GINSENG ROOT EXTRACT, NELUMBO NUCIFERA FLOWER EXTRACT, NATTO GUM, ZIZIPHUS JUJUBA FRUIT EXTRACT, JUGLANS REGIA (WALNUT) SEED EXTRACT, PRUNUS MUME FRUIT EXTRACT, CITRONELLOL, CITRAL, GERANIOL, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, TOCOPHEROL, CITRIC ACID

You can get this on: Sulwhasoo's Official Store on Shopee | Sulwhasoo's Official Store on Lazada | Sasa on Lazada | Amazon | YesStyle

Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Water

This next step is the toner but it is not the watery type of toner. It has a heavier texture, almost water-gel like, which dissolves quickly into the skin and leaves the skin feeling refreshed, nourished and moisturised. I like how my sensitive skin feels soothed by it and I also like the ginseng scent which is quite light. 

Ingredients: WATER / AQUA / EAU, GLYCERIN, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, PANAX GINSENG ROOT WATER, ALCOHOL DENAT., 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, GLYCERYL POLYMETHACRYLATE, NIACINAMIDE, METHYL GLUCETH-20, PPG-13-DECYLTETRADECETH-24, BIS-PEG-18 METHYL ETHER DIMETHYL SILANE, CARBOMER, PROPANEDIOL, TROMETHAMINE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, DISODIUM EDTA, ADENOSINE, FRAGRANCE / PARFUM, SODIUM HYALURONATE, XANTHAN GUM, NARCISSUS TAZETTA BULB EXTRACT, METHOXY PEG-114/POLYEPSILON CAPROLACTONE, BETA-GLUCAN, HONEY / MEL / MIEL, LINALOOL, REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA ROOT EXTRACT, HYDROLYZED GINSENG SAPONINS (ENZYME-TREATED RED GINSENG SAPONINS), PAEONIA LACTIFLORA ROOT EXTRACT, LILIUM CANDIDUM BULB EXTRACT, POLYGONATUM ODORATUM RHIZOME EXTRACT, PHENOXYETHANOL, NELUMBO NUCIFERA FLOWER EXTRACT, TOCOPHEROL

You can get this on: Sulwhasoo's Official Store on Shopee | Sulwhasoo's Official Store on Lazada | Amazon

Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Serum

After patting the Renewing Water into the skin, we move on to the serum. This serum contains condensed ginseng which helps make the skin firm and smooth. The serum has a light cream texture which absorbs easily into the skin and I like how this makes my skin plump, soft and nourished. Again, I enjoy the herbal ginseng scent - it does not linger long but fades away rather quickly after application. I do not see any anti-aging effects but I like to think it is helping my skin! I believe this will be discontinued soon and replaced with the Concentrated Ginseng Serum Ex but I do think this is a good serum to have if you are able to find it and looking to splurge on a serum.

I was not able to find the ingredients list online but if I do, I will post it here!

You can get this on: Sulwhasoo's Official Store on Shopee | Sulwhasoo's Official Store on Lazada | Amazon

Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Emulsion

We now come to the moisturiser. This claims to have nutrients from ginseng which creates a healthy looking skin base. It has a milky texture which absorbs well into the skin and I like how it leaves the skin feeling soft and supple. It is a lightweight moisturiser which packs a punch in terms of moisture and does not feel heavy on the skin.

Ingredients: WATER / AQUA / EAU, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, PANAX GINSENG ROOT WATER, GLYCERIN, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAETHYLHEXANOATE, HYDROGENATED POLY(C6-14 OLEFIN), DIMETHICONE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER, POLYGLYCERYL-3 METHYLGLUCOSE DISTEARATE, DIMETHICONE/VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, GLYCERYL STEARATE, CARBOMER, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERYL STEARATE CITRATE, HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, STEARIC ACID, TROMETHAMINE, XANTHAN GUM, GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, FRAGRANCE / PARFUM, PALMITIC ACID, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, DISODIUM EDTA, METHOXY PEG-114/POLYEPSILON CAPROLACTONE, ADENOSINE, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, POLYSORBATE 60, NARCISSUS TAZETTA BULB EXTRACT, HYDROLYZED GINSENG SAPONINS (ENZYME-TREATED RED GINSENG SAPONINS), CERAMIDE NP, LINALOOL, PHENOXYETHANOL, HONEY /MEL / MIEL, REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA ROOT EXTRACT, LIMONENE, PAEONIA LACTIFLORA ROOT EXTRACT, LILIUM CANDIDUM BULB EXTRACT, POLYGONATUM ODORATUM RHIZOME EXTRACT, NELUMBO NUCIFERA FLOWER EXTRACT, TOCOPHEROL

You can get this on: Sulwhasoo's Official Store on Shopee | Sulwhasoo's Official Store on Lazada | Amazon

Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream Ex

Eye cream is something that I apply last so I have placed it as the final step here. This eye cream claims to create firmer, smoother-looking skin around the eyes and make the skin around the eyes more resilient. The texture feels like a cream but it absorbs somewhat quickly into the skin. I do not wear eye cream often (I prefer lightweight eye gels) as I fear getting milia seeds but for those who use eye creams, I felt that this does give a slight plumping effect to the skin around the eye area.

Ingredients: WATER / AQUA / EAU, SQUALANE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, POLYGLYCERYL-3 METHYLGLUCOSE DISTEARATE, DIMETHICONE, PROPANEDIOL, CETYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, PHYTOSTERYL ISOSTEARYL DIMER DILINOLEATE, BEHENYL ALCOHOL, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, GLYCERIN, HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL ISOSTEARATE, PANAX GINSENG ROOT WATER, POLYACRYLATE-13, SILICA, AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/BEHENETH-25 METHACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, POLYISOBUTENE, HYDROLYZED GINSENG SAPONINS (ENZYME -TREATED RED GINSENG SAPONINS), GLYCERYL CAPRYLATE, GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) OIL, FRAGRANCE / PARFUM, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, DISODIUM EDTA, POLYSORBATE 20, THYMOL TRIMETHOXYCINNAMATE, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, DEXTRIN, THEOBROMA CACAO (COCOA) EXTRACT, LINALOOL, RETINOL, PANAX GINSENG ROOT EXTRACT, SODIUM CHLORIDE, HONEY / MEL / MIEL, LIMONENE, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA ROOT EXTRACT, PANAX GINSENG FLOWER EXTRACT, PAEONIA LACTIFLORA ROOT EXTRACT, LILIUM CANDIDUM BULB EXTRACT, POLYGONATUM ODORATUM RHIZOME EXTRACT, BHT, NELUMBO NUCIFERA FLOWER EXTRACT, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, SODIUM POLYASPARTATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, TOCOPHEROL, SODIUM METHYL STEAROYL TAURATE, ACETYL HEPTAPEPTIDE-4, GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS(LICORICE) ROOT EXTRACT, ACETYL HEXAPEPTIDE-8, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, ACETYL OCTAPEPTIDE-3

You can get this on: Sulwhasoo's Official Store on Shopee | Sulwhasoo's Official Store on Lazada | Amazon | YesStyle

Here are some swatches of the products to give you an idea of their textures:

Left to right: First Care Activating Serum, Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Water, Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Serum, Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Emulsion & Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream Ex

Overall, I enjoyed using these products and felt like they generally made my skin softer and nourished. None of these products irritated my skin and I enjoyed the herbal scent of these skincare items. 

Have you used Sulwhasoo products before? What would you recommend?

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