Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum 2022 overview

In the event you’re acquainted with Korean skincare, you then’ve positively heard of the model Sulwhasoo, particularly their star product: Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum. It was one of many first Ok-beauty merchandise I attempted nearly a decade in the past, and that is my 4th bottle. So why am I solely writing about it now?

As a result of for the longest time I used to be confused about what it’s purported to do. Don’t be fooled by the identify, it’s something however your typical serum.

In the event you’re additionally confused by this product, or simply wish to know if it lives as much as the hype, this submit is for you.

Overview

What’s it
This best-selling Ok-beauty serum is the coveted step to getting a visibly clean, glass skin-level glow–now elevated to perfection with a shiny exterior for a extra luxurious appear and feel. The key is in JAUM Activator™, a masterfully blended complicated of 5 treasured herbs that improves the look of pores and skin’s hydration, brightness, radiance, translucency, seen wrinkles, and moisture barrier.

Finest suited to
Anybody who enjoys the grounding scents of hanbang (Korean natural medication) in a light-weight but hydrating components. These of their late 20’s or older will in all probability get extra out of this than youthful of us.
Delicate pores and skin could wish to keep away from as a consequence of all of the extracts, alcohol, and perfume.

Issues to notice
Comprises alcohol however doesn’t really feel drying. Additionally comprises perfume.

Packaging
A good looking opaque ceramic pump bottle. Sometimes additionally they launch restricted version designs.

Scent
A light-weight natural scent which I personally discover calming. In the event you’re acquainted with Chinese language or Korean natural medication, this smells similar to that. Scent dissipates after the product has absorbed.

Texture
Mild and nearly water like, with an amber shade.

End
Absorbs shortly, and assuming you apply this primary on clear pores and skin, it leaves a pure non-sticky end.

Buy
$89 for 60ml on Amazon, Sephora, Skinstore; $66 on Jolse, $57 on Stylevana

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum Components

Your typical Ok-beauty components with heaps of extracts, get your tea/espresso prepared and let’s break them down:

• Walnut seed extract – Exhibited antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties in vitro.¹
• Cocoa extract – Much like walnut seeds, the polyphenols inside present antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging advantages in in-vivo research.²
• Skullcap Root Extract – A standard Chinese language medicinal herb wealthy in flavonoids that present anti-inflammatory and antioxidant advantages.³
• Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract – Aka Chinese language foxglove and 1 of the 5 extracts within the JAUM Activator. A examine in mice discovered it may suppress the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, each which might contribute to pores and skin getting older.⁴
• Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract – A examine discovered it to be anti-inflammatory and barrier restoring.⁵ 
• Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract – Aka White Peony or Bai Shao, one other conventional Chinese language medicinal herb that may lower hyperpigmentation.⁶ Additionally part of the JAUM Activator.
• Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract – Aka White Lily and part of the JAUM Activator, although there’s little analysis on its actual advantages. One examine did discover that when used along with different extracts (none of that are included right here), it may assist scale back the looks of darkish circles.⁷
• Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract – Goji berries are thought of a superfood wealthy in antioxidants, however topically it’s additionally discovered to assist lower hyperpigmentation and enhance pores and skin tone.⁸

• Polygonatum Odoratum Rhizome Extract – Aka Solomon’s Seal and part of the JAUM Activator, it claims to be anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial however I couldn’t discover any analysis supporting this.
• Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract – Aka Jujube, a examine discovered it to have anti-inflammatory results when utilized topically.⁹
• Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract – Aka Lotus Flower and the ultimate member of the JAUM Activator, analysis has discovered it to have anti-aging advantages.^10,11
• Pueraria Lobata Root Extract – Aka Kudzu, it’s proven to assist with collagen manufacturing and inhibit photoaging.¹²
• Licorice Root Extract – One of many higher researched extracts, it’s been proven to have antioxidant, anti-aging, and brightening advantages.¹³
• Prunus Mume Fruit Extract – Aka Chinese language Plum, it’s been discovered to brighten the pores and skin by inhibiting melanin manufacturing.¹⁴
• Lentinus Edodes Extract – aka Shitake Mushrooms, is wealthy in flavonoids, polyphenols, and amino acids that present antioxidant and anti inflammatory advantages to the pores and skin.¹⁵
• Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract – aka Peony, which is totally different from the White Peony earlier. I couldn’t discover any analysis on this particular Peony, but it surely comprises Paeoniflorin as properly, which is an antioxidant.
• Ginger Root Extract – Its principal compound Gingerol has nice antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties.^{16, 17}

Based mostly on the research I discovered, the brightening/radiance and anti-aging claims of the JAUM Activator complicated are supported, albeit the help is fairly weak. However there’s nothing to help the hydration or barrier help claims, although different substances choose up this slack.

General it’s a blended bag right here, with some extra confirmed extracts like licorice root but additionally lots of obscure ones like lily bulbs and solomon’s seal (apparently each a part of the JAUM Activator). Not a totally misplaced trigger although, as there are different well-researched substances like honey to moisturize and vitamin e + madecassoside (from centella asiatica) as highly effective antioxidants.

A warning about having too many plant extracts: the extra you have got, the larger the prospect of 1 inflicting a delicate response. Granted I’ve by no means skilled any points, but it surely’s one thing to remember.

Utilization Expertise & Outcomes

✅ A pleasant sensorial expertise

Whereas outcomes is my #1 precedence, I nonetheless love when merchandise ship an attractive utilization expertise, and this Sulwhasoo serum completely hit the spot. From the attractive bottle to the grounding natural medication scent to the water-like texture, it’s a pleasure to make use of. The scent is really calming for me, respiration it in as a part of my night routine is a superb solution to finish the day.

✅ Helps with product absorption

It appears contradictory that including an additional layer of skincare would assist subsequent layers take up higher, but it surely works. Possibly it’s the alcohol (a identified penetration enhancer), however the remainder of my toner and serums appear to aborb faster and depart much less of a movie once I use the Sulwhasoo activating serum.

✅ Helps increase different merchandise’ efficacy

This was barely more durable to note, however I’ve observed that the remainder of my merchandise work more durable once I use the Sulwhasoo serum. After I don’t, my pores and skin hydration and glow ranges appears to drop by about 10%, which is clearly an arbitrary quantity, however you get my level – my pores and skin simply feels extra moisturized and has a bit extra glow once I use this. I didn’t discover a distinction in advantageous strains both method although.

💡 The older your are, the higher it really works

So in the event you’re in your 20’s, as I used to be once I first tried the Sulwhasoo Activating Serum, you’re going to be upset. However as we grow old and our pores and skin will get drier, duller, and extra advantageous strains, this product might be simply the increase your skincare routine wants. I’m positively noticing extra total outcomes now than I did 10 years in the past!

😐 Should use 2-3 pumps to see outcomes

I’ve tried utilizing simply 1 pump, which actually feels sufficient for my face, however the efficacy is noticeably lowered. As in you gained’t discover any distinction in any respect. With this serum, you both go huge or go house, which is hard since a bottle isn’t low cost!

😐 Doesn’t ship the claimed outcomes when used alone

Sure it appears to spice up the efficacy of different merchandise, however what about when used alone? I attempted utilizing this with none of my different skincare merchandise besides moisturizer, and it was a flop. It’s positively not hydrating by itself, and it’s anti-aging advantages are inferior in comparison with retinol. As for pores and skin brightening, there are such a lot of more practical and reasonably priced choices as properly!

However as a “first serum”, it’s not meant for use by itself, similar to how the SK-II FTE isn’t meant for use by itself. First serum/essence targets are primarily to spice up total routine absorption and efficacy, which it does properly. However once more in the event you’re going off the claims pondering this $98 is the reply to all of your skincare issues, you’re going to be upset.

What Others Say

I’d think about including it to my routine to spice up my favourite serums if it had been cheaper, however at $89, I don’t suppose it’s for me. 

Kelsey Clark, dry pores and skin

I wouldn’t say there’s an enormous, obtrusive distinction in my advantageous strains that I may 100% attribute to this product. I do suppose it makes my pores and skin look extra radiant, wholesome and plumped up.

Ok Magnificence Hobbit, mixture pores and skin

What my pores and skin gained from the First Care Activating Serum EX (after which misplaced once I reduce it from my routine, after which regained once I welcomed the product again into my life) was a youthful radiance that I don’t suppose I’ve had since I used to be seventeen.

Fiddy Snails, regular pores and skin

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum dupes

We’re going to take a look at different merchandise with both 1) related hanbang substances or 2) related features.

🌿 Missha Geum Sul Rejuvenating Essence
That is in all probability the closest “dupe” you’ll get within the conventional sense: it’s additionally a primary essence/serum that you simply use firstly of your routine, with Korean natural substances like ginseng, licorice root, and reishi mushroom extracts.

🌾 Haruharu Marvel Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner
Not as many extracts, however this consists of ginseng, rice, bamboo, and skullcap root to call a couple of. It additionally as an identical texture to Sulwhasoo, a light-weight hydrating liquid that absorbs properly into the pores and skin. The primary impact of that is hydration, which partly helps with subsequent product absorption.

🌌 Klairs Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drops 
This has an excellent minimal and non-hanbang components, however its EGF content material and assist present an anti-aging increase to your routine. I’ve discovered it to enhance my total pores and skin well being when utilized in my routine. Full overview right here.

💦 Any facial mist!
You don’t want a elaborate serum to assist increase product absorption, simply use a face mist to dampen your pores and skin and also you’ll discover that your serums and lotions take up a lot simpler and quicker! Don’t use one earlier than acids or retinol although, or else you’ll improve their efficiency and irritation!

Last Verdict