If you’re familiar with Korean skincare, then you’ve definitely heard of the brand Sulwhasoo, specifically their star product: Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum. It was one of the first K-beauty products I tried almost a decade ago, & this is my 4th bottle. So why am I only writing about it now?

Because for the longest time I was confused about what it’s supposed to lớn do.

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Don’t be fooled by the name, it’s anything but your typical serum.

If you’re also confused by this product, or just want khổng lồ know if it lives up khổng lồ the hype, this post is for you.

Overview

What is itThis best-selling K-beauty serum is the coveted step to lớn getting a visibly smooth, glass skin-level glow–now elevated to lớn perfection with a glossy exterior for a more luxurious look & feel. The secret is in JAUM Activator™, a masterfully blended complex of 5 precious herbs that improves the look of skin’s hydration, brightness, radiance, translucency, visible wrinkles, và moisture barrier.

Best suited forAnyone who enjoys the grounding scents of hanbang (Korean herbal medicine) in a lightweight yet hydrating formula. Those in their late 20’s or older will probably get more out of this than younger folks.Sensitive skin may want lớn avoid due khổng lồ all the extracts, alcohol, & fragrance.

Things khổng lồ noteContains alcohol but doesn’t feel drying. Also contains fragrance.

PackagingA beautiful opaque ceramic pump bottle. Occasionally they also release limited edition designs.

ScentA light herbal scent which I personally find calming. If you’re familiar with Chinese or Korean herbal medicine, this smells just lượt thích that. Scent dissipates after the hàng hóa has absorbed.

TextureLight và almost water like, with an amber color.

FinishAbsorbs quickly, và assuming you apply this first on clean skin, it leaves a natural non-sticky finish.

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

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum Ingredients

Water, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Betaine, 1, 2-hexanediol, Bis-peg-18, Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Carbomer, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tromethamine, Propanediol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Walnut Seed Extract, Dextrin, Cocoa Extract, Skullcap Root Extract, Fragrance, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Limonene, Methyl Trimethicone, Disodium Edta, Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Carrageenan, Honey, Madecassoside, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Linalool, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Polygonatum Odoratum Rhizome Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Propylene Glycol, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Natto Gum, Licorice Root Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Citronellol, Citral, Geraniol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, BHT, Citric Acid, Lentinus Edodes Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Soybean Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Ginger Root Extract

Your typical K-beauty formula with lots of extracts, get your tea/coffee ready and let’s break them down:

Walnut seed extract – Exhibited antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, và anti-aging properties in vitro.1Cocoa extract – Similar khổng lồ walnut seeds, the polyphenols within provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, và anti-aging benefits in in-vivo studies.2Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract – Aka Chinese foxglove and 1 of the 5 extracts in the JAUM Activator. A study in mice found it can suppress the expression of inflammatory cytokines & chemokines, both which can contribute to skin aging.4Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract – A study found it to lớn be anti-inflammatory & barrier restoring.5Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract – Aka White Lily & a part of the JAUM Activator, though there’s little research on its exact benefits. One study did find that when used together with other extracts (none of which are included here), it can help reduce the appearance of dark circles.7Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract – Goji berries are considered a superfood rich in antioxidants, but topically it’s also found khổng lồ help decrease hyperpigmentation and improve skin tone.8Taking a break to lớn focus on my fluffy assistant who decided he was the star of the shoot, not the A fluffy mèo photobombs the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum lolZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract – Aka Jujube, a study found it to have anti-inflammatory effects when applied topically.9Pueraria Lobata Root Extract – Aka Kudzu, it’s shown lớn help with collagen production & inhibit photoaging.12Prunus Mume Fruit Extract – Aka Chinese Plum, it’s been found to brighten the skin by inhibiting melanin production.14Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract – aka Peony, which is different from the White Peony earlier. I couldn’t find any research on this specific Peony, but it contains Paeoniflorin as well, which is an antioxidant.Ginger Root Extract – Its main compound Gingerol has great antioxidant và anti-inflammatory properties.16, 17

Based on the studies I found, the brightening/radiance & anti-aging claims of the JAUM Activator complex are supported, albeit the tư vấn is pretty weak. But there’s nothing to support the hydration or barrier support claims, though other ingredients pick up this slack.

Overall it’s a mixed bag here, with some more proven extracts like licorice root but also a lot of obscure ones like lily bulbs and solomon’s seal (interestingly both part of the JAUM Activator). Not a completely lost cause though, as there are other well-researched ingredients lượt thích honey to moisturize và vitamin e + madecassoside (from centella asiatica) as powerful antioxidants.

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A warning about having too many plant extracts: the more you have, the greater the chance of one causing a sensitive reaction. Granted I have never experienced any issues, but it’s something to lớn keep in mind.

It"s critical that you use the serum in right step of your skincare routine & in the right amount, otherwise you"re not going khổng lồ see the expected results.

Instructions

After cleansing, lightly dry your skin leaving it damp but not wet. Or spritz a light layer of facial mist.Apply 2-3 pumps into your palms and gently warm up the serum with a light rubbing motion. Massage the serum gently into your skin.Press your hands on your face và hold it in place for a few seconds, allowing the heat from your hand lớn help the sản phẩm absorb.If you love the herbal scent, take a few deep breaths and enjoy the aromatherapy benefits!Continue on with the rest of your skincare routine!

Don"t skimp on the amount to use - you"re not going lớn see the full benefits if you just use 1 pump! khổng lồ save on the product, you can just use it once a day in the evening instead.

Usage Experience và Results

✅ A delightful sensorial experience

While results is my #1 priority, I still love when products deliver a beautiful usage experience, và this Sulwhasoo serum absolutely hit the spot. From the beautiful bottle lớn the grounding herbal medicine scent to the water-like texture, it’s a joy to use. The scent is truly calming for me, breathing it in as part of my evening routine is a wonderful way to over the day.

✅ Helps with hàng hóa absorption

It seems contradictory that adding an extra layer of skincare would help subsequent layers absorb better, but it works. Maybe it’s the alcohol (a known penetration enhancer), but the rest of my toner & serums seem to lớn aborb quicker and leave less of a film when I use the Sulwhasoo activating serum.

✅ Helps boost other products’ efficacy

This was slightly harder to lớn notice, but I’ve noticed that the rest of my products work harder when I use the Sulwhasoo serum. When I don’t, my skin hydration và glow levels seems khổng lồ drop by about 10%, which is obviously an arbitrary number, but you get my point – my skin just feels more moisturized and has a bit more glow when I use this. I didn’t notice a difference in fine lines either way though.

💡 The older your are, the better it works

So if you’re in your 20’s, as I was when I first tried the Sulwhasoo Activating Serum, you’re going lớn be disappointed. But as we get older và our skin gets drier, duller, và more fine lines, this sản phẩm can be just the boost your skincare routine needs. I’m definitely noticing more overall results now than I did 10 years ago!

😐 Must use 2-3 pumps lớn see results

I’ve tried using just 1 pump, which honestly feels enough for my face, but the efficacy is noticeably reduced. As in you won’t notice any difference at all. With this serum, you either go big or go home, which is tough since a bottle isn’t cheap!

That’s one pump, so you’ll want to lớn double the amount

😐 Doesn’t deliver the claimed results when used alone

Yes it seems lớn boost the efficacy of other products, but what about when used alone? I tried using this without any of my other skincare products except moisturizer, and it was a flop. It’s definitely not hydrating on its own, and it’s anti-aging benefits are inferior compared lớn retinol. As for skin brightening, there are so many more effective và affordable options as well!

But as a “first serum”, it’s not meant to lớn be used on its own, just like how the SK-II FTE isn’t meant lớn be used on its own. First serum/essence goals are mainly to lớn boost overall routine absorption và efficacy, which it does well. But again if you’re going off the claims thinking this $98 is the answer khổng lồ all your skincare concerns, you’re going to lớn be disappointed.

What Others Say

I would consider adding it to my routine khổng lồ boost my favorite serums if it were cheaper, but at $89, I don’t think it’s for me.

Kelsey Clark, dry skin

I wouldn’t say there’s a huge, glaring difference in my fine lines that I could 100% attribute lớn this product. I do think it makes my skin look more radiant, healthy and plumped up.

K Beauty Hobbit, combination skin

What my skin gained from the First Care Activating Serum EX (and then lost when I cut it from my routine, và then regained when I welcomed the product back into my life) was a youthful radiance that I don’t think I’ve had since I was seventeen.

Fiddy Snails, normal skinCooper’s opinion: I like that it matches the colors of my fur!

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum dupes

We’re going to lớn look at other products with either 1) similar hanbang ingredients or 2) similar functions.

🌿 Missha Geum Sul Rejuvenating EssenceThis is probably the closest “dupe” you’ll get in the traditional sense: it’s also a first essence/serum that you use at the start of your routine, with Korean herbal ingredients like ginseng, licorice root, & reishi mushroom extracts.

🌾 Haruharu Wonder đen Rice Hyaluronic TonerNot as many extracts, but this includes ginseng, rice, bamboo, & skullcap root to name a few. It also as a similar texture lớn Sulwhasoo, a light hydrating liquid that absorbs well into the skin. The main effect of this is hydration, which in part helps with subsequent hàng hóa absorption.

🌌 Klairs Midnight blue Youth Activating DropsThis has a super minimal and non-hanbang formula, but its EGF content and help provide an anti-aging boost khổng lồ your routine. I’ve found it to improve my overall skin health when used in my routine. Full review here.

💦 Any facial mist!You don’t need a fancy serum lớn help boost hàng hóa absorption, just use a face mist khổng lồ dampen your skin và you’ll find that your serums và creams absorb much easier và faster! Don’t use one before acids or retinol though, or else you’ll increase their potency và irritation!