Here’s a little not-so-secret now: I never thought of investing in premium skincare and makeup products until I entered my late 20s. Why? My skin didn’t give me much trouble in the past and I didn’t feel like my wallet could take the blow from splurging on products with a three-digit price tag (ouch). However, as I approach my 30s, I find myself increasingly gripped by the fear of fine lines and dull skin. It’s why I find myself drawn to the Korean skincare brand Sulwhasoo. While Sulwhasoo has a wide range of miracle anti-ageing products, there are a few in particular that I would gladly splurge on – and you should too. Check out my Sulwhasoo review of their best skincare and makeup products that have changed my mind (and skin)!
Overview of my Sulwhasoo review
| Product | Price | Comments |
| Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum | $70.00 |
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| Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Foam | $52.00 |
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| Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream | $195.00 |
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| Sulwhasoo Essential Comfort Firming Cream | $115.00 |
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| Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil | $58.00 |
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| Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalising Mask | $76.00 |
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| Sulwhasoo Perfecting Foundation | $92.00 |
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| Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion | $100.00 |
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| Sulwhasoo Perfecting Powder | $84.00 |
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Sulwhasoo review: Best skincare products
1. Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum
With a limited skincare budget and a strong desperation for better skin, the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum became my first luxury skincare product. This best-selling serum provides antioxidant protection against external stressors and tackles signs of ageing. Highly recommended to be applied right after cleansing, it claims to boost your skin’s ability to absorb subsequent products. And you know what this means — this serum is the key to making your money’s worth when you invest in high-end skincare! Sounds too good to be true? That’s what I thought too.
And boy, was I wrong! This serum truly delivered. Its luxurious golden-brown tint and subtle pleasant floral fragrance made me feel calm and pampered. I especially love taking in the scent during my morning routine as it helps to awaken my senses. Unlike most serums which have a thick and tacky consistency, I was surprised to find that the Sulwhasoo serum felt ultra-lightweight. My skin lapped it up easily, leaving behind a refreshing sensation that’s non-greasy.
Applying my moisturisers and face oils thereafter was a breeze. My products penetrate into my skin quickly instead of leaving an oily film on my skin surface. The best part? My skin radiateds a healthy glow that I don’t witness often. Trying is believing, and now I understand the hype — it’s now my favourite product out in this Sulwhasoo anti-ageing review! Trust me, if you’re only looking to purchase one Sulwhasoo serum to try, make sure this product makes it to your cart! After undergoing reformulation, it now has ginseng benefits and is even more lightweight – truly one of the best Sulwhasoo products. Watch the video below to learn how to apply the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum!
2. Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Foam
I’ve tried many cleansers over the years and often found that they leave my skin feeling squeaky clean but also tight and dry. Thankfully, that’s not the case when it comes to the Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Foam which is one of the my recommended must-haves in this Sulwhasoo review. As its name suggests, this cleanser is extremely gentle yet effective at removing impurities from your skin without causing irritation. This will be a game-changer for those who experience skin irritation or redness after cleansing! It has a gel-like texture and is packed with various herbal and botanical ingredients such as duckweed, citrus peel, and chestnut shell extracts. They work well to moisturise and balance my combination skin, leaving it feeling clean.
3. Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream
The skin around our eyes is thin and extremely delicate, which is why it deserves extra TLC. Without proper care, your eye area can quickly develop fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness. Sadly, I did not realise the importance of eye creams until recently. In fact, I’ve been applying my moisturiser as an eye cream for years (a big NO-NO)! This has sometimes resulted in oil bumps around my eyes and bad dark circles that won’t do without a concealer. Some of you might even get milia under the eyes!
All of these changed when I tried the Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream! It has a really lightweight gel-like consistency that easily absorbs into the skin. I use this twice daily and found that my eye area is no longer as dry as before. Also, the Sulwhasoo eye cream has a melting Elastic Emulsion Technology that nourishes the fragile and delicate skin around your eyes. I found myself reaching for my concealer less because my eyes no longer appear tired and puffy!
Even though the Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream in this Sulwhasoo anti-ageing review may cost a few times more than some other eye creams on the market, I see the price justified as it comes with a complimentary eye massager! This massager has a cooling metal tip to instantly refresh the skin around your eyes – even better if it’s refrigerated. This is now an essential on hangover mornings as it helps to promote blood circulation and reduce puffiness.
4. Sulwhasoo Essential Comfort Firming Cream
You know that I take my anti-ageing skincare game very seriously when the Sulwhasoo Essential Comfort Firming Cream is one of the products I recommend in this Sulwhasoo review. Priced at $115, I have to admit that this cream is not easy on the wallet. But it’s worth every penny! At 50ml, this cream will last you more than six months if used prudently — and honestly, a little goes a long way. This makes it a fair investment for long-lasting youthfulness if you ask me.
While the cream feels light and fluffy in the jar, it’s actually an ultra-intensive hydrator that’s formulated with JAUM Firming Complex. It does a good job as a night cream – I woke up with well moisturised and incredibly soft skin. Alternatively, I can see this cream working great as a daytime moisturiser for those with drier skin types. Results are evident within the first few uses, my skin became plumper and my smile lines don’t look as deep as they used to! That’s a huge win for me!
5. Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil
As Korean skincare became popular, new methods also came to light such as double cleansing! If you didn’t know, double cleansing emphasises a two-step process to cleanse the skin – firstly with an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser. This relies on the basis that oil dissolves oil and vice versa.
Personally, this best Sulwhasoo product saved my combination skin especially with an oily face at the end of the day. The Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil did not break me out like other cleansing oils I’ve tried. Instead, it made my skin feel refreshed and thoroughly clean without stripping away natural oils that my skin needs. But be sure to wash this off properly using the right method! This oil also dissolved my makeup really well – even the most stubborn mascara. I find that the best results come if you use it along with Sulwhasoo’s Gentle Cleansing Foam!
6. Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalising Mask
Do you sometimes contemplate skipping your night skincare routine after a tiring day at work? So do I! But instead of forgoing my skincare routine entirely, I combine them all into one simple step with the Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalising Mask. This do-it-all mask contains a Nutritive RED Elixir formulation featuring jujube and pomegranate extracts aimed to reinforce the skin’s protective barrier and moisture.
While many other overnight masks I’ve tried tend to have a sticky texture that smears all over my pillow, I don’t face this issue with the Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalising Mask. Even though the mask is thick and creamy, it’s not sticky or greasy. Most importantly, it doesn’t really budge throughout the night — which means no nasty stains on my pillowcase in the morning! It also leaves my skin with a radiant glow the next day which I love.
Sulwhasoo review: Best makeup products
7. Sulwhasoo Perfecting Foundation
While Sulwhasoo is most famous for its skincare products, I’m a makeup addict by heart and found it hard to resist not including some of their luxurious cosmetics in this Sulwhasoo review. One of the best Sulwhasoo base products I tried is the Sulwhasoo Perfecting Foundation. This to me is godsent as it stayed put throughout the day without caking or smudging in our humid weather! I also adore how it feels like nothing on my skin with its light and watery texture. Moreover, it works really well as a canvas for layering on other products such as blush, contour, and highlight without pilling. This foundation doesn’t oxidise (we all know the horror) at all and comes in seven shades to match a range of Asian skin tones! This Sulwhasoo foundation also contains SPF17 PA+ to act as a light defence from harmful UV rays.
8. Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion
I own many Korean cushion foundations, but most of them just aren’t meant to be used in Singapore as they provide a dewy glow that will quickly turn into a greasy mess in our country’s weather. However, there are a few exceptions and the Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion is one of them! Instead of a glowy finish, this cushion delivers a soft semi-matte look that’s simply my skin but better. It also provides medium buildable coverage. – sufficient to conceal minor blemishes and redness while allowing my natural skin to shine through.
Unlike the Sulwhasoo Perfecting Foundation, this one boasts better sunscreen protection of SPF50+ PA+++. That’s why it’s my go-to when I know I’ll be spending hours under the sun! Longevity-wise, this cushion foundation stays flawlessly throughout a long day on my combination skin – I’m talking about 10 to 12 hours here! However, I do find that it leaves a tacky feeling on my skin. It also tends to transfer onto my mask if I unless I set it with a powder.
If anything, the packaging of this Sulwhasoo cushion foundation makes it more than deserving to land a spot on this best Sulwhasoo products review. The silver and iridescent brand imprints are so luxurious it makes me feel like a million bucks when I whip it out for touch-ups in the powder room! Plus, it’s not too bulky and has a sleek, portable design for on-the-go applications.
9. Sulwhasoo Perfecting Powder
Not going to lie, it’s hard getting my foundation to stay throughout the day, especially if I have my mask on. This is why I’ve been placing extra emphasis on finding the right setting powder to keep my makeup in place. The Sulwhasoo Perfecting Powder does just that — and more!
Firstly, the powder contains a combination of pigments to correct skin tone and enhance radiance. Thanks to its incredibly fine-milled texture, it does not settle into my fine lines or pores. In addition, the powder is infused with moisturising ingredients to supply your skin with everlasting hydration. This helps it to stay in place without cracking or caking up. But what I love most about this powder is its lightweight breathability — my skin does not feel suffocated even after wearing the powder for long hours.
Who should use Sulwhasoo?
Initially, Sulwhasoo’s audience consisted mostly of men and women who had mature skin. However, they rebranded and even got BLACKPINK’S Rosé to endorse their products which expanded their appeal to the younger generation including Gen Zs who are into high-end skincare. Their products are also ideal for those with drier skin types or those who simply want to firm up their skin!
Does Sulwhasoo contain retinol?
Yes, some of Sulwhasoo’s best products like the Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream I mentioned earlier has retinol! According to Healthline, retinol has lots of benefits for the skin, some of which are to decrease the appearance of wrinkles and enlarged pores. How? This amazing ingredient penetrates into the dermis layer (the inner layer) of our skin and neutralises free radicals which boosts collagen and elastin production. It also exfoliates, leaving us with a smoother texture. As good as this sounds, introduce retinol into your routine slowly to let your skin adjust gradually!
Narrow down your shopping list with our Sulwhasoo review
I hope this comprehensive Sulwhasoo review has helped you decide on the best Sulwhasoo products to get. And here is some good news for Sulwhasoo fans — if you didn’t know before, Sulwhasoo is on Shopee Premium! Snag Shopee exclusive Sulwhasoo sets to try out products like the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum and other Sulwhasoo anti-aging products at highly discounted prices. For more skincare recommendations, check out our list of the best anti-ageing serums and best Korean face masks that many people swear by! Remember to swing by our 12.12 Birthday Sale for more deals on these Sulwhasoo products too!
This article was updated on 13 August 2024. Additional research done by Chari Deguzman.
