Want Your Dewiest Skin, Ever? Trust Me, You *Need* To Try These Sulwhasoo Products
Sadaf Razi is Adore Beauty's Senior Beauty Editor.
She's a former fashion editor (who worked at various glossy mags) and stylist-turned digital beauty and lifestyle writer. She has been in the lifestyle/media industry for over 10 years and her work has also been featured on international covers like Elle France and Vanity Fair Mexico.
Some of her fave Adore Beauty products include Cicaplast B5, CeraVe Cleansing Oil and Lancôme Renergie Triple Serum.
There’s a reason why K-beauty and J-beauty, otherwise known as Korean skincare and Japanese skincare, have taken the world by storm.
Actually, there are a lot of reasons.
Powerful formulas packed with antioxidants, hydrators and decades of research. Cool packaging and even cooler textures than glide over the skin.
So. Much. Moisture.
And the results? Hydrated, nourished and glassy skin.
On that note, I have something to tell you...
If you’ve been searching where to buy Sulwhasoo in Australia, your quest stops here, because Adore Beauty is officially a Sulwhasoo Australia stockist!
This is very exciting news for those of us whose Google search histories read something like 'best-selling Korean skin care products', 'Korean skincare routine' or 'Korean skin care Australia’.
Best known for their iconic Sulwhasoo first care activating serum, the best-selling Korean skincare brand makes products that promise to give that coveted and enviable Korean glass skin glow.
They're also extremely luxurious and on the spendy side.
I've been trialling these luxury Korean skincare products for the last few weeks to see if they're worth the hype (and the $$$).
Keep reading for my in-depth Sulwhasoo review.
Is Sulwhasoo Worth it?
I'll cut to the chase. After a week of using the Sulwhasoo set of products, they're definitely worth the splurge.
Or as I like to call it, ‘skin-vestment’.
I saw some very visible and impressive results, and you can read more about my Sulwhasoo review further down, but I have to tell you this NOW…
The morning after glow the Sulwhasoo range gave me had me spellbound.
So yeah, when your skincare enthusiast friends ask you 'is Sulwhasoo good?' in the group chat, this is what you can tell them…
What Is Sulwhasoo Skincare?
Sulwhasoo, pronounced Sul-wah-soo, is a luxury Korean skincare brand dating back to the 1940s.
The super potent Sulwhasoo products are *stunning* to look at, but they're also designed to deliver a decadent experience and visible results.
Here are some fast facts about Sulwhasoo:
- Sulwhasoo products are powered by their hero ingredient Ginseng, which has antioxidant benefits to address signs of ageing like fine lines and wrinkles, skin elasticity and uneven skin tone.
- The brand is backed by over 50 years of Korean Ginseng research, combining traditional Korean Herbal Medicine with the latest innovation and science.
- Heritage ingredients like Korean Ginseng Saponin are sourced through their Bio-conversion Technology™ for maximum potency.
- The range includes the traditional 10-step Korean skincare routine products including serums, emulsions, balancing waters (toners), eye creams and Korean moisturisers.
How to Use Sulwhasoo Products.
If you're wondering how to apply Sulwhasoo products, this is how I would layer them as part of a PM skincare routine:
- Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalising Mask 120ml - this can be used a couple times a week!
You can learn more about how to layer Korean skincare products in this K-beauty YouTube video below.
My Sulwhasoo Review.
So, is Sulwhasoo good? Like, really?
Short answer: YES.
Long answer: I LOVE this range. Love love lurrrrveeeee. I want to drench my face in these Ginseng-powered products all day long.
Did the Sulwhasoo range dramatically transform my skin? In a subtle way, yes.
Enough chat, let's get into my Sulwhasoo reviews of these beautiful products.
1. Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Foam, $53.
A gentle pH balanced cleanser powered by traditional Korean herbs to be used as the first step in your routine.
- This gentle cleansing foam promises to remove dirt, pollution, makeup and debris without leaving the skin feeling stripped.
- Infused with a nutrient-rich blend of botanical and key ingredients such as Hydra Capture Complex™ (provides moisture) and Chestnut Shell Extract (removes dead skin cells).
- pH balanced making it suitable for sensitive skin, plus it's sulphate and paraben-free.
My Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Foam review:
I wanted to test the ‘no tightness’ claim, so I used this as my second cleanse after removing my makeup.
I loved the gentle foam and how silky it felt to apply. Adore's Senior Editor Amy describes it as a 'luxurious lather'. Accurate.
The Sulwahsoo cleanser has a subtle citrus-y scent that kind of smells a bit like Cola (weird, but good).
After gently massaging it into my skin with lukewarm water, sure enough, my skin was left feeling super clean and fresh.
No tightness, and once I pat my my skin dry, my face felt instantly softer.
2. Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum, $119.
The 'first care serum' is one Sulwhasoo’s best-selling products and an underground cult favourite amongst beauty editors and skinfluencers.
- One bottle of this serum is sold every 10 seconds in Korea!
- Unlike Western serums, this iconic Korean serum is to be applied immediately after cleansing like an essence to prep the skin for other products.
- Key ingredients include JAUM Activator™, a blended complex of five herbs selected for their moisture-improving, firming, brightening and radiance-boosting abilities.
- Improve skin texture and tone, boosts moisture content and strengthens the skin’s barrier function.
- Suitable for all skin types, and softens skin to leave it with a healthy glow.
My Sulwhasoo Advanced First Care Activating Serum review:
I totally understand why the cult first care Sulwhasoo serum has become such a beloved product.
I loved the colour of this serum, the silky feel, smell and texture. It sinks beautifully into the skin and leaves a lovely, dewy sheen.
Just a small amount of this serum yields the perfect amount of hydration and nourishment. I could literally feel my skin soaking in all its goodness.
If you're only going to try one Sulwhasoo product, I urge you to buy this one. 5 stars from me.
3. Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Water, $134.
A powerful moisturising toner to be applied after your serum to provide intense hydration and give you visibly firmer and healthier-looking skin.
- Has a gel-in-water texture that absorbs quickly into the skin.
- Powerful antioxidants such as their trademarked Ginseng Water Concentrate™ and Ginsenomics™ protect your skin from daily aggressors, minimise visible signs of ageing and enhance skin’s ability to regenerate.
- And the packaging is dazzling, look how it sparkles in the sun!!
My Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Water review:
As soon as I followed up the serum with this gorgeous toner, my skin looked plumper and the luminosity was coming through.
I shook a few drops onto the palm of my hand first, then lightly pressed the water emulsion into my face.
If your skin is craving some extra hydration, this is a great product to add to cart.
By this step, my skin was already looking super dewy, but honestly, it's really hard not to fall in love with this stunning bottle.
4. Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream, $359.
Another one of Sulwhasoo’s iconic anti-ageing products, this rich but lightweight cream harnesses Ginseng peptides to help strengthen skin day after day and improve skin elasticity.
- The 'concentrated' Sulwhasoo range is the most potent... and most expensive.
- This decadent cream contains Ginsenomics™ and ginseng peptides to plump the look of fine lines and wrinkles, protect against environmental stressors and increase skin firmness.
- Contains meadowfoam seed oil, an ingredient with a similar structure to the oil our skin naturally produces, to help restore the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
- Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream Classic is an even richer cream version.
My Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream review:
I have to show you guys how juicy and bouncy my skin looked after using the serum, toner and renewing cream!
As we’re moving into the cooler months, my dry and dull skin was beyond pleased to soak in this deeply replenishing cream.
I’ve never experienced a cream that has a rich but lightweight texture like this one. The herby scent does come on strong at first, but quickly subsides.
It did a marvellous job at not only sealing in all my products, but also leaving my skin feeling so soft, supple and replenished.
A little goes a long way with this tub, and those with dry, winter skin will absolutely love this.
5. Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalising Mask, $77.
A luxe overnight mask with a rich cream formula to combat dry and/or dull skin.
- This Sulwhasoo mask has a Nutritive RED Elixir™ formula with shea butter, jujube and pomegranate extracts to strengthen skin barrier, and a proprietary blend of Korean herbs.
- Pop it on at night and you are promised to wake up with touchably soft, bright and beautiful skin.
- Sulphate, alcohol and paraben-free.
My Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalising Mask review:
Our very helpful website says this mask is perfect to use when your skin needs a boost or prior to events or big days, so that’s what I did!
I was attending a wedding and wanted to use it as skin prep because I love a good mask before makeup.
As you can see in the before and after photo above, the mask revealed clear, soft and brighter skin.
The creamy texture melts into the skin and gives a smooth canvas for makeup application.
Love the cult Aspect Probiotic Mask 118ml? This is basically the luxe Korean skincare version.
Final Verdict…
Never have I used a skincare routine that gave me a supple, clear and super glowy complexion literally ONE day after using the products.
When I decided to go back to some other products, I genuinely noticed my skin looked duller when I woke up.
Not only does Sulwhasoo deliver luminosity in spades, but the products are a pleasure to use.
Anyone can use Sulwhasoo products, but the rich, potent formulas are best suited to those with normal to dry or mature skin, and dullness, uneven skin tone and skin firmness skin concerns.
I can't sing this brand's praises enough. Hence, this lengthy review!
If you really want to treat your skin and restore some natural glow, do not sleep on Sulwhasoo.
Unless it's sleeping in the lush face mask, which I highly recommend.
You can learn more about best-selling Korean skincare products in this YouTube video below.
Want more K-beauty and J-beauty info and reviews? Check out these great articles below!
