Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum Review

Last year I completely revamped my skincare routine by dumping all harsh chemicals and cleansers and concentrating exclusively on cleansing, moisturizing, and pampering my skin. Such complete overhaul included me buying and trying a ton of Korean products since I read they are the best.

My skin is generally oily and acne prone. It has been really hard to control my break outs and oiliness. After a lot of trial and error I found some products that work really great for oily skin. Among these products is Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum, a high end Korean product that is apparently very popular in Korea.

Here is the product description from the Sulwhasoo website: "Formulated with Korean medicinal herbs, this essential regimen boosting serum assures optimal skin care results, promoting balance and replenishing essential moisture and nutrients.

- Membranous Milkvetch promotes natural skin circulation and Dwarf Lilyturf and Licorice boost synergy among herbal extracts to restore skin’s natural healthy radiance.

- Absorbing instantly and deep within the skin, this serum leaves the skin soft, smooth and supple, prepares skin to receive treatment and boosts the efficacy of skin care used throughout the regimen." It is supposed to be a luxury item, as it has really nice ingredients and is very expensive.

I ordered my serum online from an eBay seller. When I received it I was kind of shocked because it came in a gorgeous package. It's so classy!

The bottle itself lives up to expectations. It is heavy glass (I think) and feel luxurious.The colors and design seem pretty traditional, but it looks good on my shelf.

First, the smell of this serum is somewhat medicinal, not cosmetic. It made me feel like I am treating my skin, not just slathering some lotion on. The color is transparent brownish and the texture is extremely smooth and light. 

The instructions say that it has to be used immediate after cleansing, prior to a toner, as this serum acts to enhance the efficacy of the other products. However, since I use my toner as the last part of my cleansing routine, to wipe off any remaining dirt and make up, and not as a moisturizing step, I use it after my toner. It truly is a nice experience to put this serum on, almost addicting. It glides on nicely and does not leave any residue. I use it both evening and morning.

I did not see any difference after starting using this serum for a few weeks, as I was going through a change of products which made me break out slightly. However, after a few weeks I can say that it helps to keep my skin relatively clear and evens out my skin tone. It's not a miraculous product by any stretch of imagination, but it is definitely something that you should try. I am not going to repurchase this unfortunately because I found a different product for a fraction of the price that works really well.

The Sulwhasoo website literally lists 100 ways of using this serum targeting different skin types and different seasons, which is a pretty entertaining read. I only used the serum as a step after my toner, so I am not sure how accurate these tips are, but it would be interesting to try one day.

OVERALL: Only recommended if you do not care about the price! It's $80 on the official website. Generally, it is a luxurious product that prevents skin trouble and keep the skin moisturized.