Sulwhasoo just dropped the 6th version of their cult serum — and I almost didn’t want to try it. Reformulations usually mean “cheaper ingredients, same price.”
But this one actually smells different. The old version was that medicinal, ginseng-heavy punch you either loved or hated. This one’s softer, almost floral. That’s either a betrayal or a glow-up — and I had to find out.
It’s a “first care” serum — meaning you slap it on right after washing, before anything else. $92 for 60ml. The claim? Preps skin to absorb everything better. I rolled my eyes, but here we are.
Thinner Texture
It’s basically water now. Runs through your fingers if you’re not fast enough.
Same Pump, Weirdly
The bottle’s identical. But the product comes out way faster — caught me off guard twice.
Scent Overhaul
Gone is that earthy, almost mushroom-y smell. Now it’s… fancy hotel lobby? I miss the old one.
They boosted the fermented ingredients but cut the ginseng concentration slightly. Smart for hydration, dumb for the fans who bought it for the “heritage” vibe. Four core players:
- [JAUM Balancing Complex™: Their proprietary mix — hydrates without stickiness]
- [Ginseng Berry Extract: Less root, more berry. Softer antioxidant effect]
- [White Lotus Extract: Calms redness faster than before]
- [Hyaluronic Acid: Added for that plump, dewy finish]
Drops onto skin and vanishes in 8 seconds. No joke. It’s like the serum never existed — but my face suddenly feels… spongy? Damp but not wet.
Week 2 hit and I noticed my moisturizer actually sitting differently. Less pilling, more sinking in. Unexpected win: my sunscreen stopped separating by midday. That never happened with V5.
My fine lines didn’t disappear. But my skin stopped looking like a crumpled tissue by 3 PM. Texture evened out. Pores? Same size, just less noticeable because the surface isn’t a desert.
It’s better for most people — faster, lighter, more universal. But it lost the weird, distinct soul that made people obsessed. Progress, not magic.