Day 1. I put down my toner, my essence, my moisturizer. Just splashed water on my face and slapped on Sulwhasoo’s new First Care Activating Serum VI. That’s it. I wanted to see if one bottle could do the job of three.
The real test? My skin usually gets angry when I skip layers — tight, flaky, or greasy by noon. This serum actually held the line. By day 10, I stopped reaching for extra cream.
It’s a pre-serum — you put it on clean, damp skin before anything else. $130 for 60ml. The claim: it “awakens” skin and boosts everything you put on top. I called bullshit until my moisturizer started sinking in like it was thirsty.
Texture like slippery water
Thin enough to spread across your whole face in 3 drops. Absorbs in 10 seconds flat.
That herbal smell
Smells like a Korean spa. You’ll either love it or hate it — I’m obsessed.
No sticky residue
Dries down to nothing. You forget you put it on — but your skin doesn’t.
Photo: Element5 Digital / Unsplash
The star is their fermented ginseng — it’s not just fancy marketing. They use a specific strain that’s been aged for years. Plus a bunch of plant extracts that sound like a witch’s brew but actually calm inflammation.
- HydrO2™ Technology: Locks in hydration 3x longer than plain water
- Ginseng Berry: Brightens without stinging
- Licorice Root: Fades old acne marks slowly but surely
- White Lotus: Keeps oil production in check — no mid-day shine
It feels like nothing. That’s the thing. It’s watery, almost runny, and you’ll think “this can’t do anything.” Then your skin drinks it and feels plump — not tight, not greasy. Just… ready.
Week 2: I got a zit near my jaw. The serum didn’t fix it overnight. But the redness calmed down in 2 days instead of 5. That’s when I stopped being skeptical. Unexpected win: my sunscreen stopped pilling. Turns out hydrated skin grabs SPF better.
My skin looks alive — not dewy, not matte, just alive. Texture smoothed out around my nose. Pores look smaller (they’re not, but they’re less noticeable). The one thing that didn’t change? My dark circles. This isn’t a concealer.
I’m buying a second bottle. It doesn’t fix everything, but it makes everything else work better. That’s worth the price tag.