Forget watery essences—this new serum feels like silk melting into skin, and the hanbang scent is pure luxury. I dabbed it on post-cleanse and literally said “oh” out loud.
The texture is the whole story here: it’s a viscous, almost oily gel that vanishes before you can even spread it evenly. That’s the trick—it’s not hydrating your skin, it’s priming it to drink everything else.
Sulwhasoo calls this the “first care” step—a pre-essence that preps skin before your toner. At $89 for 60ml, it’s not cheap, but the claim is that it boosts absorption of everything you layer on top by 30%.
Texture Shift
The VI version is noticeably thicker than the old one—more gel than water.
Absorption Speed
Gone in 8 seconds flat, no sticky film left behind.
Scent Profile
Ginseng and apricot—earthy, not floral, and it lingers for 10 minutes.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
The star is JAUM Balancing Complex™—a blend of five plant extracts that calm inflammation and boost ceramide production. It’s not just marketing fluff; my skin felt bouncier by day three.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
First pump: it’s slippery, almost like a light facial oil. But the second it hits your palm, it warms up and turns into this velvety, almost powdery finish. You know how silk feels against your fingers? Like that, but on your face.
Two weeks in, I’m shocked it hasn’t broken me out—I’m oily-combo and usually avoid anything this rich. It actually helped my sebum production chill out, which I did not expect from a “luxury” essence.
Photo: yunona uritsky / Unsplash
My pores look smaller after a week, and my moisturizer actually sinks in now instead of sitting on top. But it didn’t fix my evening redness—that’s still there, just less angry.
Photo: VENUS MAJOR / Unsplash
It’s the first essence that actually feels like skincare, not a boring watery step you rush through. If you’ve got the budget, this is the upgrade your routine is begging for.