Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Moisturizing
- Anti-oxidation
Doesn't work for:
based on ingredients and %- Anti-aging
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: high
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 0
Key actives
Product Summary
"Sulwhasoo - Essential Balancing Water" is effective for: Anti-inflammatory
This product could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- Humectants (sodium hyaluronate 0.25% - 0.45%, glycerin 1.40% - 1.70%, biosaccharide gum-1 0.25% - 0.45% and betaine 0.25% - 0.45%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Price
The product retails for 72.00A$ in Australia, from 34.80$ up to 58.00$ in the United States, from 78.20CA$ up to 121.00CA$ in Canada and for 90.00£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Anti-oxidation
This product contains antioxidants (camellia sinensis leaf extract) that might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin to lessen the damage it gets from the UV light (sun). There is not enough evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin though.
Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
Used as a fragrance. Might have some anti-oxidant effect
Plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals and support skin barrier function, but research on its effectiveness in skin is lacking
A plant extract that has some anti-oxidant activity, but solid research is lacking. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin, calm down inflammation and irritation, restore the barrier function and support wound healing. It can be helpful in reducing fine lines and wrinkles
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
Essential Balancing Water
Source: From product name
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
betaine, biosaccharide gum-1.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: phenyl trimethicone, bis-peg-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane.
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
A type of silicone that can decrease loss of moisture from the skin surface. It helps create a nice product texture
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin, calm down inflammation and irritation, restore the barrier function and support wound healing. It can be helpful in reducing fine lines and wrinkles
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and is claimed to provide a longer-lasting hydration because of its ability to create a water-binding film on the surface of the skin
Helps attract water to the skin and might have some anti-bacterial properties. Can be an allergen
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
A plant extract that has some anti-oxidant activity, but solid research is lacking. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals and support skin barrier function, but research on its effectiveness in skin is lacking
A type of silicone that helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product texture
Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
Used to create a nice product texture
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
It absorbs into the skin easily to work it's anti-aging magic, leaving your complexion feeling supple and dewy.
Source: Althea
This product does not contain ingredients that are able to reduce fine lines and wrinkles or help with skin elasticity, but it can improve the look of the skin temporarily through moisturization. Well-moisturized skin might also be able to repair the sun damage better.These ingredients - beta-glucan, camellia sinensis leaf extract - could be helpful for preventing or repairing signs of aging in theory, but there is no evidence that it actually works.
This ingredient camellia sinensis leaf extract might be able to help neutralize free radicals in skin and help it fight off some of the sun damage.
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin, calm down inflammation and irritation, restore the barrier function and support wound healing. It can be helpful in reducing fine lines and wrinkles
Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Moisturizing | |
| Anti-aging |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 62/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
No comedogenic ingredients detected
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Key Actives
Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin, calm down inflammation and irritation, restore the barrier function and support wound healing. It can be helpful in reducing fine lines and wrinkles
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and is claimed to provide a longer-lasting hydration because of its ability to create a water-binding film on the surface of the skin
A type of silicone that can decrease loss of moisture from the skin surface. It helps create a nice product texture
Potential irritants
Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties
Used as a fragrance. Might have some anti-oxidant effect
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
Plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals and support skin barrier function, but research on its effectiveness in skin is lacking
Licorice root extract. Might be helpful in reducing hyperpigmentation
A plant extract that has some anti-oxidant activity, but solid research is lacking. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Comedogenic ingredients
We couldn't find any comedogenic ingredients in this product
All ingredients
Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties
Plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals and support skin barrier function, but research on its effectiveness in skin is lacking
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
Licorice root extract. Might be helpful in reducing hyperpigmentation
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Used as a fragrance. Might have some anti-oxidant effect
Helps attract water to the skin and might have some anti-bacterial properties. Can be an allergen
A plant extract that has some anti-oxidant activity, but solid research is lacking. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin, calm down inflammation and irritation, restore the barrier function and support wound healing. It can be helpful in reducing fine lines and wrinkles
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and is claimed to provide a longer-lasting hydration because of its ability to create a water-binding film on the surface of the skin
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
A type of silicone that can decrease loss of moisture from the skin surface. It helps create a nice product texture
A type of silicone that helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product texture
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
Ingredient list view
Water, Alcohol, Ophiopogon japonicus root extract, Butylene glycol, Glyceryl polymethacrylate, Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Glycyrrhiza uralensis root extract, Glycerin, Nelumbo nucifera seed extract, Paeonia albiflora root extract, Polygonatum officinale rhizome/root extract, Lilium tigrinum flower/leaf/stem extract, Rehmannia glutinosa root extract, Chrysanthemum morifolium flower extract, Paeonia suffruticosa root extract, Citrus unshiu peel extract, Adenophora stricta root extract, Lycium chinense root extract, Coix lacryma-jobi ma-yuen seed extract, Angelica tenuissima root extract, Honey, Portulaca oleracea extract, Astragalus membranaceus root extract, Beta-glucan, Natto gum, Sodium hyaluronate, Betaine, Panthenol, Biosaccharide gum-1, Glycereth-26, Propanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenyl trimethicone, Peg/ppg-17/6 copolymer, Peg-60 hydrogenated castor oil, Bis-peg-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane, Potassium acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Disodium edta, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
- Effects of steroidal saponins extract from Ophiopogon japonicus root ameliorates doxorubicin-induced chronic heart failure by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory response
- Cosmetic use of an ophiopogon japonicus active principle
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6272594/
- Portulaca oleracea (purslane)
- β-Glucans: Multi-Functional Modulator of Wound Healing
- Anti-Wrinkle Therapy: Significant New Findings in the Non-Invasive Cosmetic Treatment of Skin Wrinkles with Beta-Glucan
- Skin Health Promotion Effects of Natural Beta-Glucan Derived from Cereals and Microorganisms: A Review
- Anticancer properties of low molecular weight oat beta-glucan – An in vitro study
- A critical review on production and industrial applications 2 of beta-glucans
- Improving skin function with CM-glucan, a biological response modifier from yeast
- Preparation, characterization, and biological properties of β-glucans
- Characterization of a new beta(1-3)-glucan branching activity of Aspergillus fumigatus
- Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging
- Hyaluronan (Hyaluronic Acid): a natural moisturizer for skin care
- Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulations
- Safety Assessment of Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, and Derivatives as Used in Cosmetics
- Safety Assessment of Glycerin Ethoxylates as Used in Cosmetics