PRODUCT REVIEW

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Perfecting Serum

Works for:

based on ingredients and %

Moisturizing
Anti-oxidation
Anti-aging

Can it cause trouble?

Key actives

Madecassoside 0.45% - 1%Adenosine 0.8% - 1.25%

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Product summary

"Sulwhasoo - First Care Activating Perfecting Serum" is effective for: Moisturizing and Anti-aging

Ingredient callouts

Adenosine 0.80% - 1.25%. It is a compound that in involved in many biological processes inside the skin cells. According one high-quality clinical trial, topical Adenosine in low concentrations can somewhat help improve "deep wrinkles" - the wrinkles that appear with age in places where our faces are most dynamic (for example, on the forehead or in the corners of the eyes).
Actives derived from an extract of the Centella Asiatica plant (also known as Gotu Kola) - madecassoside 0.45% - 1.00% The Centella Asiatica Actives help strengthen and restore the skin barrier, decrease inflammation in skin and neutralize free radicals. They also can help to reduce scarring. The good news is that these actives work even in low concentrations.
Humectants (biosaccharide gum-1 0.40% - 0.90%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.

Price

The product retails for 145.37CA$ in Canada and from 91.30$ up to 120.70$ in the United States.

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What can the product work for?

Moisturizing

This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": biosaccharide gum-1, honey.

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. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: madecassoside

madecassoside 0.45% - 1%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

An antioxidant that is typically derived from plant Centella Asiatica. It can help neutralize free radicals in skin and support skin barrier function. It could, however, itself be irritating. It is often unstable in formulations

biosaccharide gum-1 0.4% - 0.9%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

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

mel 0.5% - 1.15%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: MEDIUM

Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and attract water to it

Anti-aging

This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains adenosine.

These ingredients in the product can also be helpful, even though there is less evidence for their effectiveness: madecassoside.

Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.

adenosine 0.8% - 1.25%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

Might help improve cell turnover and reduce inflammation in skin. One study shows that the ingredients might be able to help reduce dynamic wrinkles (for example, in the corners of the eyes or on the forehead)

madecassoside 0.45% - 1%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: MEDIUM

tocopherol 0.1% - 0.45%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Insufficient!

Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself

Anti-oxidation

This product contains antioxidants (madecassoside) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).

madecassoside 0.45% - 1%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

paeonia lactiflora root extract 0.4% - 0.95%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: LOW

A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals and reduce hyperpigmentation, but the research on its effectiveness in skin is lacking

prunus mume fruit extract 0.3% - 0.7%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: LOW

A plant extract that might have an anti-oxidant effect and help even out skin tone, but solid evidence of effectiveness is lacking

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Ingredients & concentrations

All ingredients

Key Actives

madecassoside 0.45% - 1%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Moisturizing, Anti-oxidation, Anti-aging, Evens skin tone

adenosine 0.8% - 1.25%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Anti-aging, Moisturizing, Anti-oxidation

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Potential irritants

scutellaria baicalensis root extract 1.2% - 1.8%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Anti-inflammatory, Moisturizing, Anti-oxidation, Reduces irritation, Antibacterial

A plant extract that might contain a compound baicalin that could be helpful in neutralizing free radicals and reducing inflammation in skin. The baicalin concentration in skincare products is often too low for an effective action. Can be used for its fragrant properties

parfum 1% - 1.5%

Irritation risk:

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

Comodogenic ingredients

theobroma cacao extract 1.3% - 2%

Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: High

carrageenan 0.5% - 1.2%

Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: High

Helps thicken the product formula and create a nice product formulation

All ingredients

carbomer 23% - 34%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Cleansing

Helps create a thicker or gel-like product texture. It is not a surfactant but can be used in gentle cleansing formulations

peg-60 hydrogenated castor oil 3.8% - 5.6%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

tromethamine 4.3% - 6.5%

Irritation risk:

Helps adjust pH in products

Ingredient list view

Carbomer, Peg-60 hydrogenated castor oil, Tromethamine, Propanediol, Glyceryl caprylate, Juglans regia seed extract, Dextrin, Theobroma cacao extract, Scutellaria baicalensis root extract, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Limonene, Methyl trimethicone, Disodium edta, Xanthan gum, Cellulose gum, Carrageenan, Honey, Mel, Honey, Madecassoside, Rehmannia glutinosa root extract, Pentylene glycol, Ophiopogon japonicus root extract, Paeonia lactiflora root extract, Lilium candidum bulb extract, Linalool, Lycium chinense fruit extract, Polygonatum odoratum rhizome extract, Biosaccharide gum-1, Propylene glycol, Punica granatum fruit extract, Ziziphus jujuba fruit extract, Nelumbo nucifera flower extract, Pueraria lobata root extract, Natto gum, Glycyrrhiza uralensis root extract, Prunus mume fruit extract, Citronellol, Citral, Geraniol, Hydrogenated lecithin, Bht, Citric acid, Lentinus edodes extract, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed soybean extract, Paeonia albiflora root extract, Punica granatum flower extract, Zingiber officinale root extract

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Price
WIMJ similarity score		59%	59%	59%	59%	59%	59%	59%	58%	58%	54%	54%
Key ingredients	madecassoside adenosine +1 more	Common: madecassoside adenosine +1 more Other: niacinamide panthenol +12 more	Common: madecassoside adenosine +1 more Other: niacinamide panthenol +12 more	Common: madecassoside adenosine Other: niacinamide 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid +3 more	Common: madecassoside adenosine Other: niacinamide acetyl octapeptide-3 +38 more	Common: madecassoside adenosine Other: niacinamide galactomyces ferment filtrate +37 more	Common: madecassoside adenosine Other: niacinamide panthenol +10 more	Common: madecassoside adenosine Other: lactic acid betaine +12 more	Common: madecassoside adenosine Other: niacinamide panthenol +11 more	Common: madecassoside adenosine Other: acetyl octapeptide-3 niacinamide +8 more	Common: madecassoside adenosine Other: niacinamide panthenol +9 more	Common: madecassoside adenosine Other: niacinamide 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid +8 more
Irritancy	IRRITANCY HIGH	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY HIGH	IRRITANCY MEDIUM
Potential Irritants	zingiber officinale root extract Has skin benefit? geraniol Has skin benefit? +20 more	cinnamomum camphora bark oil Has skin benefit? cedrus deodara wood oil Has skin benefit? +11 more	cinnamomum camphora bark oil Has skin benefit? cedrus deodara wood oil Has skin benefit? +11 more	santalum album oil Has skin benefit? 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid Has skin benefit? +5 more	rosa damascena flower water Has skin benefit? caprylyl glycol Has skin benefit? +13 more	ginkgo biloba leaf extract Has skin benefit? ascorbic acid Has skin benefit? +13 more	centella asiatica leaf extract Has skin benefit? asiaticoside Has skin benefit? +7 more	parfum Has skin benefit? polymnia sonchifolia root juice Has skin benefit? +12 more	glutathione Has skin benefit? hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin Has skin benefit? +7 more	prunus persica fruit extract Has skin benefit? caprylyl glycol Has skin benefit? +5 more	linalool Has skin benefit? farnesol Has skin benefit? +10 more	parfum Has skin benefit? 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid Has skin benefit? +13 more
All ingredients	carbomer Has skin benefit? peg-60 hydrogenated castor oil Has skin benefit? +49 more	glycine soja seed extract Has skin benefit? propanediol Has skin benefit? +43 more	glycine soja seed extract Has skin benefit? propanediol Has skin benefit? +43 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +26 more	pearl extract Has skin benefit? propanediol Has skin benefit? +83 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +72 more	water Has skin benefit? glycerin Has skin benefit? +25 more	water Has skin benefit? bifida ferment lysate Has skin benefit? +38 more	aspergillus/rice germ ferment extract filtrate Has skin benefit? propanediol Has skin benefit? +29 more	water Has skin benefit? propanediol Has skin benefit? +21 more	water Has skin benefit? propanediol Has skin benefit? +28 more	gold Has skin benefit? unknown Has skin benefit? +36 more

PRODUCT REVIEW

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Perfecting Serum

Works for:

Can it cause trouble?

Key actives

Cheaper alternatives

Product summary

Ingredient callouts

Price

What can the product work for?

Works for

Moisturizing

Anti-aging

Anti-oxidation

Honesty check

How honest is this product?

Buy now

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Can it cause trouble?

Potential irritants

Comodogenic ingredients

User reviews (0)

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Ingredients & concentrations

All ingredients

Key Actives

Potential irritants

Comodogenic ingredients

All ingredients

Ingredient list view

Sources