Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum 25th Anniversary Limited Edition

"Sulwhasoo - First Care Activating Serum 25th Anniversary Limited Edition" is a well-rounded moisturizing product. To work well, any moisturizer needs to include a combination of water-binding and emollient ingredients. Sulwhasoo - First Care Activating Serum 25th Anniversary Limited Edition ticks this box. Humectants in this product (betaine, biosaccharide gum-1, honey, mel and bis-peg-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane) help to increase the water content in the upper layer of the skin. (These ingredients do so by "capturing" water molecules from the outside air or from within the deeper layers of the skin). Emollients in this formulation (mel, bis-peg-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane, glyceryl caprylate, pentylene glycol and glyceryl polymethacrylate) help to reduce the moisture loss from the skin. They also soften the skin surface and relieve the feeling of dryness and tightness.

Ingredient callouts

• Adenosine 0.05% - 0.25%. 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 0.01% - 0.05% 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.

Irritation risk

There are quite a few common irritants in this product, including ingredients without particular skin benefits. We would not recommend it for sensitive skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be high. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here

You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.