This post contains affiliate links. Product received as PR.
I find the luxury side of kbeauty intriguing - is the $200 cream really that much better than a $20 one? Are we paying for the effects or the brand name, pretty package, and the overall “experience”? Until recently, I’ve had no personal experience with luxury brands, and then I received a PR package for a sponsored review (watch the unboxing here).
One of the featured products was Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream. This brand is available on YesStyle (use reward code KHOBBIT for savings), Jolse, eBay (remember to check seller ratings and shipping country), and Stylevana (use INF10KBH to save until October 2021).
This formula combines Korean red ginseng with retinol to provide anti-aging benefits. It promises a firmer complexion, healthy / dewy glow, more even texture and improved hydration. For that price, I hope it can also fold my laundry. I digress...
How to use:
After serum, warm up the cream on your fingertips
Gently press / pat into skin for best absorption
Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream is a silky product with a cafe au lait color and a noticeable herbal scent. It’s less dense than most other creams I’ve used, almost a thick serum, and glides onto the skin effortlessly.
My impressions
Trying this product really made me appreciate double blind studies. If I didn’t know this was hundreds of dollars, would I still like it? There’s no way for me to untangle my personal biases. I suppose reviews are subjective in nature, so I probably do not need to be unbiased.
I personally really like this Sulwhasoo cream. Because of the texture, only a little bit is needed for the entire face and neck. My skin is used to retinoids, so I could start using this several times a week right away. The retinoid concentration isn’t specifically disclosed, but I don’t think it’s high.
Everything from the golden jar to the warm scent of what I assume is ginseng turns using this product into a special, luxurious experience. I look forward to it and find myself rationing the cream, trying to make it last as long as possible. Is it a miracle product? No. I am 32 and take good care of my skin in general, so I didn’t see any drastic changes. But my skin is plump and glowing and healthy, so it’s working for me.
I don’t think people with really sensitive skin would appreciate Sulwhasoo in general and this product in particular - there are so many plant extracts in the ingredients, which comes with an increased risk for irritation. Always patch test new things and consider buying a sample first.
Do I love this? Yes. Would I buy this with my own hard-earned money? No. There are other nice retinoid products that are effective and cost a lot less, for example Dr Different (review here), or a good old prescription from your dermatologist. Someone in a more mature age category may feel differently and see results that they are not getting with other products. At the end of the day, if you have the means and the desire to buy this cream (or any luxury product), and you enjoy the experience and the results, then go for it! Skincare is more than just a pursuit for the cheapest product - it’s a completely individualized quest for self care.
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Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream ingredients: WATER/ AQUA / EAU, GLYCERIN, SQUALANE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, TREHALOSE, LIMNANTHES ALBA(MEADOWFOAM) SEED OIL, GLYCERYL STEARATE, PHYTOSTERYL ISOSTEARYL DIMER DILINOLEATE, OCTYLDODECYL MYRISTATE,CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, PEG-40 STEARATE, STEARIC ACID, PHYTOSTERYL/BEHENYL/OCTYLDODECYL LAUROYL GLUTAMATE,HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, JOJOBA ESTERS, PEG-100 STEARATE, PROPANEDIOL, MANGIFERA INDICA (MANGO)SEED BUTTER, POLYACRYLATE-13, PEG-30 DIPOLYHYDROXYSTEARATE, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, PHENOXYETHANOL,GLYCERYL LINOLEATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, PANTETHINE, HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL, DIMETHICONE, GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN)STEROLS, GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) OIL, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, TOCOPHEROL, ACETYL GLUCOSAMINE, CYCLODEXTRIN,POLYISOBUTENE, SALICYLIC ACID, PANAX GINSENG ROOT EXTRACT, POLYQUATERNIUM-51, HEXYL LAURATE, CAFFEIC ACID,COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX / COPERNICIA CERIFERA CERA / CIRE DE CARNAUBA, TOCOPHERYL LINOLEATE, ALCOHOL,DIMETHICONOL, GLYCERYL LINOLENATE, PERSEA GRATISSIMA (AVOCADO) OIL, POLYSORBATE 20, GARDENIA FLORIDA FRUITEXTRACT, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, FRAGRANCE / PARFUM, GLYCERYL ARACHIDONATE, LAURYL PEG/PPG-18/18 METHICONE, VITISVINIFERA (GRAPE) LEAF EXTRACT, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, HONEY / MEL / MIEL, BETA-GLUCAN, DEXTRIN, DISODIUM EDTA, PERILLAOCYMOIDES SEED EXTRACT, RETINOL, LILIUM CANDIDUM BULB EXTRACT, SODIUM HYALURONATE, NELUMBO NUCIFERA FLOWEREXTRACT, POLYGONATUM OFFICINALE RHIZOME/ROOT EXTRACT, REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA ROOT EXTRACT, PAEONIA ALBIFLORA ROOTEXTRACT, GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS (LICORICE) ROOT EXTRACT, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, METHOXY PEG-114/POLYEPSILONCAPROLACTONE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, ISOSTEARYL ALCOHOL, DODECENE, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, HYDROGENATED PALM GLYCERIDESCITRATE, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, HYDROLYZED GINSENG SAPONINS(ENZYME-TREATED RED GINSENG SAPONINS), PANAX GINSENGFLOWER EXTRACT, ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE, LIMONENE, LINALOOL, BHT, BUTYLPHENYL METHYLPROPIONAL, BHA, SODIUMPOLYASPARTATE, TBHQ, SODIUM METHYL STEAROYL TAURATE, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE