Sulwhasoo Review

About Sulwhasoo

Sulwhasoo is a deeply cultural cosmetics and skincare brand that approaches beauty holistically by focusing on the harmony of the body. At the core of its method is Korean herbal medicine inspired by Asian wisdom.

The company uses potent ingredients found in nature that are chosen for their healing properties. Some of the key ingredients featured in their products are the brand’s own Juam Activator blend (containing peony, sacred lotus, Solomon’s seal, white lily, and rehmannia), Korean ginseng, and red pine. 

Sulwhasoo skincare has definitely reaped the benefits of the rise in popularity of the Korean beauty industry. The company has been featured on many large media platforms, including websites like Beauty Tap, The Derm Review, Makeup Alley, Bambeau, and Beautylish. 

They also have an impressive social media presence with 907k followers on Facebook and 83k followers on Instagram.

Additionally, world-class celebrities such as actress and model Dakota Fanning, actress Carina Lau, actress Zilin Zhang, model Pancake Khemanit Jamikorn, and actress Charmaine Sheh have all stood to represent the brand and its products. 

This Sulwhasoo review will take an in-depth look at the company, including its shipping and return policies, business practices, product reviews, customer feedback, and much more. Our goal is to leave you feeling like you can make an informed decision about whether the brand is worth your buy or not. 

Overview of Sulwhasoo

Sulwhasoo’s founder, Sung-whan Suh, grew up in Gaeseong, a Korean city known for its ginseng. In 1973, Suh created Ginseng SAMMI, a cosmetic made with the extraction of saponin, ginseng’s active ingredient, which garnered so much success that Suh eventually created his own brand ‘Sulwhasoo’ in 1997. 

Since then, it has become one of the most notable, sought-after brands in the cosmetics market. The products are available in retail locations and e-commerce platforms all over the world. 

Sulwhasoo is owned by the Korean beauty and cosmetics conglomerate Amorepacific Corporation, which operates over 30 beauty, personal care, and health brands, including Laneige, Mamonde, Etude, and Innisfree, among others. 

The brand’s products are manufactured in Korea, but they have over 10 global locations in Korea, China, Thailand, Malaysia, USA, and Indonesia, among others. You can also find the company’s products in other partner retail locations such as Sephora, Holt Renfrew, and Nordstrom, to name a few. 

Up next in our Sulwhasoo review, we’ll give you a primer before we dive into the deeper details. Below, check out a list of key highlights about the brand. All of these points will be expanded upon in this article, so don’t worry if you still have more questions. 

Highlights

• Renowned Korean beauty brand with an extensive line pf products
• Natural ingredients 
• Generally, positive reviews
• Good return policy 
• Accessible both online and in stores
• Not cruelty-free
• Not much contact info available
• Not very transparent with ingredients 

Sulwhasoo Skincare Review

Sulwhasoo is known for their holistic approach to both skincare and cosmetics, but since their product line is so extensive, there was only so much we could cover! So, we’ve chosen some of the top skincare products offered on the brand’s website, which of course includes many best-sellers. 

Each description will provide you with the ingredients used in the product, how to properly use it, and what prices it’s offered at. Our Sulwhasoo review hopes this valuable info will help you make an informed purchase decision.

But we couldn’t include every bestseller. Some well-loved products that might interest you include the Sulwhasoo first care activating serum and Sulwhasoo Snowise Brightening Water. But if you’re looking for a Sulwhasoo bb cream, I’m sorry to report that such an item doesn’t exist.

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum Review

This best-selling Sulwhasoo serum recently underwent a revamping of its formula. The new version boasts the same benefits as the previous one, but with added anti-aging properties. The product promises that you’ll see more hydrated, nourished, and visibly firmer skin in about four weeks time— thanks to a potent, key ingredient— the JAUM Activator™.

This powerful signature ingredient includes a masterfully-blended complex of lotus, rehmannia, peony, Solomon’s seal, and white lily. The Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum is easy to use and add to your daily skincare routine. After cleansing, pump a couple of drops onto your hands, warm it up, then apply to your face in gentle circular motions.

The Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum is $89.

Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion Review

Conceal any fine lines, redness, blemishes or other flaws, smooth out your skin tone, and add a radiant glow to your complexion. The Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion promises to do all this and more. The special formula has unique ingredients that reflect light, and promise to add a healthy, radiant shine to your face.

The ingredients listed include Korean herbs and natural substances such as lilium candidum bulb extract, rehmannia glutinosa root extract, and paeonia albiflora root extract. The Sulwhasoo cushion formula does contain honey, too, so it’s not vegan. Smooth the SPF 50+ foundation over your face after cleansing, moisturizing, and adding primer (optional). 

The Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion is $65.

Sulwhasoo Essential Firming Cream Review

Don’t underestimate the power of a good night cream. At night, when our body rests, our skin takes the time to heal, restore, and repair. So, it’s the perfect time to apply a therapeutic cream. You’re more likely to wake up in the morning feeling refreshed, with a glowing complexion, and ready to start your day. 

The Sulwhasoo Essential Firming Cream promises to deeply moisturize your skin, but also tighten up any loose areas with the JISUN Firming Complex™. The goal is to keep skin looking youthful and healthy. So you can apply your makeup more easily and overtop your even, glossy complexion.

The cream contains natural, powerful ingredients, such as goji berries, black beans, and arrowroot. After cleansing and applying eye cream, glide it over your face and go to sleep. 

The Sulwhasoo Essential Firming Cream is $100.

Sulwhasoo Clarifying Mask Review

Peeling off a face mask and getting rid of all the grime, dirt, and toxins in your face can be a great feeling. The Sulwhasoo Clarifying Mask promises to give your skin a very deep clean that goes right down into your pores. It’ll also help clear away any dead skin cells, to reveal a fresh new complexion underneath.

After use, your skin will likely feel velvety smooth, more supple, and radiate a healthy glow. The mask is suitable for all skin types. No wonder why so many women seem to love this product. Apply the mask to your skin, avoiding eyes and hair, wait 20-30 minutes for it to dry, then peel it off. You can also sleep with Sulwhasoo masks on overnight. 

The Sulwhasoo Clarifying Mask is $60 at Sephora.

Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil Review

This oil-based formula works to cleanse the face in a non-abrasive manner, so it’s great for sensitive skin. Even though this Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil is mild, it’s also strong. It’ll sink deep into your skin and help remove any cosmetics, dirt, dust particles, and other grimy buildup. The super hydrating cleanser also won’t dry out your skin. 

The formula contains naturally-derived ingredients that are gentle enough to use both day and night, as you would a regular cleanser. It’s suitable for all types of skin, but it’s especially beneficial for oily or combination skin. 

To use, moisten the face, pump a couple of drops into your hand, massage over the skin, then rinse off, revealing softer, more refreshed skin.

The Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil is $53 at Sephora.

Sulwhasoo Essential Balancing Emulsion Review

A daily dose of moisture might be just what your skin needs in the winter months, or any month for that matter. Even those with oily or combination skin are advised to add a moisturizer to their skincare regime. The Sulwhasoo Essential Balancing Emulsion will rehydrate your skin, and help you maintain a healthy moisture balance.

This intensely moisturizing cream features ingredients like mango seed butter and licorice root extract to soften and even out the skin tone, which is helpful for those with fine lines. With daily use, this cream will likely improve the look and feel of your skin. After cleansing, glide the moisturizer over your face and neck, both morning and night. 

The Sulwhasoo Essential Balancing Emulsion is $63.

Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream Review

Eye creams really need to be of high quality because the skin underneath the eyes is incredibly delicate and super finicky. Treat your skin to only the best, luxurious products. The Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream is made with quality, active ingredients formulated to work quickly and effectively.

This product will pamper your under-eye area, and also help fight the signs of aging– such as wrinkles, fine lines, puffiness. In that sense, this might be a type of youth elixir. 

The strong extracts from the red ginseng plant are supposed to tighten up in skin, and improve its overall tone. Also, if you have thin skin, or are just looking for a product to improve the health of the area surrounding your eyes, this cream might be for you. 

To reap all these benefits, gently tap a small amount of the product into the skin underneath both eyes. Do not tug or wipe the cream over your face, as this pulls on the skin, which may make fine lines and wrinkles worse. 

The Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Eye Cream is $180.

Sulwhasoo Snowise Brightening Serum Review

For those that want to turn back the hands of time, and look and feel youthful again, you might have found your magical potion. The Sulwhasoo Snowise Brightening Serum is a pearlescent hue that features a creamy, smooth, silky texture that easily glides over skin and absorbs quickly so that no sticky residue is left. 

With regular use, it claims to add a vibrant, visible shine to your skin by brightening up your complexion. It also works to tighten up the face, and improve the overall tone of the skin. The serum comes in a beautiful white bottle, and is suitable for all skin types, but is specifically recommended for those who have oily or combination skin. 

The Sulwhasoo Snowise Brightening Serum is $250 at Nordstrom.

Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Mask Review

If you’ve had a dream of falling asleep with a skincare mask and cucumbers over your eyes, to magically wake up with radiant and youthful-looking skin that shines brighter than the sun, don’t go anywhere. The Sulwhasoo’s Overnight Vitalizing Mask might just be your dream-come-true product.

The brand’s exclusive Nutritive RED Elixir formula, which is a blend of  jujube and pomegranate extracts, works to moisturize and nourish the skin overnight, resulting in a more radiant, healthy glow upon waking. Also, the soothing scent of Korean herbs provides aromatherapy for your senses.

The Sulwhasoo overnight vitalizing mask is easy to use. After cleansing, smooth the mask over the skin, then get some sleep. For best results, do not use a cleanser to wash it off in the morning— just use water.

The Sulwhasoo’s Overnight Vitalizing Mask is $54. 

At What Age Can You Use Sulwhasoo? 

Many online outlets report that Sulwhasoo’s products are generally recommended or marketed towards consumers aged 30+, or those who have mature skin. But, the brand offers items for people of all ages and skin types, including those with dry, uneven, dull, or oily skin. 

Their beauty collection includes both skincare products like serums that aim towards restoration and improvement of skin issues, and cosmetics that provide consumers with safe, beneficial ways to enhance their natural beauty. So, this Sulwhasoo review thinks a wide range of women could benefit from these luxury products.

Is Sulwhasoo Suitable For Oily Skin?

This Sulwhasoo review found several products that would work well for those with oily skin. Sulwhasoo sells products geared towards those looking to clean away dirt and impurities, the latter of which are often caused by clogged pores due to oil or any other reason. 

Some of the products in this category include the Gentle Cleansing Foam, Gentle Cleansing Oil, Clarifying Mask, Gentle Cleansing Water, and Timetreasure Extra Creamy Cleansing Foam. The natural ingredients in these products work to gently cleanse the skin, leaving it feeling fresh, hydrated, and dewy. 

Is Sulwhasoo Natural? 

Sulwhasoo’s products make use of many natural ingredients, but the company is not a wholly natural or ‘clean’ company. Some of the notable natural ingredients used by the company are ginseng, red pine, and the brand’s Juam Activator, which contains peony, sacred lotus, Solomon’s seal, white lily, and rehmannia. 

The ingredients lists featured on product details only contain the key ingredients, which do tend to be natural. But the company doesn’t show a complete list of ingredients anywhere on the site, so it’s hard to say what else could be added to their products. If this is a concern of yours, our Sulwhasoo review recommends you contact the company for more information. 

Who Is Sulwhasoo For? 

Sulwhasoo is for anybody with any type of skin! It’s that simple. The brand sells skincare and cosmetic products for those with mature, aging skin, dry or dull skin, and oily skin, among others. They state on each product description which skin types will best benefit from that specific product. 

That said, of course, it’s never a bad idea to consult with your dermatologist or doctor before you begin a new skincare routine. Also, make sure you know your allergies and irritants as well as you can, so you can avoid any products that might negatively impact your skin. 

Comparison: Sulwhasoo vs. SK-II

Founded in the 1980s and headquartered in Japan, SK-II is a Japanese skincare and cosmetics brand that’s owned by Procter & Gamble. Their products are largely based around their key ingredient: Pitera. Pitera is a yeast-derived compound that’s rich in vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and organic acids. 

The brand’s products are marketed in East Asia, as well as North America, Europe, and Australia. SK-II, like Sulwhasoo, only ships orders to addresses within the USA, so any other countries must seek partner retailers to gain access to their product line. Some notable people who swear by SK-II are Simone Biles, Jackie Aina, Chloe Grace Moretz, and Tang Wei. 

Just glancing at the best-sellers lists on either site, you’ll notice that SK-II’s products are much much pricier than Sulwhasoo’s products. One of their bestselling items is their award-winning Pitera Essence, which is made with 90% Pitera. 

The product promises crystal clear skin in less than a month, due to the powers of the ingredients. The formula works to rejuvenate, revitalize, and clarify the complexion. A 75ml bottle will cost you $99 on the SK-II site. 

The most comparable item on the Sulwhasoo site is the First Care Activating Serum, which contains their special Juam Activator blend. You can purchase a 60ml bottle on the site for $89. 

Sulwhasoo Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

We consulted two resources to find out what customers are saying about the brand’s products: Makeup Alley and Influenster. On Makeup Alley, reviewers provide ratings and comments on specific items by the brand. One shopper wrote a positive Sulwhasoo review about the Gentle Cleansing Oil.

“Yes, it’s pricey … but so worth it! This product smells/feels truly luxurious. Very effective at taking makeup/sunscreen off at the end of the day, and the pump is excellent. I have this and the Neutrogena Cleansing Oil (and have tried other cleansing oils such as DHC) – I have been trying to use up the Neutrogena one but I can’t help but gravitate towards this one every night…” 

Our Sulwhasoo review discovered that, generally, the products are getting a lot of positive customer feedback. This is very promising for the company. In particular, the brand’s bestselling items are all very highly rated on their website. Several happy customers have left glowing reviews. 

One shopper had a lot of great things to say about the First Care Activating Serum. This is their enthusiastic Sulwhasoo review:

“I got a free sample of this in the mail, and I’m super happy with it!! I love a good facial serum! It glides on smooth, and absorbs fast, and I could immediently see that my skin had a nice glow, looked more even, pores were smaller and it just felt really moisturizing. Awesome product!!”

Lots of customers claim these products work very well, and they can actually see the results after regular use. Many have commented that their skin looks and feels better after using the product for several weeks. It really is impressive!

A grateful shopper wrote a glowing Sulwhasoo review about the Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream. They claim it’s their “holygrail antiaging dream cream.” In their review, they explain why they love the product so much.

“I have tried many high end skincare for many years all ranging from $200-450, and none of them have delivered results far superior compared to this cream. I have noticed my fine lines and crows feet on my eyes reduced dramatically witihn the first week of use. My skin hardly ever glowed before using this cream, however this cream made me a believe…”

Over on Influencer lots of people have left reviews about the brand’s products, and most of them are positive. The Sulwasoo Overnight Vitalizing Mask is a very popular item, with a 4.6/5 star rating. One shopper was thrilled with the mask and couldn’t wait to tell the world. This is their Sulwhasso review:

“Whenever my skin needs a break and I want it to look alive and plump, I will be using this mask! It’s super easy to apply and I love how it makes my skin look. It is on the pricier side but i think it’s worth every penny! Love love love this product…”

But, like with all skin care products, not every brand is suitable for everyone. That’s because, as we all know, everybody is different. So, our skin will react differently to certain products, and while one skincare line might be fantastic for some people, it may not be so great for others. And some might even have an allergic reaction to it. This is totally normal and to be expected.

So, it’s not surprising that there are some negative reviews on several Sulwhasoo products. Many of them claim that their skin reacted badly to the skincare items, or they didn’t care for the smell or texture of the products— which really is a matter of personal preference. 

And while no skincare line can be perfect, the positive reviews for this company far outshine the negative feedback. Which goes to show that this company is well-loved by many people who swear by their products.  

Is Sulwhasoo Worth It?

If you’re looking to dip your toes into the world of Korean Beauty, Sulwhasoo truly is a safe bet. The company is talked about by celebrities, reviewers, and customers alike, which has led it to become one of the biggest names in the industry.

Also, the products are generally positively reviewed, which makes the high price tag seem worth it.

Our Sulwhasoo review has one final verdict about the brand: it definitely is worth it. So, if you feel like splurging and getting yourself some renowned Korean Beauty essentials, then give it a try. 

Sulwhasoo Promotions & Discounts 

All promotions and discounts can be viewed on the ‘Special Offers’ tab at the top of the brand’s website. This Sulwhasoo review found several ways to save on products:

• Free samples at checkout 
• Text “SWS” to 513-75 to sign-up for exclusive offers and receive 10% off your next order
• Sign up to the site via email and receive 10% off your next order 
• Give your friends $20 off on their first order of $100+ and get $20 in points for each successful referral
• Become a member of ‘Treasured Rewards’ (their loyalty program) and get 50 points upon creating an account

Where to Buy Sulwhasoo

Sulwhasoo’s website can be tailored to ship to the USA, Korea, China, Singapore, and Thailand. All other countries must purchase products through partner e-commerce platforms, such as:

• Sephora
• Holt Renfrew
• Nordstrom

The collection is also available at the physical locations of these partner retailers. 

FAQ

Where is Sulwhasoo made? 

Sulwhasoo’s parent company, AmorePacific, is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. Their products are manufactured in Korea, but the brand has locations in several countries.

Is Sulwhasoo vegan and cruelty-free? 

According to the Ethical Elephant, neither Sulwhasoo, nor AmorePacific are cruelty-free. Of course, Sulwhasoo is not vegan either.

Also, some of the ingredients they use may be animal-derived. They only list key ingredients, so it’s hard to definitively disprove this.

What is Sulwhasoo’s Shipping Policy?

As mentioned earlier in this Sulwhasoo review, the brand’s site can be tailored to ship to the USA, China, Korea, Thailand, and Singapore. All other countries must purchase through partner retailers. The brand offers complimentary standard shipping on all orders.

Order processing takes about 1-2 days, and once a purchase is processed, tracking information will be sent via the email you provide at checkout. 

What is Sulwhasoo’s Return Policy?

Sulwhasoo accepts returns on products purchased on their website within 60 days of purchase. Return labels will be provided for $5 and can be generated on the website.

If you wish to complete a return, usually processed within a week or two, follow these steps: 

1. Go to returns.narvar.com/sulwhasoo/returns
2. Enter your order information to get started. Remove any leading zeros and the A (if applicable) at the end of your order number.
3. Print out the label with a Brand Logo front facing the box and address to: 

AmorePacific US, Inc.

Sulwhasoo Online

3300 East Birch Street

Brea, CA 92821

4. Ship away and wait for a return to be processed. 

How to Contact Sulwhasoo

Do you need to contact the Sulwhasoo customer service team? You can email the company at [email protected] (Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST).

---

Check out similar brands you might like:

Amorepacific Skincare Review

Tatcha Skincare Review

Bubble Skincare Review

Lumene Skincare Review