[Review] Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum Ex

I'm not a skincare guru and I do not have the slightest knowledge on what my skin really like and dislike. That is, I haven't really found a holy grail product for myself.

Only on rare days would I suddenly have the urge to splurge and spend on high-end luxury skincare (at least to me). Anything above $50 would probably be considered as "expensive skincare".

The other time I tried something out of my budget was the SK II treatment essence. However, that was years back during secondary school (I know right) or poly days. I got it as a gift from my parents. If I remember correctly, it was because I kept seeing the advertisement on how they use rice water and call it the 'miracle water'. Tsk, so easily enticed.

That was the only period I actually tried it and I did not even use it consistently because at that age, I didn't have any skin concerns YET.

As I aged (nooooooo), I unfortunately get adult acne, I'm also not sure whether is it hormonal or it just comes from within. I'm really bad at this.

I recently went to Korea (as you can see from the photo above) and brought back some products to try. I did not buy much as I didn't really had the time to research what to buy unfortunately. Was busy at work during that time before the trip.

Today, I would just zoom into the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum Ex, as you can tell, it is the priciest out of all my hauls from Korea.

I was a little sceptical whether I should purchase it because of the price, and I'm not even sure whether I would use it because right now at this instance, I'm actually not using any products because I wanted to pinpoint whether my acne comes from other factors rather than the products that I use.

I actually bought it last minute at the airport before returning to Singapore, because I thought since I'm already here... might as well right? Plus it seems to be so slightly ever cheaper than anywhere else.

First impression, the bottle feels heavy and luxurious. I was so scared I would drop it actually.

Tried it on my hand and it is a very lightweight serum that spreads really nicely. Almost like water with a little bit of viscosity. I really love the smell, it gives a very herb-y smell and it makes me feel happy and good (perhaps also because of the amount of $ I am putting on my face heh).

The serum doesn't feel oily or sticky and it absorbs into the skin well with a very smooth finish, which I absolutely adore. I definitely hate anything that makes my face feels greasy or look glossy/oily and those that feels like they formed a film over my face.

The herb-y scent lightly lingers and dissipates after awhile.

I tried this product on my face whenever I want to pamper myself and I just use this alone because I like to test one product at a time by itself, in case other product caused me to breakout. When I first used it on my face, it gives me a slight flush on my cheeks and it subsides very quickly. I'm not sure if it's suppose to work that way, but it didn't affect me much. In fact, the serum feels very cooling (maybe because of alcohol?) to me on my face. When I wake up the next day, there's a nice glow on my face and I quite like it. It doesn't look like the oily kind of glow where you come back home after a full day of being out in a hot & humid weather, but the glow that is very subtle.

I can't say for sure the effects on my skin over the long run as I haven't tried this out for very long. However, I don't see any new breakouts caused by this product, which is a good thing for me since I am quite prone to acne due to sensitivity of ingredients in product (which I still hasn't figured out the exact ones). Right now, I'm just trying to stay away from any products and chemicals. And I feel that it has been working for me (if you read about caveman regime online you would know - for me, I only wash my face with a face wash every once per week).

The Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum Ex should be used as a first step (as implied by the name of the product - first care), followed by your other products such as moisturiser in your routine. I've seen reviews that the serum really makes a difference to the absorption of subsequent products (although I haven't tried it).

[Ingredients] OPHIOPOGON JAPONICUS ROOT EXTRACT, GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS (LICORICE) ROOT EXTRACT, WATER, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, ALCOHOL, GLYCERIN, BETAINE, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, PAEONIA ALBIFLORA ROOT EXTRACT, NELUMBO NUCIFERA SEED 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, ASTRAGALUS MEMBRANACEUS ROOT EXTRACT, BIOSACCHARIDE GUM-1, NATTO GUM, BETA-GLUCAN, SODIUM HYALURONATE, JUGLANS REGIA (WALNUT) SHELL EXTRACT, PORTULACA OLERACEA EXTRACT, ZIZYPHUS JUJUBA FRUIT EXTRACT, THEOBROMA CACAO (COCOA) EXTRACT, PEG/PPG-17/6 COPOLYMER, GLYCERYL POLYMETHACRYLATE, BIS-PEG-18 METHYL ETHER DIMETHYL SILANE, POTASSIUM CARBOMER, PEG-60 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, DEXTRIN, CELLULOSE GUM, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, CHONDRUS CRISPUS (CARRAGEENAN), PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, PROPANEDIOL, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, DISODIUM EDTA, PHENOXYETHANOL, FRAGRANCE

Overall, I think that this product is worth the investment if you want to treat yourself to a spa-like at home pampering session. This serum seems to be the type that once you stop using, you notice the difference. It's not an instant "WOW" product that would show disparity immediately. 

The ingredients list is quite long, so do keep a look out for any sensitive ingredients and remember to patch test!

Do let me know and leave a comment below if you're interested to know of any other products that I bought from my Korea haul, I would gladly do a post on them! 

Thanks for reading!

Love,
Pitzzadiary