ComScore

Gen Z and Gen X Editors Try TikTok’s Beloved Sulwhasoo Activating Serum for Mature Skin

$25 for 0.5oz? Let’s see…

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  • Formula: 20/20
  • Scent: 19/20
  • Efficacy: 17/20
  • Aesthetics: 19/20
  • Value: 16/20

Total: 91/100

If you’re a beauty buff, chances are you’re very familiar with K-beauty, AKA Korean skincare and makeup. One of the crème de la crème brands is Sulwhasoo, the manufacturer of luxe products beloved by K-pop group Blackpink. One of their tentpole products is the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VI (was $89, now $71), viral on TikTok as the secret that keeps Koreans looking 15+ years younger and “secret to glass skin-level glow.”

Over the course of six weeks, I, a Gen Zer, tapped fellow PureWow Senior Editor Dana Dickey (a Gen Xer) to test this supposed miracle serum with me to see if it lived up to the hype. Below are the results, including before-and-after photos and an honest opinion on who would most benefit from this buzzy product that retails for almost $90 a bottle.

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Sulwhasoo

Fast Facts

  • Ingredients: ginseng, among other herbs
  • Size: 0.5, 2.2 and 4.05 oz

What Is the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VI?

Sulwhasoo claims that the First Care Activating Serum will strengthen the skin barrier and provide hydration and brightening while addressing wrinkles. Based on a study the brand conducted, “Korean women who incorporated First Care Activating Serum into their skincare regimen for an average of 12 years appear to be 13.3 years younger compared to the average skin care users of the same age groups.” But you may not have to commit to a decade-plus of testing to see results. Supposedly, the serum will address signs of aging in as little as four weeks.

The serum’s key ingredient is the Sulwhasoo Master Complex, which contains ginseng and other herbs. Ginseng has a long history as an herbal remedy, with applications in skin toning and anti-aging, as noted by this 2024 review. A 2023 analysis showed that the plant is effective in triggering cellular regeneration, strengthening the skin barrier, which is encouraging.

According to aggregated Korean sales data collected by the brand, Sulwhasoo sells one bottle of this serum every ten seconds. It debuted in 1997, having evolved into its sixth and most recent iteration that launched in 2023. This latest iteration is the one we used.

sulwhasoo activating serum before and after
Original photos by Dana Dickey and Marissa Wu

How We Tested the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VI

Over the course of about six weeks, Dickey and I applied the serum as directed: in the morning and at night, right after washing our faces and before applying anything else (including toner). We followed with our regular skincare products, then evaluated the serum on the PureWow100 scale using five qualities:

  • Formula: How did it feel? Was it pleasant? What was the texture like?
  • Scent: Did it smell good? Was it weird but tolerable? Weird and intolerable?
  • Efficacy: Did it do what it promised?
  • Aesthetics: Were the packaging and design beautiful? Anything left to be desired?
  • Value: Taking into consideration the aforementioned qualities versus the price, was it worth the money?

Each quality was scored out of 20 points, for a total score out of 100. Dickey and I scored each independently of each other, and the score you see now is the average.

The Serum Is Lightweight, Gentle and Refreshing

Dickey and I both loved the feel and scent of this formula. It’s incredibly lightweight and refreshing, and not at all greasy. It’s slightly viscous, but not sticky. The aroma is faintly herbal, calming and a great splash of moisture to prime your skin to receive other products in your routine.

sulwhasoo activating serum: swatch
Original photo by Marissa Wu

It Delivers on Hydration

Something I struggle with, especially in the winter, is dry skin. We’ve had some days this winter where the humidity has been so low, my face felt tight even though I’d been double-pumping my moisturizer and doing hydration masks overnight. The First Care Activating Serum did provide an extra bump of moisture that helped relieve the feeling—thought it didn’t completely diminish it.

Meanwhile, Dickey had high praise, shooting me a quick message the day before we wrote up our review: “I’ve practically used it all. Drinking the stuff almost.” Instead of the advised two pumps, she opted to do three and reported a “glassy, immediately plumped appearance.”

Fine Lines Faded

While I couldn’t speak much to this supposed benefit, Dickey reported that after six weeks of testing, she found her skin “less crepey and with fewer fine lines around my eyes.”

sulwhasoo activating serum bottle
Original photo by Marissa Wu

The Serum Gave Makeup Better Longevity, Too

While perusing the web for other buyers’ thoughts on the serum, Dickey noticed that one Reddit user reported that their makeup had better staying power—claiming 14+ hours.

“My foundation and blush didn’t wear off after a couple hours per usual, if I started with this Sulwhasoo base layer,” Dickey confirmed. Similarly, I noticed that when the humidity dropped, my skin was starting to get flakey under my makeup, but the problem resolved when I started putting down the serum as base.

sulwhasoo activating serum review: dana before and after
Original photo by Dana Dickey

The Bottom Line

It’s a known fact that as we age, our skin loses moisture and feels drier. As someone in their 20s, I’m not quite in this time of life, so I think that unless you’re my age (or thereabout) and experiencing an onset of dryness, lines and wrinkles, you can probably save $90 and just double down on moisturizer and less expensive toners, which is what I plan to do.

However, Dickey, who is in her 50s, confirmed that the serum did hold to its promises of boosting hydration and addressing fine lines. We’d recommend this serum to those with mature skin who are most likely to really see tangible and more immediate results.

Of course, if it’s in your budget and you’re a 20-/30-something eyeing the serum, it doesn’t hurt to get a head start. The brand did report that their study evaluated women who had been using the serum for at least 12 years. But after testing, the serum definitely feels like something you can begin using later in life, too, and still reap the benefits.


MW 10

SEO Editor

  • Writes across all verticals, including beauty, fashion, wellness, travel and entertainment, with a focus on SEO and evergreen content
  • Has previously worked at Popular Photography and Southern Living, with words in Martha Stewart and Forbes Vetted
  • Has a B.S. in journalism from Boston University

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PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.
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