Sulwhasoo Ginseng Renewing Cream Ex for oily acne-prone skin
Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins- Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Acetyl Heptapeptide-4
Squalane
Honey
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate benefits for your oily skin, as ingredients like dimethicone and squalane provide emollient action, though they may not sufficiently control sebum for very oily complexions.
- The formulation includes Panax Ginseng Root Extract and Honey, which offer hydration and soothing effects supportive of general skin health.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risk of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
- Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
- Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, this cream is highly regarded for its ability to deeply hydrate and revitalize dry or aging skin, imparting a dewy glow and improving texture. Many users experience enhanced plumpness and reduced fine lines. However, the product is divisive due to its significant cost and strong, earthy ginseng fragrance.
Highlights
Luxurious texture Mostly Mentioned
- “buttery but non-greasy”
- “melts into skin”
- “velvety finish”
- “lightweight yet rich”
High price Mostly Mentioned
- “eye-wateringly expensive”
- “hefty price tag”
- “hard to sustain”
- “luxury splurge”
Deep hydration Often Mentioned
- “skin drinks it up”
- “hydrated all night”
- “soft and moist”
- “banished dry patches”
Radiant glow Often Mentioned
- “instant glow”
- “dewy finish”
- “glass skin look”
- “healthy radiance”
Strong scent Often Mentioned
- “overpowering herbal smell”
- “smells like dirt”
- “medicinal odor”
- “too strong”
Anti-aging effects Sometimes Noted
- “plumper skin”
- “softened fine lines”
- “firmer texture”
- “bouncy feel”
Spa-like scent Sometimes Noted
- “calming herbal smell”
- “earthy and grounding”
- “therapeutic aroma”
- “natural ginseng scent”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “jar hygiene concerns”
- “looked not full”
- “heavy glass jar”
- “prefer pump”
Skin reactions Rarely Noted
- “caused breakouts”
- “small whiteheads (milia)”
- “redness on cheeks”
- “too rich for oily skin”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.my, sephora.sg, influenster.com, skinsort.com, tryandreview.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Sulwhasoo Ginseng Renewing Cream Ex work for oily acne-prone skin?
Sulwhasoo Ginseng Renewing Cream Ex works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, providing hydration and soothing benefits without irritation, though it may not control excess oil as effectively as top-rated options. Oily skin types needing a better fit require lightweight, non-clogging formulas with powerful hydrating agents and peptides that balance moisture without adding heavy oils or causing breakouts.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Panax Ginseng Root Extract and honey make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin by offering hydration and soothing effects that support skin health. A product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that support the skin barrier without heavy oils, to manage oiliness and breakouts.
What do Ginseng Saponins do for oily acne-prone skin?
Ginseng saponins help calm red, irritated skin and may reduce excess oil to improve acne symptoms. They work by soothing angry breakouts and keeping your skin balanced without feeling heavy or greasy.
What does Ginseng Root Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Ginseng root extract helps calm oily, acne-prone skin by reducing redness and oxidized sebum while improving breakouts over a period of four weeks. It is also unlikely to clog pores and may help keep the skin looking smooth as it ages.
Phytotherapy Research, 2019Journal of Ginseng Research, 2017
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes after your toner in the morning routine, and after your treatment step in the evening routine. It is safe for oily skin, though an oily complexion of this type needs ingredients that better control shine.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream in your evening routine after applying your retinol treatment. Using a moisturizer alongside retinol helps keep your skin calm and is unlikely to cause irritation.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice daily as part of your morning and evening routine. Daily application helps keep skin soft and hydrated while supporting overall skin health. To better fit oily skin, this type of product also needs ingredients that effectively control excess oil.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause irritation on your skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like Panax Ginseng Root Extract and honey. However, because it contains heavier ingredients like squalane and dimethicone, it may not sufficiently control sebum or oil for very oily complexions. Oily acne-prone skin typically needs lighter hydrators and ingredients that actively balance oil to prevent clogged pores.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizing treatment can be used around the eyes or on the body, as its formula is safe and well-tolerated by the skin. The skin around the eyes and on parts of the body can be quite thin and delicate, so a product of this type needs soothing components and gentle hydrating ingredients like squalane and honey to keep it soft and calm without causing irritation.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, linalool, and limonene). Cetearyl alcohol, arachidyl alcohol, and behenyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Petrolatum-based skin protectants demonstrated protection against irritants and maceration while providing skin hydration, whereas dimethicone and zinc oxide products showed varying or limited performance across parameters among 18 healthy volunteers compared to positive and negative controls.
Ostomy/wound Management, 2005A mixture of Panax ginseng and Crataegus pinnatifida prevented skin aging by improving procollagen type I expression, diminishing matrix metalloproteinase-1 secretion, reducing skin roughness and photodamage scores, and decreasing loss of skin moisture in human dermal fibroblasts and healthy human skin.
Journal of Ginseng Research, 2017Enzyme-modified ginseng extract cream significantly reduced the global photo-damage score and various roughness measures including total roughness, smoothness depth, and arithmetic roughness average compared to placebo in 23 human subjects.
Rejuvenation Research, 2015A red ginseng hydrogel formulation with 1,2-hexanediol promoted selective growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and decreased Cutibacterium acnes in 20 female subjects.
Journal of Ginseng Research, 2022A 1% fermented black ginseng cream significantly reduced eye wrinkles and brightened skin color in twenty-three human subjects compared to control cream and baseline.
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A, 2020Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025Honey-based dressings reduced mean healing duration, length of hospital stay, and VAS pain scores compared with povidone iodine-based dressings in 1236 participants.
Journal of Wound Care, 2021Topical honey application improved the mean duration of attacks and pain, occurrence of crusting, and healing time compared to acyclovir cream in 16 adult patients with recurrent labial and genital herpes lesions.
Medical Science Monitor, 2004
Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Triethylhexanoin, Squalane, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, 1,2-Hexanediol, Vinyl Dimethicone Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Methoxy Peg-114 Polyepsilon Caprolactone, Sorbitan Olivate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Arachidyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Parfum, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins Enzyme-Treated Red Ginseng Saponins, Glyceryl Caprylate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Linalool, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Sodium Chloride, Honey Mel Miel, Limonene, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Flower Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Polygonatum Odoratum Extract Rhizome, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Glucose, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Polyaspartate, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sodium Hydroxide, Acetyl Octapeptide-3
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.