Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream for oily acne-prone skin
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Squalane
Retinol
Beta-GlucanAverage
- 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 hydration and soothing benefits for your oily skin, with ingredients like glycerin and honey providing moisture and calming effects, while salicylic acid offers mild exfoliation to help with blemishes.
- Panax ginseng root extract aids in skin renewal, and while the formula is generally safe for your oily skin, it lacks more potent oil-controlling ingredients for optimal results.
- The product has a good safety profile with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence 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 1.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cream is highly recommended for dry and mature skin, offering deep hydration and a radiant glow with a luxurious texture. Many users report significant anti-aging benefits like increased firmness and reduced fine lines. The herbal ginseng scent is polarizing, and the high price point is a frequent concern, though some users find the texture too heavy or experience breakouts.
Highlights
Deep hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “skin drinks it up”
- “melted into my skin”
- “moisturized all night”
- “soft as a baby's bottom”
High price Mostly Mentioned
- “outrageously priced”
- “expensive”
- “splurge”
- “investment”
Luxurious texture Often Mentioned
- “buttery”
- “velvety”
- “silky”
- “absorbs quickly”
Radiant glow Often Mentioned
- “instant glow”
- “dewy”
- “glass skin”
- “healthy radiance”
Anti-aging results Sometimes Noted
- “firmer”
- “plumper”
- “fine lines diminished”
- “lifting effect”
Spa-like scent Sometimes Noted
- “grounding”
- “herbal”
- “therapeutic”
- “ginseng smell”
Strong scent Sometimes Noted
- “overpowering”
- “medicinal”
- “like dirt/grass”
- “too herbal”
Breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused acne”
- “small bumps”
- “whiteheads”
- “reaction”
Too heavy Rarely Noted
- “greasy residue”
- “too rich”
- “sat on skin”
- “clogged pores”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, influenster.com, reddit.com, mywomenstuff.com, kbeautyhobbit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream work for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is an average fit for your oily acne-prone skin, offering moderate hydration and mild blemish care, but it lacks stronger oil-controlling ingredients for optimal results. A product of this type needs powerful hydrating and repairing ingredients, lightweight textures without heavy oils, and ingredients that support the skin barrier while keeping breakouts at bay.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin and honey provide moisture, while salicylic acid offers mild exfoliation to help with blemishes. To best suit oily acne-prone skin, this type of product needs strong oil-controlling ingredients and lightweight, non-clogging textures that manage excess oil without causing breakouts.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
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
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.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before your final moisturizer, or as your standalone moisturizer. A product of this type for oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight hydration alongside potent oil-controlling and blemish-clearing ingredients to work best.
Can I use this cream with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this cream with vitamin C by applying your vitamin C serum first on clean skin, letting it absorb, and then following with this moisturizer. This moisturizing treatment works for your oily acne-prone skin, though an average fit product of this type needs more potent oil-controlling ingredients to properly manage shine and blemishes.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice daily as part of your morning and evening routine. Regular application helps provide moderate hydration and soothing benefits for oily skin, though this skin type needs products with stronger oil-controlling ingredients for optimal results.
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 clog pores or cause breakouts for your oily acne-prone skin, as it has a low risk of breakouts and a safe profile without harsh ingredients. Reviewers rarely complain about breakouts, and the formula includes salicylic acid to help with blemishes.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes, though skin there is thinner and more delicate than on the rest of the body. To properly care for oily acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients to manage shine.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, linalool, hexyl cinnamal, and eugenol) and drying alcohol (alcohol).
What the research says
A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Panax ginseng root extract induced Type I procollagen synthesis and COL1A2 promoter activity through Smad2 phosphorylation in human dermal fibroblast cells.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007A 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, 2025Topical 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2018Skin care regimens containing beta-glucan improved hemoglobin index, skin hydration, and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in 20 patients undergoing fractional laser therapy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Treatment with topical formulations containing beta-glucan combined with nanofractional radiofrequency plus magnetic nanofractional radiofrequency showed the best efficacy and was tolerable and effective in Chinese women with abdominal stretch marks compared to control groups.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2023Topical beta-glucan mildly improved striae gravidarum, 1565-nm non-ablative fractional laser showed better results than topical beta-glucan, and the combined strategy further improved striae gravidarum atrophy compared to single treatment.
The Journal of Dermatology, 2022
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, Glycerin, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Trehalose, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Phytosteryl Isostearyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Peg-40 Stearate, Phytosteryl Behenyl Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Jojoba Esters, Stearic Acid, Propanediol, Peg-100 Stearate, Palmitic Acid, Methoxy Peg-114 Polyepsilon Caprolactone, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Polyacrylate-13, Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil, Peg-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Cetyl Peg Ppg-10 1 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Glyceryl Linoleate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Oil, Glycine Soja Soybean Sterols, Propylene Glycol, Polyisobutene, Acetyl Glucosamine, Polyquaternium-51, Hexyl Laurate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins Enzyme-Treated Red Ginseng Saponins, Carnauba Wax, Tocopheryl Linoleate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pantethine, Salicylic Acid, Dimethiconol, Glyceryl Linolenate, Alcohol, Persea Gratissima Oil Avocado Oil, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Lauryl Peg Ppg-18 18 Methicone, Vitis Vinifera Leaf Extract Grape Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Beta-Glucan, Disodium Edta, Retinol, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Dextrin, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Isostearyl Alcohol, Dodecene, Sodium Chloride, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Honey Mel Miel, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Linalool, Bht, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Eugenol, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Sodium Polyaspartate, Tbhq, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, 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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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