Sulwhasoo Essential Firming Cream for oily skin
Jisun Firming Complex
Glycerin
Honey
Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract
Licorice Root Extract
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 moisturizing and firming for your oily skin due to glycerin and honey, which hydrate and improve elasticity without exacerbating shine.
- Kaolin provides mild oil absorption, offering general skincare benefits that are supportive but not specialized for controlling oily shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh or prohibited ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis rich, whipped cream is widely praised by users with dry and dehydrated skin for its ability to deeply moisturize and create a "bouncy," plump complexion. While many report visible improvements in skin elasticity and texture, the strong herbal ginseng scent and heavy finish make it a polarizing choice for those with oily or sensitive skin.
Highlights
Deep hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “skin drinks it up”
- “wake up with plump skin”
- “keeps skin hydrated until noon”
Luxurious texture Mostly Mentioned
- “texture is thick and luxurious”
- “whipped cream texture”
- “melts beautifully without feeling heavy”
Firming effect Often Mentioned
- “noticeable lifting effects”
- “skin felt soft and bouncy”
- “visibly improves skin firmness”
High price Often Mentioned
- “price is steep”
- “very pricey for a moisturizer”
- “wallet was furious”
Herbal scent Sometimes Noted
- “scent feels special”
- “calming herbal ginseng scent”
- “smells like a spa”
Heavy finish Sometimes Noted
- “feels sticky and greasy”
- “too oily for summer”
- “takes time to rub in”
Strong scent Sometimes Noted
- “fragrance is a bit strong”
- “smells like ginger or menthol”
- “scent slightly overpowering”
Potential breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused blemishes”
- “notice some blemishes start to appear”
- “too heavy for acne-prone skin”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, nordstrom.com, macys.com, influenster.com, yesstyle.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Sulwhasoo Essential Firming Cream work for oily skin?
Sulwhasoo Essential Firming Cream works reasonably well for oily skin by offering moderate moisture and firmness through glycerin and honey, though other products fit this skin type better. A product of this type needs peptides and lightweight hydrating ingredients that manage shine without heavy oils or clogged pores.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?
Glycerin and honey make this cream a good fit by hydrating your oily skin and improving elasticity without making it too shiny. For an even better fit, oily skin needs lightweight moisturizing treatments with peptides, soothing extracts, and barrier-supporting ingredients that control shine without clogging pores.
What does Jisun Firming Complex do for oily skin?
Jisun Firming Complex is an average fit for oily skin because it lacks the lightweight hydration and oil-controlling ingredients needed to keep pores clear and skin balanced. This skin type needs oil-free hydrators and gentle balancing ingredients to stay smooth and calm without feeling heavy.
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes in your evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before your final moisturizer. Oily skin works best with lighter hydrators and ingredients that balance oil without adding heavy shine.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying it after your retinol treatment to help soothe your skin and keep it hydrated. Oily skin works best with lightweight, oil-free hydrators and ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide that specifically target excess shine and pores.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Regular daily application helps improve skin moisture and elasticity without causing irritation or adding heavy shine.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on your oily skin, as it has a very low risk of causing breakouts according to reviewer feedback and a safe profile overall. However, because it has a heavy finish and only moderate oil absorption, oily skin usually fits best with lightweight, oil-free gel creams containing niacinamide or salicylic acid to help control shine.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cream on your body, but it is not specifically tailored for the very thin skin around the eyes where specialized eye treatments work best. The product is generally safe to apply elsewhere, though oily skin on the body and face typically benefits most from lightweight, oil-controlling hydrators rather than rich moisturizing treatments.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, linalool, citronellol, citral, and geraniol). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Honey-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, 2004Partially purified paeoniflorin protected human keratinocytes and mouse skin from UV-induced DNA damage and reduced facial wrinkles in human volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2006Paeonia suffruticosa callus extract downregulated inflammatory factors, alleviated DNA damage, and increased total collagen content in in vitro and in vivo evaluations.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Topical application of Paeonia lactiflora root extract and paeoniflorin significantly decreases melanin content by 23% to 30% in reconstructed pigmented human epidermis compared to vehicle control.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2016Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025
Why other moisturizers fit oily 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, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate Dicaprate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Peg-100 Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate-13, Parfum, Polyisobutene, Honey Mel Miel, Limonene, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Polygonatum Officinale Root Extract Rhizome, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Sorbitan Isostearate, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Kaolin, Linalool, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Citronellol, Citral, Geraniol, Benzyl Benzoate, Hydrolyzed Soybean Extract, Tocopherol
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.