Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Serum for oily skin
Panax Ginseng Extract
Niacinamide
RetinolAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums 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 anti-aging benefits for your oily skin, as acetyl heptapeptide-4 and acetyl hexapeptide-8 work to minimize fine lines and wrinkles, while Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins Enzyme-Treated Red Ginseng Saponins and Panax Ginseng Seed Oil provide antioxidant activity and barrier repair.
- Glycerin and Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil offer hydration and emollience, which are generally beneficial but do not directly address your primary concern of oily shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like honey and ginseng extracts.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsUsers with aging, dry, or dull skin consistently report that this serum delivers visible improvements in firmness, elasticity, and overall radiance. While the herbal scent is polarizing, the majority of reviewers describe it as a luxurious, lightweight addition to their routine that effectively smooths fine lines and deeply hydrates without leaving a sticky residue.
Highlights
Fast Absorption Mostly Mentioned
- “Absorbs almost instantly”
- “sinks deep into skin”
- “lightweight and non-greasy”
High Price Mostly Mentioned
- “Outrageously priced”
- “wallet hurts”
- “wish it was cheaper”
Deep Hydration Often Mentioned
- “Skin drinks it up”
- “baby soft skin”
- “deep and long-lasting hydration”
Radiant Glow Often Mentioned
- “100% glowier”
- “radiant glow”
- “face looks smooth and glowy”
Visible Firming Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels bouncier”
- “noticed firmness after usage”
- “tightens my skin”
Luxurious Scent Sometimes Noted
- “Smells like a spa”
- “love the ginseng scent”
- “very luxurious and herbal”
Strong Scent Sometimes Noted
- “Scent is quite intense”
- “unpleasant herbal smell”
- “too strong for me”
Skin Reactions Rarely Noted
- “Caused small CCs”
- “tiny blemishes popped up”
- “broke me out”
Small Quantity Rarely Noted
- “Finished too quickly”
- “expensive for the size”
- “wish bottle was bigger”
Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, sephora.my, sephora.sg, sephora.com.au, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Serum work for oily skin?
Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Serum works moderately well for oily skin, offering anti-aging benefits and barrier support while remaining safe and non-irritating. However, because it does not directly control excess oil, an oily skin type needs a product formulated with ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and lightweight hydrators to manage shine and refine pores.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Journal of Ginseng Research, 2022
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Acetyl heptapeptide-4, acetyl hexapeptide-8, hydrolyzed ginseng saponins, and panax ginseng seed oil make this serum a fit for oily skin by helping to minimize fine lines, provide antioxidants, and repair the skin barrier. While it is safe and provides gentle hydration, this skin type needs a treatment that includes ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and balancing extracts to control excess oil and reduce shine.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Journal of Ginseng Research, 2020
What does Panax Ginseng Extract do for oily skin?
Panax Ginseng Extract helps oily skin by reducing oxidized sebum and calming skin redness. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may improve early-stage acne symptoms with regular use.
What does Ginseng do for oily skin?
Ginseng helps calm oily skin by reducing excess sebum and skin redness. It works well to improve acne symptoms while supporting overall skin health.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Oily skin needs a lightweight, oil-controlling serum with clarifying and balancing ingredients that helps manage excess shine while smoothing fine lines.
Can I use this serum with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this serum with vitamin C by applying vitamin C first in your morning routine and this treatment at night. Because vitamin C targets daytime brightness and this formula works best overnight, alternating them helps your skin get the full benefits of both without overloading it.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. Oily skin of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-controlling ingredients like niacinamide or salicylic acid to help manage shine.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like honey and ginseng extracts. To better fit oily skin, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-balancing ingredients that manage shine without heavy oils.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum) and drying alcohol (alcohol).
What the research says
Ginsenosides protected against UVB-induced skin barrier damage in BALB/c hairless mice and HaCaT keratinocytes by restoring barrier protein expression and inhibiting MAPK phosphorylation through six active monomeric constituents.
Journal of Ginseng Research, 2022Argireline treatment twice daily for 4 weeks produced a significant anti-wrinkle effect with 48.9% total efficacy and decreased skin roughness in Chinese subjects compared with 0% efficacy and no decrease in roughness in the placebo group.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Korean Red Ginseng extract suppressed melanogenesis in vitro, reduced wrinkle formation and collagen degradation in ultraviolet B-irradiated hairless mice, and improved skin resilience, moisture, and tone in humans.
Journal of Ginseng Research, 2020A 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, 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, 2020Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical 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, 2018
Why other serums 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, 2024Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Methyl Gluceth-20, Betaine, Behenyl Alcohol, Methoxy Peg-114 Polyepsilon Caprolactone, Carbomer, Jojoba Esters, Tromethamine, Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins Enzyme-Treated Red Ginseng Saponins, Parfum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Panax Ginseng Seed Oil, Panax Ginseng Stem Extract Leaf, Honey Mel Miel, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Panax Ginseng Flower Extract, Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Polygonatum Odoratum Extract Rhizome, Retinol, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Alcohol, Glucose, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Bht, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Polyaspartate, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Acetyl Heptapeptide-4, Sodium Hydroxide, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, 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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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