Sulwhasoo Ginseng Renewing Cream Ex for combination skin
Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins- Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Acetyl Heptapeptide-4
Squalane
Honey
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 elasticity benefits for your combination skin, as Panax Ginseng Root Extract and Hydrolyzed Ginseng Saponins work to improve hydration and suppleness.
- Glycerin and squalane provide general skincare support, though they are not specifically targeted to address your oily shine concerns.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like honey.
How to apply
- Use this moisturizer in your AM and PM routine every day to control shine. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
- Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin and avoid harsh rubbing. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help it lock in moisture better. This keeps your combination skin balanced.
- Avoid the eye area when applying the moisturizer. Do a 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 combination skin?
Sulwhasoo Ginseng Renewing Cream Ex works reasonably well for combination skin, offering moderate hydration and elasticity benefits, though it is not specifically targeted to address oily shine. To work best for this skin type, a product of this type needs effective brightening and moisturizing ingredients that reduce oily shine without causing irritation or feeling too heavy.
Journal of Ginseng Research, 2017Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for combination skin?
Panax ginseng root extract and hydrolyzed ginseng saponins make this cream a good fit for combination skin by helping improve hydration and softness. To work even better for this skin type, a product of this type needs ingredients that target and reduce oily shine while providing safe hydration.
Journal of Ginseng Research, 2017Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007
What do Ginseng Saponins do for combination skin?
What does Ginseng Root Extract do for combination skin?
Ginseng root extract helps keep combination skin smooth and firm by supporting collagen and locking in moisture. It also helps calm the skin and keeps it looking bright and even.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007Journal of Ginseng Research, 2017
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cream goes in the morning routine after your hydrating toner and before your sunscreen, and in the evening routine as the final step after your treatment. It works well for your skin, though a combination skin product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and balancing ingredients that control oily shine while keeping dry areas soft.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol, and applying it first helps prepare your skin and may reduce dryness and irritation from the retinol. This type of skin needs a moisturizer that balances hydration and elasticity without adding heavy oils that trigger excess shine.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice daily as part of your morning and evening routine to support hydration and elasticity. Regular application helps improve overall skin moisture and texture, though combination skin also benefits from ingredients that specifically help balance oily shine.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin because it has a safe formula with soothing honey, but it does not specifically target oily shine. Combination skin needs lightweight hydrators and balancing ingredients that control excess oil without heavy oils.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizing treatment is gentle enough for the thin skin around the eyes or on the body, as it has a safe makeup without harsh ingredients and includes soothing honey. It is unlikely to cause irritation while offering moderate hydration.
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
A 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, 2017Panax ginseng root extract induced Type I procollagen synthesis and COL1A2 promoter activity through Smad2 phosphorylation in human dermal fibroblast cells.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007Ginsenosides extracted from Sanchi induced stress protein synthesis in human skin cells and showed positive effects against facial wrinkles and skin aging symptoms in clinical testing.
Dose-response, 2013A 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, 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
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.
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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