This Luxe Serum Is My Very First Skin-Care Splurge & I Have No Regrets

It’s an influencer’s job to share every moment of their lives on social media: morning and bedtime routines, what they eat in a day, what they wear, where they shop, and how they feel at any given time. Little is left private in real time, and if it is, the experience is usually shared with their followers days or weeks later to get an exclusive peek into their psyches and an inside look into their already well-documented lives.

Making an investment in a skin-care product is an intimate experience involving a lot of thought, research, and consideration, so we were excited to chat with Isabel Tan of @pretty.frowns about her very first skin-care splurge, Sulwhasoo’s First Care Activating Serum VI. Though she’s constantly trying and reviewing new beauty products, this was an easy choice given the fact that one bottle is sold every ten seconds¹ — more than half a million customers have purchased 10 bottles (or more) of the serum².

She gave us a totally unfiltered inside look into why she chose the serum as her very first skincare splurge, and the results she’s experienced.

On Why Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VI

When Tan was in her mid-twenties and living in New York City, she started noticing signs of aging. “I knew it was time to invest in a serum with high-quality ingredients to strengthen my skin barrier and combat those signs.” Tan was then introduced to Sulwhasoo by one of her good friends who is from Korea, where the brand was founded. Her friend’s mom had been using it for a long time and swears by it.

Designed to be used as the first step in your skin-care routine right after cleansing, Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum VI is meant to be applied when your skin is most open to absorption. With ingredients like ginseng and a combination of precious herbs, the serum helps boost hydration to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier while softening and smoothing out texture.

On First Impressions

Tan first began using the First Care Activating Serum three years ago, but the memory of “unboxing” and using it for the first time is one she remembers clearly. “It was the older edition of the bottle. The packaging felt luxurious, and the scent was so calming and earthy. It’s a step in my skin-care ritual I always look forward to even now, years later,” she says. To make a self-care moment out of applying the serum, she gently presses two pumps of it into her skin while giving her face a light massage for about 30 seconds.

“My skin just drinks the product up and gives me an instant boost of hydration and radiance. It definitely feels splurge-worthy.”

On The Updated Formula

The VI in the name isn’t just for show, either. It indicates that this isn’t the serum’s first iteration…or fourth or fifth, either. The brand is regularly reassessing new ways to innovate the formula to ensure the best possible performance, while also incorporating new research and proven ingredients. VI is the latest (and greatest) version, incorporating Sulwhasoo’s signature anti-aging ingredient: Ginseng Sulwhasoo Master Complex™. Powered by ginseng, it helps enhance the skin’s natural strengthening potential. Along with the formula, the bottle has also received an upgrade with sleek, white packaging. The changes are all in line with the essence of Sulwhasoo’s brand: Looking forward while staying true to its heritage.

Tan’s totally on board with that philosophy, and agrees. She already loved the old formula but feels the latest one is even better.

“I noticed that with the new formula, my complexion looks even brighter and more radiant, making it easier for makeup application, although I honestly don't wear foundation on most days. And, I really love the new bottle. It feels more elevated and I love how it looks on my counter!”

On The Skin Benefits

“After three years of using this, it has truly transformed my skin,” says Tan. “The biggest difference I've noticed is in the radiance and elasticity of my skin.” She uses it right after double cleansing. Her skin drinks the lightweight serum right up, making the application of her other serums and moisturizer easy. “Sometimes if I'm in a rush, I apply my First Care Activating Serum and go straight to my moisturizer. It compliments other products but also works well on its own.”

On Whether It’s Worth The Splurge

From gifting to press events, Tan is constantly trying out new skincare products. So, having a favorite product that she goes back to over again is a testament to the efficacy of a product. “It's become a staple in my skincare ritual. The improvement I've seen in my skin over the last three years has been huge,” says Tan. “I still get as excited about using it everyday as I did the first day I got it. There are not many products that I've kept in my routine throughout the years. This is one of the few, because it works.”

¹Based on aggregated unit sales in Korea in all channels excluding duty free stores from 2012 -2022.

²Based on accumulated domestic sales data within Korea from its first release in 1997 to October 2022.