Sulwhasoo's Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Collection Is Like a Backward Time Machine for Your Skin, Bottled

Sulwhasoo's Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Colllection
(Image credit: @erin_jahns)

Sulwhasoo is widely considered Korea's number one skincare brand, and after spending an intimate week with the brand last October in Seoul, I thoroughly understand why. As a beauty director who's been completely immersed in the editorial world for roughly eight years, I was, of course, highly aware of Sulwhasoo's sparkling reputation and rich legacy. However, between visiting the brand's Bukchon flagship store, the House of Sulwhasoo, touring the Sulwhasoo Heritage & Science Center, and experiencing the freshly reimagined Ginseng Concentrated Rejuvenating Collection via the dreamiest facial at Dosan Spa, I have an even deeper appreciation for the meticulous nature in which each and every Sulwhasoo product is formulated.

Sulwhasoo Bukchon Flagship Store in Seoul

(Image credit: @erin_jahns)

Now, I'd like to preface this entire piece by saying I rarely mess with my current skincare routine, which, since dealing with relatively severe acne for years, I’ve remained militantly faithful to for roughly four years. It takes a seriously great product to elbow its way into my daily ritual, but with Sulwhasoo's beautiful new Ginseng Concentrated Rejuvenating Collection, I’ve found seven that I'm not only using and loving myself but recommending to everyone I know. This, in and of itself, demonstrates the line's It factor.

Sulwhasoo's Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Collection at the Dosan Spa in Seoul

(Image credit: @erin_jahns)

Korean ginseng is Sulwhasoo's through line, as the antioxidant powerhouse has been an absolute focal point since it was first researched by the brand in 1955, ultimately becoming the star ingredient of the ABC Ginseng Cream, which debuted in 1966. (You can see that original formula spotlighted in my photo below.) Since then, there have been multiple iterations of the cream, all of which have inspired Sulwhasoo's modern-day formulas.

There may be different types of ginseng native to a variety of areas around the world (there are both Chinese and American counterparts, for instance), but Korean ginseng is significantly more concentrated in active compounds, making it a superior option as a skincare all-star, something Sulwhasoo recognized almost immediately. As mentioned, Sulwhasoo has pioneered ginseng research for roughly 60 years, inspired by the herb's potential rejuvenation benefits. Eventually, this led to the discovery of Korean Ginseng Actives—aka potent compounds that support skin longevity—which are now considered synonymous with the brand's legacy and the new Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Collection, in particular. I've immersed myself in the collection for nearly five months, and I can attest that it is every bit as fantastic and effective as Sulwhasoo HQ promised me back in October. And now that it's launched, I can't wait to let you in on the secret as well.

Sulwhasoo's 1966 ABC Ginseng Cream

(Image credit: @erin_jahns)

Meet Sulwhasoo's Freshly Reimagined Concentrated Ginseng Rejuvenating Collection

Beauty Director

Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content for Who What Wear for over five years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie and Who What Wear family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor.