50 Years of Ginseng Research
Beauty is a never-ending journey. High-end Korean luxury skincare brand Sulwhasoo identified the potential of the precious ginseng as a secret ingredient to beautify skin and brought the innovative ginseng-based skincare to the beauty market. Sulwhasoo is devoted to exploring the synergy between herbs and ginseng. This year, the brand organized a global event in Seoul to celebrate its 50th anniversary and present the latest 4th generation Ginseng Cream.
Inspired by his hometown Gaeseong, a city known for quality ginseng, Sulwhasoo’s founder Suh Sung-whan developed ABC Ginseng Cream early in 1966 using ginseng as fundamental ingredient with the help from his mother who mastered the know-how of phyto-beauty. Ginseng has since become the keystone of Sulwhasoo’s research into its myriad possibilities. In 1987, the brand is renamed as ‘Sulwha’, literally means ‘snowflakes’, the name evokes the radiant skin that shines like a beautiful snowflake. In 1997, the word ‘soo’ (excellence) is added to complete the name ‘Sulwhasoo’. The anti-aging Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream released in 2000 is infused with active ingredients extracted from ginseng, which delivers the full efficacies of the herb. After 50 years of beauty research, Sulwhasoo takes ginseng-based beauty up a notch and presents the 4th generation Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream EX & Light with identical ingredients yet lighter textures. To mark the occasion, Sulwhasoo choose Cairo Hotel in Seoul as the venue for its 50th Anniversary event-cum-Release Conference and invited beauty editors from around the globe including the US, Mainland China, Singapore and Hong Kong (China) to celebrate its historic moment.
The Growing Heritage
Sulwhasoo’s commitment to holistic beauty combines Korean regimen that aims at reinforcing one's vital energies and strengthening the primordial qi with Asian herbal medical science. With balancing yin and yang as core of the brand’s beauty philosophy, Sulwhasoo fully utilizes the effects of ginseng’s various parts, such as its roots, leaves, fruits and flowers. The Time Tunnel at the entrance of event venue introduces the magic power of the Asian herb, as well as research and advanced technology applied for ginseng essence extraction. The tunnel leads us to the maze-like display areas where the brand’s history is told through exhibits like the real ‘ABC Ginseng Cream’ that marks Sulwhasoo’s milestone, and its ginseng research records. Then we came to the area in black displaying the 4th generation Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream EX & EX Light. Experts from Sulwhasoo walked us through the effects of the Ginseng Cream and gave us a try on. What’s the difference between the latest and the previous Ginseng Creams?
The Power of Ginseng
The journey of Sulwhasoo in exploring ginseng’s properties is showcased on three display screens before the Gala Dinner, followed by an introduction to 4th generation Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream EX, with enhanced Compound K, a precious patented ingredient found in ginseng roots, using Bio-conversion Technology to directly deliver it into deep layers of skin. This latest version also boosts Ginsenoside R extracted from ginseng flowers that is 6 times more concentrated than that of previous products and helps enhance skin’s regeneration capacity. Ginseng flowers contain 10 times more concentrated anti-aging ingredients, but only blossom once in 4 years, making it harder for the extraction of Ginsenoside R. The new ginseng cream also gives a more moisturizing texture and heavier scent. Meanwhile, a light version with airy texture but identical ingredients is released. “Various skin conditions or different weather may result in different user experiences for the same product. So we carried out a survey and found that many customers though the ginseng scent is quite heavy. That’s why we also released a light version to cater every user’s need depending on their own preference for texture and scent,” Paul Kang, Product Development Department’s Senior Vice President, explains. After trying on the EX Light version, I think it’s lighter and the scent of ginseng leaves and flowers is more refreshing.
