Sulwhasoo
Recharging Serum for Men 140ml
Sulwhasoo Recharging Serum for Men 140ml is a serum led by Niacinamide on its own ingredient panel, sourced as the Korean-market formula.
No reviews yet140 ml
$69.64 per 100 ml
- Korean-market formula
- Ships from California or direct from Korea
- Korean barcode and batch code intact
- Suited to
- Normal skinDry skinCombination skinSkin that runs sensitive
- Helps with
- A concentrated middle step between watery prep and a sealing moisturizerA specific concern that a moisturizer alone is spread too thin to addressLayering room between a toner and cream
In stock. Arrives in 3 to 7 business days
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- 30-day returns
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How it works
Niacinamide leads the ingredient panel on this serum. Niacinamide is vitamin B3, and it is the most studied active in Korean formulation. It is used at roughly 2 to 5 percent for the look of uneven tone and visible pores, and it is water soluble, stable and comfortable beside almost every other active, which is why it turns up in so many lists. On this panel it sits alongside Adenosine, Panax Ginseng Root Extract and Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract. Adenosine is a nucleoside that Korea's own cosmetic authority recognises as a wrinkle-care functional ingredient, which is why it appears on so many Korean lists at a low level. It is used for the look of fine lines and is stable and well tolerated.
Key benefits
- Niacinamide named on this product's own ingredient panel, near the top of it
- Adenosine on the same panel, the formula's active
- Panax Ginseng Root Extract on the same panel, the formula's plant extract
- 140 ml to a unit
- Korean-market formula, with its Korean barcode and batch code intact on the box
How to use
- Use it morning and night. Apply two to three drops pressed into clean, slightly damp skin, avoiding the immediate eye area. It goes after your toner or essence and before your moisturizer, the concentrated middle step of a routine.
Is this the same formula sold in Korea, or a version made for the US market?
This is the Korean-market formula, the same one sold on shelves in Korea, not a separate version reformulated for US retail.
Where does Recharging Serum for Men 140ml go in a routine?
It belongs the concentrated middle step of a routine, used after your toner or essence and before your moisturizer. Placing it earlier or later than that changes how it feels going on and how well the steps around it perform, so it is worth following that order rather than treating it as interchangeable with a different type of product.
Is this suited to my skin type?
It is formulated with normal skin, dry skin, combination skin, and skin that runs sensitive in mind, and it does not lean on a heavy fragrance load or a harsh surfactant base to do its job. If your skin is easily reactive, patch test on a small area first before working it into a full routine.
How often should I use Recharging Serum for Men 140ml?
Follow the frequency built into its category: the concentrated middle step of a routine, used after your toner or essence and before your moisturizer. Using it more often than a routine step is designed for will not speed up the result and can make skin feel overworked instead, so stick to the placement above.
Who should be careful with this product, or wait before trying it?
Introduce a new serum gradually rather than every day at first, so it is easier to tell if skin is reacting to it specifically. Beyond that, anyone new to the brand or the format should patch test on a small area first rather than applying it across the whole face on day one.
Not on the ingredient list below: essential oils, parabens, sulfate surfactants, mineral oil or petrolatum and added color.
Full INCI (41): Water/Aqua/Eau, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat, Betaine, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Carbomer, Fragrance/Parfum, Tromethamine, Propanediol, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Limonene, Disodium EDTA, Linalool, Methyl Trimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Carrageenan, Benzyl Benzoate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Acanthopanax Senticosus (Eleuthero) Root Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Rhizome Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis (Licorice) Root Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum (Mushroom) Extract, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Rice Ferment Filtrate (Sake), Hydrogenated Lecithin, Natto Gum, BHT, Citric Acid, Tocopherol
Ingredient list read from us.sulwhasoo.com on 30 August 2026.
37 of 41 explained
- Water/Aqua/Eau solvent
- Water is the base almost every serum, toner and cream is built on. It dissolves the water-loving ingredients and sets how light the finished texture feels. On an INCI list it is usually first, which only means it is the largest single ingredient by weight.
- Butylene Glycol humectant
- Butylene Glycol is a small glycol that does two jobs at once: it holds water in the top layer of skin and it dissolves plant extracts and actives that plain water cannot. It also thins a formula, which is why watery Korean essences lean on it.
- Alcohol Denat solvent
- Alcohol Denat. is ethanol with a bitter additive that makes it undrinkable, which is a tax rule rather than a formulation choice. It behaves like alcohol: a fast-evaporating solvent that gives a weightless finish and can feel drying at higher levels.
- Betaine humectant
- Betaine is a sugar-beet-derived humectant that cells use to hold water. In a formula it hydrates and takes the edge off cleansers and acids, which is why it often appears alongside them.
- Niacinamide active
- Niacinamide is vitamin B3, and it is the most studied active in Korean formulation. It is used at roughly 2 to 5 percent for the look of uneven tone and visible pores, and it is water soluble, stable and comfortable beside almost every other active, which is why it turns up in so many lists.
- 1,2-Hexanediol humectant
- 1,2-Hexanediol is a glycol used for two reasons: it holds water like glycerin, and it makes a formula harder for microbes to live in, so less traditional preservative is needed. Korean formulas use it heavily for that second reason.
- PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer solvent
- PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer is a water-soluble polymer used as a humectant and solubiliser. It keeps a formula fluid and helps oils stay dispersed.
- Glyceryl Polymethacrylate film former
- Glyceryl Polymethacrylate is a polymer that forms a smooth, water-holding film and gives a formula a cushioned, non-sticky feel.
- PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil emulsifier
- PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is a castor-oil-derived solubiliser. It is what keeps fragrance and oil-soluble ingredients dissolved in a watery formula so it stays clear.
- Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane silicone
- A water-soluble silicone used for a light, silky slip without an oily film. It also helps other ingredients spread evenly.
- Carbomer thickener
- Carbomer is a synthetic polymer that only gels once a base neutralises it, which is why arginine or tromethamine sits nearby on the list. It gives the clear, non-stringy gel texture a xanthan formula cannot reach.
- Fragrance/Parfum fragrance
- Fragrance, or Parfum, is a single declaration standing for a whole scent blend, which can be dozens of materials. Regulators allow it as a trade secret, so a list showing only this word does not say what the scent is made of. It is the most common trigger named by people with reactive skin.
25 more explained
- Tromethamine pH adjuster
- Tromethamine neutralises acidic thickeners such as carbomer so they gel, and holds a formula near skin-friendly pH. It is used at a fraction of a percent.
- Propanediol humectant
- Propanediol is a plant-derived glycol used in place of propylene glycol. It hydrates, carries actives into solution, and gives a lighter, less sticky slip than glycerin at the same strength.
- Saccharide Hydrolysate humectant
- Saccharide Hydrolysate is a mixture of plant sugars broken down for use as a humectant. It holds water in the outer layer.
- Ethylhexylglycerin preservative booster
- Ethylhexylglycerin softens skin and boosts a preservative system, which is why it is nearly always sitting beside phenoxyethanol or 1,2-hexanediol. It also cuts down the odour bacteria produce, so it turns up in deodorising products.
- Adenosine active
- Adenosine is a nucleoside that Korea's own cosmetic authority recognises as a wrinkle-care functional ingredient, which is why it appears on so many Korean lists at a low level. It is used for the look of fine lines and is stable and well tolerated.
- Limonene fragrance component
- Limonene is the citrus-peel aromatic. It appears here because EU labelling requires 26 fragrance components to be named individually rather than hidden inside "fragrance", and it is one of them.
- Disodium EDTA chelator
- EDTA is a chelator: it locks up trace metal ions from water and packaging that would otherwise turn a formula cloudy, off-colour or rancid. It does nothing to skin and appears at a fraction of a percent.
- Linalool fragrance component
- Linalool is a floral aromatic found in lavender, bergamot and coriander. It is one of the 26 fragrance components EU labelling requires to be declared by name.
- Methyl Trimethicone silicone
- Methyl Trimethicone is a light, volatile silicone chosen for a notably dry finish. It thins a formula and disperses powders evenly.
- Phenoxyethanol preservative
- Phenoxyethanol is the most widely used cosmetic preservative outside the paraben family. It keeps a water-containing formula from growing bacteria and mould, and is capped at one percent in most markets, so it always sits low on a list.
- Carrageenan thickener
- Carrageenan is a red-seaweed polysaccharide that thickens and forms a moisture-holding film. It gives a formula a slippery, cushioned body.
- Benzyl Benzoate fragrance component
- Benzyl Benzoate is a faintly balsamic aromatic that also acts as a fixative, holding a fragrance on skin longer. It is one of the 26 declarable fragrance components.
- Panax Ginseng Root Extract plant extract
- Ginseng Root Extract is the signature ingredient of Korean traditional skincare, carrying ginsenosides. It is used for the look of tired, dull skin, and brands often ferment it to break the ginsenosides into smaller forms.
- Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract plant extract
- Amur cork tree bark, another traditional berberine-bearing herbal ingredient. It is yellow and appears in blends aimed at the look of congested skin.
- Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract plant extract
- Scutellaria Baicalensis is Chinese skullcap. Its root extract carries baicalin, a well studied plant antioxidant, and it is used for the look of redness.
- Propylene Glycol humectant
- Propylene Glycol is a small glycol used as a humectant and solvent. It hydrates and helps actives dissolve; newer formulas often swap it for propanediol, which does the same job with a lighter feel.
- Pentylene Glycol humectant
- Pentylene Glycol hydrates and, like the other longer-chain glycols, makes a formula less hospitable to microbes so the preservative system can be lighter. It also improves how evenly a product spreads.
- Glycyrrhiza Uralensis (Licorice) Root Extract plant extract
- Licorice Root Extract carries glabridin and liquiritin. It is one of the classic plant ingredients used for the look of uneven tone and redness, and it appears in almost every brightening formula that avoids synthetic actives.
- Ganoderma Lucidum (Mushroom) Extract plant extract
- Reishi mushroom extract. Like most mushroom extracts it carries beta-glucan-type polysaccharides, which hold water and leave a light film.
- Rice Ferment Filtrate (Sake) ferment
- Rice Ferment Filtrate is the clear liquid from fermented rice, the same process that makes sake. It carries amino acids, sugars and organic acids and is used as a conditioning ferment.
- Hydrogenated Lecithin emulsifier
- Hydrogenated Lecithin is lecithin with its unsaturated bonds filled in, which makes it far more stable. It emulsifies and is the standard shell for the liposomes that carry actives into the outer layer of skin.
- Natto Gum humectant
- Polyglutamic Acid comes from fermented soy and holds several times more water than hyaluronic acid for its weight. It forms a light film on the surface, so it is often layered with hyaluronic rather than replacing it.
- BHT antioxidant
- BHT is a synthetic antioxidant used in traces to stop the oils in a formula going rancid. It protects the product, not the skin.
- Citric Acid pH adjuster
- Citric Acid is used in tiny amounts to bring a formula to the pH its actives need, not as an exfoliant at that level. It is an AHA, so at much higher concentrations it can also exfoliate.
- Tocopherol antioxidant
- Tocopherol is vitamin E. It is an oil-soluble antioxidant that protects the oils in a formula from going rancid and works on skin as an emollient, and it is regularly paired with vitamin C because each keeps the other going for longer.
- Market
- Korean market, the version sold in Korea
- EAN (barcode)
- 8809803526661
- Made in
- Republic of Korea
- Volume
- 140 ml
- Category
- Serum & Ampoule
- Actives
- Adenosine, Ginseng, Licorice Root, Niacinamide
- Ships from
- California or Korea
Orders ship from California or direct from Korea with tracked delivery to your door, and both routes carry the same Korean-market release. Shipping is free on orders of $100 or more. Returns are accepted for 30 days, by mail.
We split shipments free, so one out-of-stock item never holds up the rest of your order.
Where this unit came from
- 1Seoul
Bought as Korean-market stock - 2Barcode
Listed against the Korean barcode on its box - 3California or Korea
Ships to you from either, as the same Korean-market release
We stock the version of a formula that is sold in Korea, not the release a brand prepares for another market under the same name. The barcode in the specification above is the Korean-market one and it is printed on the box you receive.
Every unit keeps its original barcode and batch code intact, so the unit in your hands can be checked against the brand’s own records.
Every order ships from California or direct from Korea, and returns run for 30 days.
Every claim on this page traces to the unit in the box, the barcode, the batch code and the price you can read for yourself.
Inside the formula
Inside the formula
Worth knowing
- Introduce a new serum gradually rather than every day at first, so it is easier to tell if skin is reacting to it specifically.
- Seal it with a moisturizer rather than leaving it to sit alone, since a serum is a middle step and not built to finish a routine.
Complete the routine
- This itemSulwhasoo Recharging Serum for Men 140ml$97.50
- Cleanse first, so the next step meets bare skinSulwhasoo Signature Ginseng Facial Soap 120g X 2ea$82.50
- The last step of the morning, over everything elseSulwhasoo MEN UV Defense Protector 50ml SPF50+ PA++++$52.50
Total for 3 items$232.50
Reviews
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Sulwhasoo Recharging Serum for Men 140ml
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Sulwhasoo, Korean-market original
Sulwhasoo serum, Recharging Serum for Men 140ml, sourced for the Korean market rather than reformulated for US retail.
Verify your unit when it arrives
Verify your unit when it arrives
Korean-market stock with the original barcode and batch code intact, exactly as it left Korea.
On the unit itself
- The Korean-market barcode, unaltered from the retail package.
- The manufacturer’s batch code, exactly as the maker printed it.
정품Genuine article, Korean-market stock
What professionals say
What professionals say
What skin-care professionals say about skin care, quoted from the medical sources linked beside each.
Your skin barrier is basically your outer layer of the skin.
Melissa Piliang, MDDermatologist, Cleveland Clinic Pretty much every step of a Korean skin care routine is going to have some component of hydration.
Alok Vij, MDDermatologist, Cleveland Clinic
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