Sulwhasoo
Essential Firming Cream EXA face cream built around Vitamin E, for barrier repair and hydration.
A face cream built around Vitamin E and Panthenol, for barrier repair and hydration.
Brand price
USD 124.00 · checked 26 Sept 2026 · brand's site
Brand price
USD 29.00 · checked 25 Sept 2026 · brand's site
At a Glance
They come out differently on Fragrance-free, EU-allergen-free, Oil-free and Cruelty-free; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.
Key Ingredients
Fatty alcohol1
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Fatty alcohol1
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Benefits
Hydrating13
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Beta-Glucan, Butylene Glycol, C9-12 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Pueraria Lobata Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Squalane, Tocopherol, Trehalose
Barrier Repair16
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, C9-12 Alkane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Diisostearyl Malate, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Squalane, Tocopherol
Reduces Irritation3
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Allantoin, Beta-Glucan, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Redness Reducing2
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Hydrating16
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Propanediol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol, Trehalose
Barrier Repair17
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Glycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Palmitic Acid, Panthenol, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
Concerns
May Trigger Acne3
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis12
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Diisostearyl Malate, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris3
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
May Trigger Acne8
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis17
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lauric Acid, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Myristic Acid, Oryza Sativa Bran Wax, Palmitic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Stearic Acid
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris8
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol
May Worsen Oily Skin5
May increase shine or excess oil.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Emollient
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Glyceryl Stearate (in both products)
Emollient
1 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Possibly animal-derived
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate (in both products)
Emulsifying
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Emollient
3 / 0
- Plant oils and butters (coconut, olive, shea)
- Plant or mineral oil
- Barrier Repair
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Oily Skin
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Tocopherol (in both products)
Occlusive
0-3 / 3
- Vitamin E
- Anti-Pollution
- Antioxidant
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
Cetearyl Alcohol (in both products)
Emollient
2 / 1
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water
Antiplaque, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
Learn more about Water →Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care, Perfuming, Humectant, Skin Protecting, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Glycerin may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glycerin →Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Butane-1,3-diol (CAS No. 107-88-0/ EC No. 203-529-7) (R)-(-)-butane-1,3-diol” (CAS No. 6290-03-5/ EC No. 228-532-0)
Learn more about Butylene Glycol →Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Fragrance, Perfuming, Occlusive, Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is the mixed triester of glycerin and caprylic and capric acids.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride →Propanediol
Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Propanediol is the organic compound that conforms to the formula
Learn more about Propanediol →Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient, Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate →Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate →1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning, Solvent
We don't have a description for 1,2-Hexanediol yet.
Learn more about 1,2-Hexanediol →Dimethicone
Antifoaming, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Skin Protecting
Dimethicone is a silicone.
Learn more about Dimethicone →Trehalose
Humectant, Moisturising
alpha-D-Glucopyranoside, alpha-D-glucopyranosyl
Learn more about Trehalose →
Similar Comparisons
Each product against its closest dupes.
- View the comparison
Sulwhasoo
Essential Firming Cream EX
Sulwhasoo
Essential Revitalizing Emulsion EX
- View the comparison
COSRX
The Retinol 0.3 Cream
COSRX
The Retinol 0.1 Cream
- View the comparison
Sulwhasoo
Essential Firming Cream EX
Sulwhasoo
The Ultimate S Cream Rich
- View the comparison
COSRX
The Retinol 0.3 Cream
COSRX
The Blue Peptide Bakuchiol Plump Bounce Cream