Shopping My Stash: Whoo Gongjinhyang Fresh UV Protective Cream

I do have a rather embarrassingly large stash.

Most of samples but there's some less-loved full sizes too. Even loved full sizes don't always get used and there's a whole ton of reasons, mostly down to time.

I got into a bad habit of forgetting to do my evening routine and having to rush it right before bed, so I needed to use super quick drying products. Then there the morning rush, which then compounds the not-using things issue.

This means some things which are quick drying, but not super quick, don't get used.

This series of posts is about working my way through my stash as I both try to diminish it and for the move away from LG. Although, as Odile recently pointed out on Instagram, many of the major brands are using AI for marketing now, before and after model shots as well as texture photos. Madness!

Link: https://www.abmuse.net/2024/11/lg-h-using-ai-for-marketing-and-why-i.html

So my current ploy is to spread my money around across different brands. There's no way for me to go non-luxe because it fits my needs too well. I'm not sure this is a good policy but it'll do for now. I suspect many companies are using AI, not just Korean ones, so I imagine we can't get away from it in all honesty.

Note: double embarrassingly for this post, TK/SJ didn't have my Hera samples I recently tried to order so they sent me, in their words, "lots of free gifts" to make up for the delay.

Oh boy, they weren't exaggerating - I am now the owner of a ton of new products to try but they included the Ultimate S serum and the Hwaynu eye cream so I'm pretty pleased

I've reviewed the Hwanyu as micro first impressions post here: https://commercialpoemferments.blogspot.com/2025/01/micro-first-impressions-whoo-hwanyu.html

Hopefully this series of posts will help me dwindle my stash and test out some of the products that I think I'm less interested in.
It'll also mean I can post some shorter reviews of products that I wasn't necessarily as taken by initially, rather than leaving them to moulder.

Whoo Gongjinhyang Fresh UV Protective Cream

Format: 1ml samples.

Test: replace AM moisturiser.

Texture & Fragrance

It's like the kind of cream you get on top of a trifle. It's not exactly whipped cream, it slightly ripples onto itself as you squeeze it from the packet so it's not quite a classic soft.

I get that it's a bit of an odd description but it's exactly what it reminds me of - it's not exactly standard cream format, compared to something like the Beauty of Joseon Sun Relief Rice + Probiotics, which I think is a standard moisturiser texture.

The Whoo is incredibly spreadable and much lighter than any of their other creams that I've tried.

Like all good Whoo products, despite the classic soft description, it absorbs super well and it's probably most similar to the Gongjinhyang Seol Radiant White cream, whilst having a more intriguing texture.

It's called Fresh and the fragrance is certainly that, it's also very light in intensity for a Whoo product and unusually not very florally-powdery.

Experience 


To be fair, I rather liked this from the start, although there are caveats.

It can absolutely replace my day cream because it's pretty moisturising.

The first day with my standard routine was perfectly moisturised, comfortable skin.

My standard routine is usually serum, softener, serum, serum, emulsion, cream, sunscreen
 
Here the Whoo combines the last two steps.

  • 10% niacinamide serum
  • Decorte Hydra Clarity Softener
  • Sooryehan The Black Serum
  • Isa Knox Age Focus Prime Wrinkle For All Serum
  • Whoo Cheonyuldan emulsion / Sooryehan The Black Essence Moisturiser (I've used both)
  • Whoo Gongjinhyang Fresh UV Protective Cream
My skin was super glowy but definitely too dewy, I was a shine monster all day.

I think my issue with too dewy / glowy is that I start to look like I've got a slight fever.

Day Two

I messed up!

I've been using a peel for months now and I built up to using it regularly with fragranced and alcohol containing products.

When this was fine, my retinol/als are low strength, I can use them with the peel. It's been absolutely fine for the few times used both, although note I was using emulsion, moisturiser and sunscreen the next morning.

However, I forgot I'd used the two together and in an effort to decrease the dewy shine, I dropped emulsion.

This was an error.

I replied the sunscreen but the damage was done: slightly tight, slightly uncomfortable, slightly red skin. 

Thankfully not serious damage but I had to drop the actives and seriously moisturise for a few days.

Day Three.

Learned my lesson and did not do peel, retinol/al and no emulsion going forward. 

And barrier repair mode worked fine.

All was well.

Beyond Day Three

The Whoo does add dewy shine, there's no getting away from that, but it's also not a big deal. For the most part, it's fairly manageable and I suspect I'm also adjusting my expectations of how much shine is too much.

I also figured out that the 10% niacinamide is a bit drying.

I would rather be able to use an acid PM and retinol/al than the niacinamide AM, as hopefully the acid will help with pigmentation anyway.

Without the niacinamide, I can easily get away with the Decorte, a couple of serums and emulsion with the Whoo UV on top otherwise.

This is excellent because it means I can use up the Sooryehan The Black Essence Moisturiser so that's two shopping my stash wins.

The Whoo UV is also highly convenient if I'm travelling as it saves carrying a sunscreen in my handbag and saves space in my washbag as I can take tiny bottles of emulsion - that makes a third shopping my stash win.

I've run through all my Whoo Cheonyuldan samples during the test, although I have replaced them with the Cheongidan emulsion because it'll be useful for travel.

One key point is how the Whoo will do when it's warmer - would it fully replace all creams, would I be better with a different sunscreen?

I can only answer this question when it gets warmer so I'll post an update (although it feels like it'll never get warmer right now 😭).

Going back to the glow-shine thing, it really does depend on the products used, though. The below routine is far less shiny, although also worth noting: 

  • Whoo Bichup First Moisture Anti-Aging Essence 
  • Decorte Hydra Clarity Softener (1-3 layers)
  • Hera Signia Core Lifting Serum
  • Isa Knox Age Focus Prime Wrinkle For All Serum Whoo Cheonyuldan emulsion
  • Whoo Gongjinhyang Fresh UV Protective Cream
This gave me noticeable glow with some shine but it's healthy looking (not feverish).

The other thing to add to the healthy skin element is that there's a slight tone-up effect on my skin - I tend to have a very slightly more even skintone when using this.

Which suggests there's probably a slight white cast. For me, it's not a problem as I'm pale but unevenly pinky, so I'm happy with a slight tone-up effect but it depends on your skintone.

I am assuming it's a white cast, as I'm not sure what else about it would give my skin that extra healthy look.

Outcome

Too good not to buy a full size. 

I bought a full size so I'm sticking with LG for this slot for now.

Technically buying a full size kinda negates the purpose of shopping my stash but it means I have a HG winter sunscreen and also means I can use up the Sooryehan emulsion: so I consider this a technically net neutral outcome.

I would still argue it's a win of sorts because I will use up all those little sample packets of the Whoo now and I'll use up the Sooryehan emulsion.

Whereas before, as much as I love the Sooryehan, it hadn't really worked well, given I needed to use a cream with it.

However, I may end up going with an actual cream for AM; I've got samples of the Kose Sekkisei Medicated Cream again to further test it. This would also be a good way of spreading my cash between different brands.

Although worth noting that I do have a Kose product (Decorte) as a fully established HG already but also to consider here is that I may need to ditch the Decorte in summer for a non-oily product in my toner slot and consequently I'd just be swapping out a Kose for a Kose.

The Cheongidan for Cheonyuldan emulsion is also net neutral but there's a purpose because tiny emulsion bottles really are useful for travel.
The Whoo UV deserves a full review and it will get one once the weather gets a bit warmer.

For now, I'll be using the full size and just keeping the sachets for travel - they have a nice long date on them too!

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