Whoo Royal Essential Golden Lip Cerin review

1/2

**TL;DR: it has noticeable effects beyond moisturising for me – actual anti-aging effects. YMMV ofc but don’t expect instant results, I’ve been using it for 6 months. I haven’t panned it yet despite nightly use (most nights) and occasional day use**

**Skin Profile / Climate** 40+, UK seasonal climate, combination with seriously dry cheeks and forehead. *Lips:* dry dry dry.

**Skin concerns:** aging, texture, redness/visible reactivity (not sensitive though). *Lips:* discolouration around the edges (purplish), loss of colour in other areas and loss of volume.

**Routine**

AM: Whoo Gongjinhyang Mi Glow lip balm (SPF10).

I do have some others that I switch between but they don’t match the Whoo for comfort and subtle finish. There is basically no colour imo even though the swatch shows that it is pink on white paper.

I do use others occasionally, especially as I am using the Mi Glow quickly. The Mi Glow is the best but I’m trying to reserve it for when the UV is higher so I’ve bought a rescue lip balm for reasons that will become clear below.

PM: **Whoo Royal Essential Golden Lip Cerin**

$15 ish from TesterKorea

**Introduction**

Naturally I heard about this from Odile on IG first.

As someone recently pointed out, LG is doing a thing at the moment where they’re releasing the same base formula across 16 LG brands – the lip cerin came first and now there’s the sunquid.

[Press release about the lip cerin](https://www.cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/Article/2023/11/01/lg-h-h-plans-to-launch-lipcerin-lip-care-across-16-beauty-brands-by-end-2023)

[Reddit post about the sunquid](https://www.reddit.com/r/AsianBeauty/comments/1c4rsph/the_whoo_sunquid/)

I would have got the Sooryehan version of the lip cerin, except Odile said it was initially released on shopping channels in Korea. It is available elsewhere now but it’s more pricey than the Whoo version.

I wanted a lip cerin as soon as any were available and the pricing was similar on TK for Whoo or O HUI. Now there’s more options available and I’m torn as I’d like to try them for fun / fomo but I know the Whoo works for me.

*Caution*

On the one hand, I know this product has an actual effect but, on the other, I also find it a bit hard to believe that it’s *actually* exfoliating.

But equally my lips are peeling a little and have been for several weeks because the weather keeps changing in the UK (switching between warmer and colder, we had a ton of a hail a few weeks ago for example). It’s worth keeping in mind that I had no issues with peeling when during winter so I don’t think it’s the lip cerin.

The lip cerin is the best lip balm I’ve used but because of the peeling, I decided that I needed something blander for day time use, given the weird weather, so I bought an additional product (nonAB).

I’d only give it up PM if the condition of my lips seriously deteriorated – the peeling is minimal and not a big deal so I’ve continued usage. Listen to your skin, though, I am not advocating my actions!

**Review**

*Packaging*

It’s a cool twist up container, designed to avoid dipping your fingers into a jar and I think for preservation of the formula.

I hadn’t clocked it but zzoom_zoom pointed out that the top where the lip cerin comes out get smeary.

It does.

I’m not too bothered by this and it could be cleaned but now that zzoom_zoom has pointed it out, it feels a bit of a mismatch to the price of the product.

However, it’s an effective product and it could be cleaned so it’s not a deal-breaker for me.

*Texture*

It is thick! But it glides on and doesn’t feel sticky on application.

I find it lasts for several hours for daytime usage before I notice that I can’t feel it any more. And then it’s probably at least 4-7 hours before I feel the effects are wearing off with normal to dry lips. Less than that if my lips are crazy dry.

If I drink or eat, I do find it rubs off a bit (it’s glossy, not matte) and it can feel a little sticky then but it’s only a tiny bit.

If you don’t like feeling products on the surface of your skin, proceed with caution.

So many lip balms have evaporated or worn off by the two hour mark and my lips feel noticeably dry again. Not so with the Whoo lip balms, although the lip cerin is superior to the Mi Glow in this respect.

Because of the purpose of the product and the fact that it’s pricey for a lip balm, I use it PM. It keeps my lips in great condition overnight (apart from the recent peeling which likely has another cause given I didn’t get this issue in the depths of winter).

But it works AM fine, I’ve been considering getting a gloss but tbh the lip cerin has a really nice, subtle glossy finish so I can use it for this purpose.

I was worried about the gold but I don’t notice any colour on my lips at all.

*Fragrance*

It has one but it’s subtle and generic imo.

*Ingredients*

I’ve taken a photo of the product insert and then copied the text via Google Lens. If you have sensitivities or allergies, please do your own research, however it is hard to find the ingredients in English. If you’re struggling, I can post the photo of the insert.

Phytosteryl/isostearyl/cetyl/stearyl/behenyl dimer dilinoleum bis-diglyceryl polyacyl adipate-2, dextrin palmitate, polytetra, diisostearyl maleate, hydrogenated polyisobu Ten, glyceryl-2isostearate/dimer dilinoleate copolymer, purified water, silica dimethyl silylate, glyceryl behenate/eicosadioate, 1,2-hexanediol, glycerin, gluconolactone, Sorbitan Stearate, Cedrol, Dimethicone, Serine, Fragrance, Sunflower Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Liglyceride, gold, butylene glycol, tocopherol, protease, stone bean oil, aspen root extract, cholesterol, hydrogenated lecithin, shea butter, pearl powder, squalane, talc, glyceryl glucoside, beta-carotene, carrot extract , carrot seed oil, denatured alcohol, arginine glutamate, cetearyl alcohol, stearic acid, cornelian fruit extract, angelica root extract, thyme extract, reishi mushroom extract, angelica root extract, safflower extract, goji berry extract, ginseng extract , Mud Mushroom Extract, Sichuan Root Extract, Bokryeong Mycorrhiza Core Extract, Rehmannia Root Root Extract, Sky Tari Root Extract, Vitamin Tree Fruit Extract, Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Bellflower Root Extract, White Western Truffle Extract, Peony Branch/Flower/Leaf Extract, Arginine, peony root extract, glycoprotein, acetyltetrapeptide-9, ceramide NP, caprylyl glycol, ethylhexylglycerin, ceramide NS, phytosphingosine, acetylhexapeptide-8, ceramide AP. Ceramide AS, pumpkin powder, desamido collagen, ceramide EOP. Limonene, linalool, geraniol, benzyl benzoate, hexylcinnamal, citronellol *Contains 300ppm of pure gold